Article December 25, 1909 Issue

In order to answer the question as to why Christian Science...

Olcott Haskell

Oakland (Cal.) Enquirer

In order to answer the question as to why Christian Science treatment cannot be used to injure as well as to bless, it will first be necessary to define in what this treatment consists. It is a turning to God for help with a pure desire to see all things as He made them and sees them—to reflect in thought and deed only the wholly good will of our heavenly Father. It is prayer in which the thought of petition has, through a consciousness of God's ever-presence, been replaced by the joy realization. Such being its nature, it is evident that Christian Science treatment (or "prayer"), whether for those who are present or those who are absent, cannot do harm.

Every Christian believes in the goodness and omnipotence of God, also that prayer to God is a potent factor in bringing good into human experience. Then it should not be thought extravagant or dangerous to claim that God is as potent and willing to save from sickness and sin now as He was in the days of Jesus and his disciples. Christian Science is the science of living which was taught and practised by Christ Jesus, and if in our day the sinful thoughts of the human mind are uncovered and cast out by its teaching, it should be remembered that this was also the Master's method of purifying human consciousness.

Should a Christian Scientist desire to accomplish evil, he could not effect such a purpose through prayer to God, and would therefore at the outset have to relinquish his hold upon omnipotence. Thus shorn of power he would fall to the level of those who seek to use erring human will, which use is condemned in the teachings of Christian Science. By explaining right action and instructing men how to recognize the divine Mind as the only power, this Science frees men from the supposed influence of other human minds, from hypnotic suggestion, and from all that would oppose their individuality and rightful freedom of action.

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