Article May 1, 1902 Issue

Reply to Mr. Plummer

George A. Baker

To the Editor of the Sentinel.

In answer to Rev. M. W. Plummer's attack upon Christian Science last Sunday evening as quoted in Monday's Record, I wish to say that Christian Science attacks no one, but, in all honesty, should defend itself when traducers assault its fortifications. It has pleased Mr. Plummer to use cheap sarcasm as argument (as quoted), a source never resorted to by any professional man unless he is without logical facts or substantial reasoning. Now as to a few recognized facts: Christian Science is not a fad, its members were not converted to its doctrines by oratory or excitement, but most of them were lifted from beds of pain and the depths of despair through the great principles of Christian Science as taught by Mrs. Eddy, and that after hearing their physician's verdict: "Past all human aid." I say to Mr. Plummer, Go ask some of the many thousands who have retraced their footsteps from the grave if Christian Science "is the most arrant and arrogant nonsense ever penned." It is plainly evident to any Christian Scientist that Mr. Plummer is totally blind and deaf to the great truths between the covers of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." He may have eaten the words but he failed to assimilate their nutriment, and so fed upon husks. A man would have been called a crank or a fool but a few short months ago if he had prophesied that people would soon be talking hundreds of miles without any wires, yet it has come to pass. When John sent to Jesus to know if he were the Christ, the answer was, "Go tell John the blind see, the lame walk, and lepers are cleansed." That is the answer which Christian Science makes to the world with a record of over a million cases as I understand. Jesus did not use wordy argument to convince John that he was the one sent; he performed deeds before the gaze of a carping, jealous world. When he said preach the gospel, he also said heal the sick, and this was done for some three hundred years after his crucifixion. If he intended it only for his disciples or students, it would have disappeared with them instead of continuing for three centuries. Is it consistent for any one, especially a professor of Christianity, to tell God in prayer that He is All-powerful, All-love, and All-good, and reach out to the medicine tumbler for help in the same minute, thus admitting that they do not believe God to be as powerful as the doctor's prescription?

A strong man receives a telegram containing bad news; in a second of time he is weak and helpless as a baby. His muscles did not read the words but we see the effect produced by mind upon bis body. His service has become a more fashionable way to worship the Creator than the performance of deeds in some cases, but is it the proper way? By their deeds ye shall know them. Words are meaningless when brought into the glare of the light of noble deeds. T have the highest respect for any one who is sincere in his politics or his religion. Each man must work out his own salvation; no one can possibly do it for him. and if one sick prefers to trust his case to the guidance of his Creator rather than to physicians, who has the right to say nay? One thing is certain. Christian Scientists practise what they preach, at least genuine ones; they take their own medicine, that is, none at all. Its members include as good brain, blood, and brawn as we have. They come from all walks of life. And they come because generally they are driven into the ranks from hopeless despair of help elsewhere. Our physicians as a whole are a noble class of men and doing God's work as they understand it, but the best of them admit that the practice of medicine is guesswork. Is it not possible that Jesus meant it to be truth when he said, "These signs shall follow them that believe; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." If teaching that God is Good, Love, All-powerful, omnipresent, reclaiming drunkards, reforming criminals, banishing pain and distress and despair, commanding "Love thy neighbor as thyself," putting purity in the place of vice, and deeds rather than words, installing joy where misery reigned, is "the most arrant and arrogant nonsense ever penned," then I say give us more of it, the world is badly in need of it.

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