Article March 7, 1903 Issue

In Answer to Criticism

Alfred Farlow

Montclair (N. J.) Herald

Mr. Editor.

In a recent issue you reported a sermon by the Rev. Orville Reed. I am sure the gentleman will not be offended if we assure him that he has altogether misapprehended the spiritual import of Christian Science. He has only considered it from a material point of view. Instead of "comparing spiritual things with spiritual," he has compared the spiritual teaching of this Science with his material views, and for this reason takes exceptions to it. He refers to Berkeley as "their philosophical founder." While good Bishop Berkeley correctly stated human phenomena, he did not even attempt the teaching of Christian Science, that God is infinite Spirit, Mind, Love, and the universe is the expression or reflection of the deific Mind. Berkeley did not even give us a hint regarding divine cause and effect. His ideas were good, and were in their sphere a very correct explanation of one's material impressions.

Our friend declares, "I am not unmindful of its good points." We would respectfully call his attention to the fact that every idea contained in the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy, is a consistent deduction from its fundamental teaching, "God is Good, God is Mind," and therefore every statement contained in the text-book is consistent with every other statement therein. So if we admit that any part of it is good, we must admit that it is all good. If it is correct and good to say that God is infinite Spirit, then every statement contained in the Christian Science text-book is correct and cannot be disproved. Why should not "men go to extremes" in their adoption of spiritual truths, since the Scriptures teach that God is All-in-all? If we ascribe aught to Deity we must give Him all power, all life, substance, and intelligence, and must recognize the universe as the product of the deific Mind, the likeness of God.

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