Article April 4, 1903 Issue

The Doctrine of Christian Science

Clarence A. Buskirk

Evansville (Ind.) Journal

Mr. Editor.

During the last eight years I have had a very favorable opportunity to study the doctrine of Christian Science and to observe, at first hand, its practical workings. When my attention was first called to Christian Science, about eight years ago, I was prejudiced against it. But the restoration to health at that time of a member of my own household through its ministration, induced me to try to learn whether its teachings were true or false. Three able allopathic physicians had signally failed in the case, and Christian Science had succeeded. But this did not convince me. For myself and for my family I wished to feel very sure that I was not leaning upon a rotten staff. So far as I have been able to do so, I have studied the subject from the viewpoint of its religious claims, its philosophy or metaphysics, its influences over human conduct and character, and its merits as a curative agency in the various ailments which are manifested in the body. I cannot ask space, of course, even to outline my studies and observations along those lines, but I wish to render my testimony in behalf of the cause of truth. I wish to testify that I recognize in Christian Science the religion taught by Jesus of Nazareth, freed from the barnacles which have been fastening upon it during its voyage through nineteen centuries in the form of man-made creeds, dogmas, and theological subtleties and blasphemies.

Christian Science is a working religion. Jesus did not do much preaching, but he went about doing good: healing the sick, comforting the sorrowing, cleansing lepers, helping the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk. That he depended upon these works to persuade mankind of the truth of his teachings, rather than upon sermonizing, is proved abundantly in the Scriptures; notably, for example, in the answer which he sent to John in response to the inquiry as to who he was, bidding the messenger to tell John about the works he was performing, not what creedal theology he was preaching. And where is there a safer rule of evidence than that which he gave us, to judge of a tree by its fruits?

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