Article January 2, 1904 Issue

A Question Answered

Willard S. Mattox

Bridgeport (Conn.) Farmer

May I be permitted to answer, in part, your query as to why Mrs. Eddy secures so many followers? It is because the practice of Christian Science results in that which men want above everything else, healthy bodies and harmony of existence. She has not invented a new religion. Christian Science contains no new teaching. It is rather a restatement of Christianity, a reaffirmation of the fundamental propositions of Jesus' theology. He said, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; not yet for your body, what ye shall put on." And Paul declared, "Henceforth know we no man after the flesh." Christian Science reiterates these teachings, it lays stress on the actuality of Spirit—God—and spiritual entities or things, and turns man's thought away from a contemplation of matter, which Jesus said "profiteth nothing." This single example illustrates the scope and mission of Christian Science, which propounds no new doctrines, but calls attention to eternal truths about God and man, truths which were first enunciated by Jesus.

When Jesus appeared upon the stage of mortal existence, he taught a theology widely different from the scholasticism of the age. It is conceivable that those not in harmony with him asked themselves why it was that he secured so many followers. The answer then was to be found in the sick who were healed, the sinful who were transformed by the renewing of their minds. The same answer suffices to-day to account for the number of believers in Christian Science. It is no mere theory or abstract system of philosophy. It is practical, definite, and provable, and therein lies its attractiveness. It offers to a suffering humanity, consolation, health, peace, all that man wishes for, and it is making good its promises by undeniable healing works. We do not need to search for, nor do we need to appeal to social economy, to find a reason for the popularity of Christian Science. It is because it gives results that are in every way satisfactory, to the beneficiary at least, if not to others.

Willard S. Mattox.
Bridgeport (Conn.) Farmer.

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