Editorial August 10, 1907 Issue

"THE JOY OF THE LORD."

Archibald McLellan

We have before us a copy of Zion's Herald containing a symposium contributed by "representative ministers in our midst," in response to the editor's inquiry, "Is there anything in Christian Science, so called, that Christian ministers should recognize and utilize?" As might be expected, the sixteen clergymen whose views are given differ widely in their estimate of this faith, but the intolerant attitude of some of these gentlemen is hardly what might be expected of professed followers of the great Master, who commanded his disciples to heal the sick.

One gentleman is so pronounced in his opposition to the teachings of Mrs. Eddy that he would consider he had stultified himself should he use the word "Christians" in describing her adherents, and he makes use, among other epithets, of "renegade Christians" and "a company of backsliders" in expressing his views. Another, who is some-what less violent in his general attitude, pronounces this faith "irrational, unscientific, unchristian, and unbiblical;" yet he practically admits that it is doing for humanity what his own church is not doing, and of which he says, "If we allow others to do it [preach this practical Christianity], while we are not living up to our high privilege, we have ourselves to blame." A significant feature of several of the answers is the quasi admission that the healing of the sick is a part of Christianity which had been sadly neglected by the Church until Christian Science again called it to the attention of the world. Of this healing one contributor writes, "What people want to-day is what they once filled the streets of Capernaum and tore up house roofs to get."

We are glad, however, that the desert of intolerance to which this symposium might be compared is relieved by one oasis of Christian and brotherly appreciation, in the shape of a letter from the venerable and universally beloved Rev. Lewis B. Bates, D.D., of East Boston, which we quote in full as follows:—

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