Article March 13, 1909 Issue

The Christian Science movement has steadily advanced,...

J. V. Dittemore

Batavia (N. Y.) News

The Christian Science movement has steadily advanced, during the forty years of its existence, in the face of the most bitter opposition from the advocates of other systems of religion and healing, and this critic's attack is in no way unlike a thousand others which have marked the steady advance of this denomination. If Christian Science were as utterly absurd, unchristian, and ridiculous as our critic says it is, there would be no need of these disinterested and dispassionate efforts to save the unsuspecting public from its "destroying heresy." In the Science or demonstrable knowledge of Christianity, called Christian Science, opinion is entirely valueless unless supported by an understanding of the subject sufficient to prove its propositions, and a correct understanding of the subject can be gained only by reading its authorized literature, and not by heeding the mistaken criticisms of its antagonists.

Christian Scientists are quite willing to admit with our critic that a large percentage of sick people would get well without interference of either physician or Christian Scientists, and they also agree with him that "there are some forms of sickness that will not yield to faith," but they differentiate between faith and understanding. They do affirm, however, that there were no forms of sickness that did not yield to the spiritual understanding of Jesus, and they are humbly trying to obey his command in gaining a sufficient amount of the spirit which he possessed to enable them again to perform the works he performed, and to do it in the way he commanded, which they believe to be the only right way.

"The end of it all is," says the clergyman, "that the old world is going to jog on just about as it has." Not a very optimistic outlook from one who has enlisted to bring God's kingdom on earth. Christian Scientists must differ with him on this point, for they believe that the world is rapidly getting better, and that there is a desire today as never before for a greater measure of righteousness in our political and religious life, as well as in the consciousness of the individual. They believe that the world is wearying of materiality and the hopeless belief that there is no adequate means of salvation and deliverance here and now from suffering, sorrow, and the world's injustice. They confidently believe that the time has come for the realization that the kingdom of heaven is within us—a present possibility to those who follow the Master's footsteps in word and in deed.

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