Article January 25, 1908 Issue

Neither criticism nor persecution will ever "make or...

Frederick Dixon—London, England.

Observer

Neither criticism nor persecution will ever "make or mar" Christian Science. Criticism or persecution may incite temporary interest in or sympathy for the movement. "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth," but not much more rapidly than curiosity or sympathy are apt to. The first test of a movement is its power to withstand the attacks of obloquy and ignorance; the second, and much the most severe, is its ability to weather popularity.

The Christian Science movement has shown in its development the least possible resemblance to the mushroom. In America it has had forty years of growth, in England fourteen, and within the limits of the longer period it has wound itself around the globe. There has been absolutely nothing spasmodic in this growth. Members and churches have been added year by year in a rhythmically increasing ratio. Nor has it appealed to any particular class; it includes in its ranks men and women of every social grade, of every shade of temperament, of every quality of intellect. All these people, in all these countries, stand on a common basis of conviction through demonstration. Every criticism that can be urged they have already had to answer to themselves, every attempt at persecution only draws from them a reiteration of the famous phrase of Galileo.

The fact is that the Christian Science movement was founded on healing, has been built up on healing, and will finally be victorious through healing. So long as that healing is demonstrated there is no power on earth which, either by criticism or persecution, can affect its ultimate success, nor without that healing is there any form of advertisement that can ultimately avail it anything.

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