Article October 19, 1907 Issue

That clergymen are troubled by the rapid growth of...

Chicago (Ill.) Journal

That clergymen are troubled by the rapid growth of Christian Science is evident. They see Christian Science churches springing up everywhere, all of them crowded with enthusiastic devotees of the cult, while their own churches, with a few exceptions, can hardly be described as flourishing. The reason for this state of things obviously is that in Christian Science churches people find something that is lacking elsewhere, something that gives them comfort, something that stirs their hope. They would not rush to Sunday morning services and Wednesday evening experience meetings if they did not benefit somehow from doing so.

Several clergymen in Boston are attempting to meet this competition, so to speak, by going after the Christian Scientists on their own ground. They find that Christian Scientists are such because they imagine they have been healed of disease, and accordingly the Boston clergymen have resorted to healing by prayer. Much to their surprise, we fancy, their prayers have proved effectual in many cases. True healing has resulted, and the consequence is that their congregations are rapidly increasing.

Rev. Johnstone Myers of Chicago realizes this fact, as he showed by his address to future ministers. "I believe," he said, "that ministers have this element of power if used in a sick-room. The trouble is that we are too timid; we are afraid our prayers will not be answered." That is the only trouble with the Church to-day; that is the reason congregations are dwindling and clergymen are growing fewer. Churchmen have too little faith; they are afraid their prayers will not be answered. But that prayers are answered to-day as fully as they ever were, when uttered with faith, the astonishing growth of the Christian Science Church is evidence. Clergymen will wake up to this fact sooner or later.

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