Article October 12, 1907 Issue

A critic in one of our liberal religious papers recently...

Alfred Farlow

Boston Times

A critic in one of our liberal religious papers recently published the statement that the Christian Science movement places its chief emphasis upon bodily healing. We will grant that much has been said and is being said by Christian Scientists on this subject, and it is not a matter to be treated lightly, for surely the beneficiaries of Christian Science are entitled to express legitimate gratitude for relief from suffering. It is natural that those who for years thought of little else than their pains, simply because these demanded all of their attention, should be enthusiastic and emphatic in their testimonials; but one needs only a small knowledge of the practice of Christian Science to know that it is the liberation from the bondage of erroneous beliefs, unnecessary fears, the awakening to a new and more spiritual life, the new and more ardent desire for the good, pure, and true, and the clear understanding of the way whereby to obtain these, which attract and hold students of Christian Science.

Christian Scientists may justly point to the healing of sickness as an important feature of Christianity. The great Master himself gave much attention to the blessed work of binding up the broken-hearted and relieving them of their sickness, and he taught his followers to do the same. Critics overlook the fact that healing the sick is a natural sequence of spiritual enlightenment. It would be quite as impossible for Christian Scientists to deport themselves according to the understanding of Christian Science without being improved bodily and without also healing others, as it would be for the sun to shine without dispelling the darkness.

Again, it should be noted that the darkness of sin and error is alone responsible for discord and disease, and that the destruction of sickness must necessitate spiritual or mental reformation, even as a plant must wither and disintegrate after its roots are destroyed. Jesus knew this; hence he referred to the casting out of evils and the healing of the sick as signs which would follow them that believe. One might affirm that the power of God is the only power existing in the world, while sickness still remains, even as one might insist that the sun is shining in spite of the presence of the clouds; but one could not insist that the power of God is fully manifested while the evidence of the presence of evil still remains, and it is the mission of Christian Science to make Truth demonstrable and to enable mortals to "overcome evil with good."

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