Article December 29, 1906 Issue

The resignation of the Rev. W. Henry Jones as pastor...

St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch

The resignation of the Rev. W. Henry Jones as pastor of the First Christian Church of East St. Louis and the announcement of his allegiance to the Christian Science faith has caused much commotion in the church. Rev. Mr. Jones has been pastor of the Christian Church of East St. Louis a few weeks over a year and the church has prospered under his pastorship. It has now four hundred and twenty-five members and is second in membership in East St. Louis. Mr. Jones is a brilliant orator and was beloved by his church. He received his theological training in Drake University, Kentucky University, and Missouri University, with three years' special training in the College of Bible in Lexington, Ky. He was born in Larned, Kan., and has lived in St. Louis for several years. Before coming to East St. Louis he had charge of churches at Sharpsburg and Bethel, Ky., Palmyra, Mo., and Salida, Col. In speaking of his resignation and his new work to a Post-Dispatch reporter Monday, Mr. Jones said,—

"I leave the church of the Christian denomination with a feeling of love for all of its members and I think they are doing a grand work. I still believe in the work of Christ and believe more firmly than ever that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the living God. The New Testament Scriptures will be my rule of faith and practice. I shall continue to preach the gospel, but along the belief of the Christian Science faith. My belief in the Christian Science teaching is from personal study and observation of its practice and workings. It is not through any influence of any certain persons. Since the middle of October I have been firmly convinced that the position of the Christian Science Cause is right. For months I have been a close student of Science literature. I now believe absolutely in that position; I am a Christian Scientist. The stand I must take is patent to all. Orthodoxy, so called, is so opposed to many of the salient teachings of Christian Science, that a harmonious and successful work cannot, under present conditions, be done in any other church by a Christian Scientist, even should permission be granted for the experiment. Therefore, as an honest man, with conviction, I must place myself in connection with those in harmony with my changed views. This step means much to me; more than any one in this presence can realize, and yet I am willing. I must go where Truth leads me; wherever I am convinced the most truth is contained and the most good accomplished. Through inspired revelation we hear the mandate, 'Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.' To my sense the omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience of God is more practically, fully, and demonstrably held by the religious body called Christian Scientists than by any other religious people.

"An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Because Christian Scientists are bearing the fruit, I take my stand with them. No one of intelligence calls in question the thousands healed of their infirmities through the faithful declaration of the omnipotence of our God. The record stands. It is an open book. All who care to may examine for themselves. I have made the investigation. I have been uplifted spiritually; many infirmities have been removed; my immediate family and many friends have been freed from sickness and disease; my spiritual strength has been renewed; my faith in Christ Jesus has been strengthened; my belief in the Bible as the inspired Word of God and my sufficient guide to eternal life has been more firmly centered. God's omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence are realities to me now instead of vague theories, intellectual beliefs, and professional statements."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The resignation of the Rev. W. Henry Jones as pastor...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access