Article February 23, 1907 Issue

In the News of Nov. 24 appear lines which declare that...

H. Cornell Wilson—Buffalo, N. Y.

The News

In the News of Nov. 24 appear lines which declare that there is bodily suffering, sorrow, and poverty in the world and that Christian Science is not meeting its obligations toward these because its message is false and its motives are mercenary. The writer, in bringing this accusation against Christian Science, forgets the significant fact that there are to-day scattered over the civilized world tens of thousands of Christian Scientists. She forgets that every one of these was once ignorant of Christian Science; that, after hearing of it, practically every one of these has, at some time, either been indifferent to it, has ridiculed it. or has been in active opposition against it. What has changed these thousands from indifference, ridicule, and hostility, to interest, respect, and active co-operation? Simply this, that every one has been freed from some one or more of the hundred forms of sin, disease, sorrow, misfortune, and misery under which men and women are to-day suffering.

If any one supposes that in this great army thus relieved, there have been, are now, no poor, he is misinformed. He is equally misinformed if he supposes that "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" cannot be read without money. There are no "free" copies to be indifferently thrown about, or to be put upon the shelf for the dust to cover, but it is a fact that it can be read without cost at the free Reading Rooms maintained by Christian Scientists in every city of any size. Most Christian Science Reading Rooms also contain circulating libraries, where a stranger can secure a copy of the Christian Science text-book for a period of two weeks or more without cost. So far as I know, public libraries are well supplied with copies placed there by committees of Christian Scientists. In the public library at my former home, there were, when I left the place, ten copies, in such constant demand that the library authorities asked the committee for additional copies, which were gladly furnished. Nor need any one be without the text-book because of lack of means, since those who have been blessed by its healing, reforming message, and who are financially able, are always glad to help their less fortunate fellows. I myself have given away several copies of Science and Health, and know that many of my Science friends have supplied inquirers who were without necessary funds to buy the book.

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In the News of Nov. 24 appear lines which declare that...

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