Article December 25, 1902 Issue

Suffer it to be so Now

Alfred Farlow

Boston Times

Christian Science demands absolute perfection of its adherents, and yet they recognize that perfection must come by spiritual growth. The first lesson in Christian Science must be taken first, the second lesson second, and so on. It is as impossible to practise the last lesson first in this Science as it is in mathematics and music, and to know this, is an essential part of its teaching. It is not only irrational to practise the last lesson first, or to mistake the beginning for the end, but it is out of harmony with the teachings of this Science to do so, and, moreover, is impossible. The neophyte in Christian Science may mistake in judgment as to his ability to demonstrate absolute Science in a given case, but he could not do this on the basis of Science. Such a mistake would indicate a lack of Christian Science. A consistent Christian Scientist undertakes only that which he can do with a reasonable degree of success. For example, he might heal the sick successfully, but he might not be able to live without eating. Therefore, in the matter of eating he is choosing the less of two evils, well knowing that in the day of perfection, which may be centuries in the future, he will, to use the language of Science and Health, "neither live to eat nor eat to live." It is in conformity to this important lesson in Christian Science that its adherents are careful to isolate their sick patients from others. When they have proved that in every case they can instantaneously heal all manner of diseases and thereby immediately destroy the possibility of imparting them to other, they will then have no occasion for quarantine. At present, their efforts to heal are more or less experimental, and for this reason they must deport themselves in such a manner as to be on the safe side.

Some critics of Christian Science claim for its adherents what they do not claim for themselves. It has been asked, Will a Christian Scientist dispense with a surgeon in the case of a broken limb? If he has not proved by experience that he can do this with safety to his patient, he would not so attempt, but would call a competent surgeon to do the mechanical work. Jesus illustrated another form of this law when he allowed himself to be baptized of John, saying, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." He knew that he had gone beyond the necessity of any help from John, but he knew that the influence over his fellow-men which was necessary to the fulfilment of his mission would be greatly jeopardized if he failed to conform to the customs which the highest thought of his time regarded as an essential practice. So, in the matter of handling infectous and contagious diseases, a Christian Scientist might, in strict conformity with the teachings of his faith, yield to popular opinion and suffer to be so now a practice which they would not regard as essential if the general public understood this Science better. The Leader of the Christian Science movement, teaching and advising strictly on the basis of Christian Science, notes this fact and speaks accordingly, and her students readily accept the lesson and put it into practice.

Alfred Farlow.
In Boston Times.

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