"Our Debt to Christian Science."

ARCHIBALD McLELLAN

The Westminster

IN last week's issue we printed this article, a grand communication from Rev. F. N. Riale, of Chicago, which recently appeared in The Westminster. The Concord Monitor reprints this communication, together with its introductory comment by the editor of The Westminster. This editorial comment reads:

[From The Westminster, Philadelphia, Pa.]

"[Our circle widens. A Chicago friend comes 'away down East' to confess himself in debt. We let him tell his story. In a little personal word to us, he says he will have an interpretation of his facts by and by. We are glad. If anything in this old world needs interpretation it is the facts of Christian Science. The greatest fact is Mrs. Eddy's book. But no one can interpret that. It is interpretable. It is like Sau Abrah's garments. 'Just the same on one side as on the other' —just the same interpreted as not interpreted ; nonsense either way.—Editor.]"

Mrs. Eddy's reply follows:

"When Mrs. Eddy read the editor's caption to the article by the Rev. F. N. Riale, she smiled and said, 'That editor hit the nail on nonsense, and broke his fingers, poor man! He could not interpret the nonsense, no sense, of evil, not knowing the all sense of good; if he could, it would heal his fingers.' "

It is a very common practice with some persons to assume that what they do not know is not worth knowing, and what they do not understand is not understandble, but it is generally conceded that these assumptions are not to the credit of the person indulging them. The fact that Mrs. Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is so well understood by Christian Scientists as to enable them by its teachings to heal themselves and others of so-called incurable diseases, to reform the sinful, bind up the broken-hearted, and generally to do the works which Jesus commanded his followers to do, is not only proof that this book is understandable, but also that it contains the rule and explains the Principle of our Master's gospel.

It does not require a very great stretch of the imagination to think of Galileo's opponents ridiculing his elucidation of the Copernican system, and it may be recalled that in later days some of the members of Congress who voted in favor of the help extended to Professor Morse by the United States Government in the construction of the first telegraph line, were defeated for re-election upon the ground that they had wasted public money in a useless and foolish experiment.

A great part of the history of mortals is the history of the efforts of prejudice and personal opinion to defeat the appearing of truth. Christian Science and its Founder have had to contend with these efforts, but it is worth noting that thinking people are paying less and less heed to them, because the good works of this healing gospel are becoming more widely known and understood, and Mrs. Eddy's position as an author and religious Leader is both recognized and appreciated.

ARCHIBALD McLELLAN.

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"Nearer to thee."

February 10, 1906

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