Article January 12, 1907 Issue

A MINISTER'S PROTEST

Worcester (Mass.) Telegram

["A Brother Minister," in the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram.]

Since your report of Dr. Crane's sermon which "raked Christian Science fore and aft" as a "gigantic humbug," many of us have been waiting for a reply from a Christian Scientis. Our sense of fair play demands both sides of the question. Perhaps they thought that such unargumentative severity would not injure them, perhaps that any adequate reply would require a similar spirit, and this their religion would not sanction. As no response has appeared, will you permit a few observations from one who writes, not as a Christian Scientist, but as a brother minister.

Dr. Crane lays down the proposition that Christian Science is a "form of insanity." To prove this, epithets seem to overbalance the argument. A few specimens are "epidemic hysteria," "beatific selfishness," "moral stupor," "mental alienation," "miserable balderdash," "gigantic humbug." Then, speaking from a Christian pulpit, he calls attention to their "amazing antics," and says, "A sense of humor is the best safeguard of sanity." There are many other epithets, but we forbear,—let them sink into "innocuous desuetude." To call names and make faces is not argument. O'Hara says, "When the judgment is weak, then prejudice is strong." The weakest way to state a case is to overstate it.

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