Article July 28, 1906 Issue

Christian Science as seen by an Englishwoman

Alice Martineau

The Onlooker

The first fact which startles the British insular intelligence respecting Christian Science in America, is the general tolerance that obtains towards it here. Nay, more than tolerance for it is respected—even where not understood or believed in—and has gradually in the last few years won its way, greatly through the high moral standing of its supporters, to a place in the front rank of religions.

The services are most impressive, from the reverence and earnestness of the congregation, in which there seems to be an equal proportion of men and women. The interval of “silent prayer” and the general sense of peace is one which must be experienced to be believed. This applies to all the churches. You may go into any one of them, having “got out of bed on the wrong side,” cross, worried, anything you like, and the sense of discomfort just drops off and leaves you feeling “real good,” as they say here.

The healing which results from the application of the fundamental truth of existence is an accepted fact in America, where many doctors will send their own incurable cases to a Christian Science practitioner. One instance of those that came under my notice was that of a man cured of Bright’s disease in its last and most painful stages, some few years ago, and now he is in the best of health and working sometimes eighteen hours a day. These cases of physical healing. remarkable though they are, are exceeded in interest by the cases of well-known and prominent citizens who have admitted themselves healed of sin in its various forms—drunkenness being especially noticeable. Their gratitude strikes one very forcibly, and they do no not spare themselves in their endeavors to help some other unfortunate, if admitting their past sins will effect this. Individual effort, self-sacrifice, the constant practice of Christ’s teaching—all these go to make up a Christian Scientist.

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