Article March 25, 1905 Issue

To object to Christian Science because it denies the testimony...

C. F. Hackett

Utica (N. Y.) Herald

To object to Christian Science because it denies the testimony of the physical senses, betrays a serious ignorance of even natural science, for the explanation of all phenomena, including the fundamental ones of form, color, and mass, rests on theories contrary to what the senses behold. In chemistry recent discoveries have upset theories considered final a few years ago.

It is hard to believe that men died the death of martyrs for advancing the astronomical theory now believed by every schoolboy, that the earth moves around the sun, and that it is spherical and not flat ; but such is the fact. Christian Science goes one step farther, perhaps, when it declares the falsity of sense-testimony in regard to disease; but this was fully established by Christ Jesus two thousand years ago, when the lame walked and the blind saw. What are called his miracles were really the result of his knowledge of spiritual law, the truly natural law. Everything he did proved the subjugation of the material to the spiritual. His example is available in its entirety, for he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because ; go unto my Father." The child who is learning the multiplication table is not expected to work the problems of calculus, although the latter is available to him when he has advanced for enough in the knowledge of mathematics. So no Christian Scientist claims at present to be able to do all that Jesus did; but we understand that his example is available for us when we are sufficiently advanced in Christian knowledge. Otherwise his own words would not be true. Christian Scientists believe thoroughly in the divinity of the life of Christ Jesus from his birth to his ascension, and they adore him for what he has done for man. It is no new gospel that we teach, but the one which all Christians profess. If we use our text-book to help us to understand that gospel and to make it more practical, are we to be condemned for it? If so, a Christian is under condemnation every time he uses a Bible help, a commentary, or even listens to a sermon. We rejoice that even our present knowledge of God is sufficient to meet our needs in sickness and in health more fully than other means have done.

We account for evil as Jesus did when he said that it was "a liar, and the father of it." We also believe that we can escape its wiles only in the way he proposes—"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The mistake of the ages has been to assume the reality and truth of evil or a lie, and then to try to get rid of it. To know that it is a lie, and to know the truth which will destroy it, is effectual.

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