Article September 10, 1904 Issue

A critic objects to the practice of charging a moderate...

E. T. Georgeson

The Californian

A critic objects to the practice of charging a moderate price for the time spent directly for others in the redemptive work of Christian Science, and says in support of this objection, "We have no record of the Divine teacher accepting the slightest remuneration for what he wrought or taught." Superficially this may appear true, but a careful study of the Scriptures will prove it untenable. At any rate, Jesus' recorded instructions must be taken as the standard from which he worked. When sending out the twelve to preach and heal they were told to take no money or extra clothing whatever on the journey. The explanation lies in the concluding significant sentence, "For the workman is worthy of his meat." We are also told that Judas was the treasurer of the company and carried the bag. Our critic should take into account the different modes of life prevailing at the time when Jesus preached and healed among the hills of Judæa, and in the twentieth century. Life was then a very simple affair as compared with the complexities of our modern civilization.

Paul, who proved his apostleship by works second only to those of his Master, gives us clear and decisive instructions on this point in his first letter to the Corinthians, where he says, "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? ... Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." And here let me say that the Christian Scientist's ministry is the work of the gospel, the legitimate results of the "prayer of faith," the "effectual prayer" mentioned by James and the other New Testament writers. It may be true that many of those now engaged in religious labors suffer from the claims of poverty, but in the light of reason and the promises of Scripture should this be so? Jesus says, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." The custom of Christian Scientists in this regard is the result of their interpretation of Scripture. It places their churches and members upon a sound basis of equity, at the same time working hardships upon none. Christian Scientists have a religion which gives "value received,"—pressed down and running over. The law of right insists that they do not "take something for nothing" or encourage others in this questionable and selfish fashion, which dwarfs the better nature and even leads to downright dishonesty. It is but just, however, to state that very much gratuitous work is done for those who cannot or do not recompense them. The maximum charge of a Christian Scientist is small indeed compared with the charge of physicians, and is always lessened according to the needs of the patient. The writer has yet to know of one instance where help has been denied because of the patient's inability to pay. E. T. Georgeson.
The Californian.

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