Article December 8, 1906 Issue

AN ANSWER TO CRITICISM

Hoboken (N. J.) Observer

One of the citizens of Hoboken, who is a believer in results obtained by Christian Scientists, takes exception to the sermon preached Sunday by the rector of St. Paul's church. In commenting upon it he says :—

Judging from your report of the sermon of Sunday morning, it is evident that the rector is not as fully informed on the subject of Christian Science as he might be, for he speaks of it as a "faith" cure. If he had a practical working knowledge of it, he would know that it is not "faith" that cures, but understanding. But assuming that it is faith that cures, why should a clergyman, who takes the Bible as his guide, quarrel with the faith-curist? ... Jesus not only healed the sick ("Thy faith hath made thee whole"), and gave his twelve disciples power to cure diseases, but he sent seventy other disciples to heal the sick. He also said, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Again he said, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

The rector, if I am not mistaken, is a representative of a church which claims its authority through and by the apostolic succession. Now, if Jesus gave his disciples this power to heal sickness, when, how, and why did that power get lost? Didn't that power come along with the rest of the authority? Why cannot the good doctor heal sickness?

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