Editorial June 13, 1903 Issue

The Brotherhood of Man

In commenting upon the recent refusal in Pennsylvania to grant a charter for a Christian Science Church, The Universalist Leader has the following to say, "As an organized form of religion, with particular beliefs and its multitude of believers all over the country, it stands in the same relation to the general public as do other churches, and is equally with them entitled to protection and all the privileges granted to other bodies of believers. If at any time members of this singular communion so conduct themselves as to come in conflict with the law in the administration of their beliefs, let them take the consequences; but to deny the Christian Scientists the right to organize under charter of the state, is an unjust discrimination against them as a sect or body of believers. Such a decision, if formulated into law, would resemble the obsolete statutes in some of the states which denied the oath to Unitarians for non-belief in the Trinity and to Universalists for non-belief in eternal hell-torments."

This expression in behalf of individual religious liberty, appearing, as it does, in the official organ of a denomination not in sympathy with many of the teachings of Christian Science, is as pleasing to Christian Scientists as it is creditable to the broad-minded editor of the Leader. There was a time, not so long ago as "when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary," when the slightest mention of another's religious belief aroused feelings of anger and resentment; when persecutions from the most petty to the most barbarous stirred no protest. The progress of the world is not more apparent in the remarkable mechanical and material achievements of the century just closed than it is in the spirit of tolerance always expected and usually observed in current religious discussions.

In line with this increase of Christian tolerance are the following words of President Roosevelt on the occasion of the dedication of Grace Memorial Reformed Church in Washington:—

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Likeness the Basis of Interpretation