INTEREST AROUSED IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

B. O. Flower

We are always glad to give prominence to an interesting letter such as the following from the pen of Mr. B. O. Flower, the able editor of the Arena. Mr. Flower can be depended upon at all times to take the side of justice and fair play, and to be outspoken and courageous in expressing his views on the side of civic, moral, and religious liberty.

Boston, Mass., Aug. 17, 1907.

Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy,

Pleasant View, Concord, N. H.

My Dear Mrs. Eddy:—I am sending you by this mail with my compliments and high respect, copies of the July and August Arenas. I wish to call your special attention to Mr. John B. Willis' admirable article entitled, "The Truths of Christian Science,"—a reply to Edward C. Farnsworth. This reply, it seems to me, both in substance and spirit is most excellent, and I have heard golden opinions expressed of it. One very thoughtful person who has not been interested in Christian Science told me that he had read it with great pleasure. surprise, and interest; that it had given him a new view and a much clearer idea of Christian Science. He said, "I am sure that this paper will be of a great deal of benefit to a number of persons who have heretofore been influenced by the arguments which it answers, and answers so ably." Many other persons have expressed similar views. Mr. Willis' article, you will find, begins on page 61 and goes to the end of page 70.

In the August Arena, you will find on page 175 of my editorials, my reference to the shameful action of the New York World and Boston Herald. It extends from page 175 almost to the bottom of 180. In the October number we shall publish a very fine article by Judge L. H. Jones, entitled "Idealism: A Sketch," in which he shows how Kant, Plato, and other great philosophers opposed the popular ideas in regard to the material universe, and how their views were in accord with your teachings on this point. In the same number, I shall have an extended review of Mark Twain's attack on Christian Science. My review is of between five and six thousand words, and in it, I have attempted to show how glaringly absurd and illogical are Mark Twain's reckless assertions.

I wish, at this time, to express to you my profound indignation that you should be made, at this late date, the victim of such shameful persecutions. It is an outrage that all lovers of fair play must feel most keenly. I could not have believed that such shameful action could be possible in the United States of America in the twentieth century. Of one thing, however, be assured: this persecution is wonderfully strengthening and promoting the Cause of Christian Science. It is arousing a feeling of deep resentment and holy indignation in the breasts of tens of thousands of people who love fair play and who, although they have never heretofore been interested in Christian Science, feel outraged at the hypocritical and unscrupulous attacks being made both on Christian Science and its honored Founder. Only last evening, I was talking with a gentleman whose profession and natural bent of mind led me to suppose that he would be hostile to Christian Science. In the course of the conversation, he said, "I have never known any outrage that will compare with the shameful persecution that Mrs. Eddy is undergoing."

Again, the very means employed by the enemies of Christian Science with the hope of bringing discredit on the movement and its Founder, have proved helpful to the movement, as they have aroused the interest of hundreds of thousands of people in Christian Science, who heretofore had not given it a moment's thought. The daily papers and the magazines that have published hostile matter have led to discussions and a desire on the part of the people to know the facts; and this is leading thousands to regard Christian Science with interest and sympathy, who, under other circumstances, would probably have never paid any attention to it. Again let me assure you of my deepest interest and profound sympathy.

With high regard, I am

Cordially yours,
B. O. Flower.

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"I HOLD NO ENMITY," SAYS MRS. EDDY

August 31, 1907

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