Editorial March 6, 1902 Issue

Christian Science Scored

Editor

THE above words headline an account in one of our Boston daily newspapers of a sermon preached by the Rev. J. H. Berkey of Monroe, Wis., against Christian Science, the subject of which was "The Hidden Hand of Christian Science." The newspaper account of Mr. Berkey's remarks is very brief, and it may be that from if we cannot fairly understand his position. As indicated by the account we have read, however, Mr. Berkey condemns Christian Science because it does not do all the things he thinks it should do. He is reported as having said that "Mrs. Eddy does not claim to raise the dead, to cure a person born blind, or to cure a withered arm."

In reference to this, an intelligent reading of Mrs. Eddy's writings will show that she claims the possibility of doing all these things because Jesus taught and proved them to be possible. To prove them possible, however, it is necessary to possess that "same Mind which was also in Christ Jesus." If one teaches only such possibilities as the Bible teaches, is he to be condemned therefor? But if Mr. Berkey will inform himself, he will find that Mrs. Eddy and her students have cured persons blind from birth, and have restored withered hands, arms, and legs; nay, even persons on the verge of death, and so pronounced by physicians, have been restored to health through their ministrations. If Mr. Berkey denies this, his denial does not change the facts. If he will devote a part of the time he gives to preparing and preaching sermons and delivering lectures against Christian Science, in ignorance of what it is and what it does, to an honest study of its teachings and a fair investigation of what it is doing, he will be better prepared to say what it is or is not, what it does or does not, accomplish.

Mr. Berkey is reported as having continued his statement thus: "Even if we should admit that she does all the claims to do, and even cures consumption, rheumatism, lame back, and other diseases, she does no more than is claimed by our physicians and patent medicine men. Christ did more than this. Christ raised the dead. And until Mrs. Eddy steps over the dead line I shall condemn her as a fraud."

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