To the view that there is no God, Christian Science...

Batavia (N. Y.) Times

To the view that there is no God, Christian Science answers that there is nothing whatever but God and His manifestation. To the view that death ends all, it answers that there is no real death. To contradict the materialistic view of the universe so common in these days, it boldly declares that there is no matter.

Thoughtful and intelligent persons should not put aside the faith of Christian Science as fanciful and unworthy of serious consideration. Edmund Burke said: "You cannot frame an indictment against an entire nation." And we cannot with a few sweeping general statements answer the Christian Science faith. Professor William James in a recent article speaks of the ideas of the Christian Scientists as healthy-minded and optimistic, resulting in a copious unlocking of hitherto unknown energies.

While Christian Science has incurred the natural enmity of those whom Professor James calls "medical politicians," no unprejudiced observer can fail to recognize its importance as a social phenomenon of to-day, and the higher medical minds are trying to interpret fairly, and make its power available for their own therapeutic ends. Christian Science is growing perhaps more rapidly than any other Christian sect. It seems to promote good citizenship. Its disciples generally lead exemplary Christian lives. We are told in the New Testament that Jesus commanded his disciples to heal the sick as well as to preach gospel. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Christian Science faith is a determination to carry out this injunction, and the Christian Scientists claim that they are carrying it out successfully. The contention of the Christian Scientists that matter is not a reality has excited more criticism and comment than any other article of their faith, except perhaps their faith in Divine healing. But the Christian Scientists are not the first to enunciate the doctrine of the non-existence of matter. ... The problem as to the essential nature of mind and matter is as old as human intelligence. Most of us have teated it as did T. H. Key, once head master of University College School, who said: "What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind." And Byron claimed the wisest philosophers could say no more.

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February 8, 1908
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