Article July 18, 1908 Issue

In a recent issue of The Free Press a clergyman expressed...

Charles K. Skinner

Detroit (Mich.) Free Press

In a recent issue of The Free Press a clergyman expressed grave misapprehension of the teaching of Christian Science on the subject of healing, and I ask an opportunity to clear up some points at issue.... We are told by our critic that "Christian Science holds as a fundamental belief the non-existence of matter." Had he qualified the statement it would have been true. Christian Science does repudiate the existence of matter as a certain of God, for this has no authority in the Scriptures. Genesis teaches that God's creation was a spiritual creation, and that it was "very good." The words of the apostle are plainly indicative that this was the teaching of his time, for he says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

The great Master's teachings were never for the purpose of exploiting or proving material things. His words were: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." The reference to material things in his daily teachings and works, among his people, was made for the purpose of showing them the difference between the true and the false. He made no concessions to matter when belief in it interfered with his teachings. He never expressed this more clearly than while walking on the water. He gave permission to Peter to come to-him, and when the latter's fear overcame him, he said to him, "O thou of little faith." Likewise, Mrs. Eddy's teachings are not to exalt the mortal senses, but to show their falsity. The world has never gained one iota of spiritual understanding through the study of matter, but has drifted farther and farther away into the mazes of darkness.

The announcement of Mrs. Eddy's position on the unreality of matter drew a great storm of criticism from materialists in the early years of the movement, but of late some of the world's most renowned philosophers and material scientists are practically united in admitting that what appears to be matter is but the deception of the physical senses. Professor Fisk, an eminent physical scientist, says plainly, "There is no such thing as matter." Our critic will certainly admit that the Master healed the sick and the sinner, gave sight to the blind and raised the dead by the same method. . . . Christian Science is built absolutely on the foundation of Jesus Christ, for it accepts and follows his teachings in their entirety.

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