Article August 3, 1907 Issue

Sir,—In your issue of recent date you reported a lecture...

John E. G. Sandford—Bristol, England.

The Western Press

Sir ,—In your issue of recent date you reported a lecture delivered by Canon Parker, in which he refers at some length to Christian Science, and upon which I therefore beg leave to comment. Before doing so, however, I would like to acknowledge the liberal spirit in which Canon Parker discusses the subject. When expressing his "regret that the Christian Scientist, whilst professing Christianity, has more or less severed his connection with historic Christianity" and the "Christian tradition of the past," it would have been well if our critic had stated more clearly what he meant by "historic Christianity" and "Christian tradition." If he means the "tradition of the elders" which our Master condemned, the "tradition of men" against which Paul warned the Colossians, or what is generally known as ecclesiasticism, as I gather he does from his reference to the "doctrines of the Church" on certain matters, I am afraid the Christian Scientist must plead guilty, and without shame. But if he refers to the Christianity of the New Testament we are entirely at issue with him, for we adhere strictly and literally to the teachings of Jesus and his apostles as we find them there stated. Furthermore, when he adds that it is "hardly wisdom to allow the new to displace the old," he surely forgets that we have the highest authority for not attempting to put new wine into old bottles. Again, to call Christian Science heresy for the reasons he gives, is to place himself in line with the Pharisees, who condemned our Master's teaching because he refused to be bound by their traditions.

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