Article January 9, 1904 Issue

Moderation vs. Fanaticism

Alfred Farlow

Boston Times

The Leader of the Christian Science movement has declared in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 462), "Though gathering new energy, an idea should injure none of its useful surroundings, in the travail of spiritual birth." This statement is worthy of the profoundest consideration of Christian Scientists as well as the general public.

The adherents of this new religio-science have never been impressed that its introduction or propagation demanded any degree of fanaticism. It has always seemed wise that this new idea should not be hastily obtruded upon mankind, but that it should gradually leaven the lump of human consciousness, and that Christian Science work should be conducted in such a manner as not to produce upheavals in human affairs. It has never entered into the plans of Scientists to isolate themselves from the society of others not to undertake the establishment of a government within a government, neither to advocate aggressive action against their opponents; but, on the contrary, they have deemed it proper to be law-abiding in every sense and to change human affairs by education rather than by coercion or arbitrary demands.

While Christian Scientists may differ to some extent from their neighbors in what constitutes preaching the gospel, they do not even entertain a wish to interfere with what is generally in vogue in this respect. Though they differ from some of their neighbors in their understanding of what constitutes the proper treatment of the sick, they have no inclination to interfere with the practices which are in common use in this regard. They are permitted to practise Christian Science to a sufficient degree to convince a large portion of the public and win for themselves the privilege of continuing in the propagation of their ideas and adding daily to the confidence reposed in them by the general public.

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