Article August 15, 1908 Issue

It has been well said that no one has ever criticised or...

Charles K. Skinner—Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Daily News

It has been well said that no one has ever criticised or attacked the teachings of Christian Science or its Founder, Mrs. Eddy, who really understood either. I am prompted to make this statement after having read the extracts from a sermon which appeared recently in your valued paper. While the references to Christian Science were perfectly courteous, the statements made as to its Principle of healing were misleading to the novice, inasmuch as they confused the spiritual with the human or material. It is quite evident that our critic had not examined the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as closely as he might have done, or he would have understood us better. This clergyman has grouped faith-cure, hypnotism, etc., with Christian Science, under the same elemental rules of healing. He says, "The simple elements of faith, prayer, and psychic force are the common factors in all these cases of healing. The elemental principles held in common are the same we find in Christ and his apostles."

It is conceded that cures have been accomplished by the various methods mentioned, butt we take issue on this point, that Jesus and his apostles, or Christian Scientists, heal the sinning and the sick through psychic force, suggestion, or hypnotism. To charge the Master with using such methods is to thrust him down from his God-crowned position as the Son of God, and to ignore his words: "I can of mine own self do nothing: ... but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." Mrs. Eddy says, in Science and Health, p. 476, "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." The teaching and practice of Christian Science is based exclusively on the Scripture, especially the teaching and works of the Master. Nothing else enters into it, and on this point Christian Science stands preeminently alone.

It is true that Christian Scientists use prayer as do others, but the Christian Science prayer is the prayer of understanding and not of blind faith, even as Jesus said: "And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." It is the prayer which realizes that God's work is done and well done. It is the understanding that man must go to God and partake of His table off blessings, and not ask God to bring them to him. The Christian Scientist recognizes God as the only creator, Life, power, and Principle, and His creations as spiritual and eternal, even as He is Spirit, and because of this, the only reality.

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