Article October 10, 1903 Issue

Known by its Fruits

Ezra W. Palmer

The Critique

Superstition and delusion appeal to the ignorant and illiterate. They are fostered by and grow through fear of the unknown. Christian Science appeals to all classes and is not mystical. It presents itself to the thought in such clear, logical sequence that it satisfies the understanding. Its fruits are to make better men and better women, which superstition and delusion never do. Christian Scientists do not advertise either their cures or their failures. The business of the Christian Scientist is to do the will of God and love his fellow-men, not to seek notoriety. Christian Scientists, however, do protest, and justly so, against sensational and oftentimes unjust publication of all cases of apparent failure with no credit whatever given the much more numerous cases of unqualified success. All they ask is that they be given a fair and impartial hearing, and they are quite willing to let the verdict of the public rest on this basis.

The work of Christian Science has taken such a firm hold in every part of the United States, and the happiness, health, and cheeriness of its followers are so apparent that one cannot fail to learn of its workings even with the slightest effort. The churches are open to every one who cares to attend. However, Christian Scientists do not make public exhibitions or tests. They follow the Scriptural injunction not to tempt the Lord thy God to satisfy mere curiosity and are warned not to cast pearls before swine.

Christian Scientists do not deny the existence of disease to human sense. To them disease is as real as the material mortal thought declares it to be, and no more. When the thought of disease vanishes, the disease vanishes. Disease to Christian Scientists is a negative condition, a lack of understanding of God, as darkness is the negation of light. We do not study darkness in physics, because it is a nonentity. So Christian Scientists study to know God who healeth all our diseases.

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