Article April 24, 1909 Issue

A recent criticism delivered at the Museum of Art is...

Charles K. Skinner

Detroit (Mich.) Free Press

A recent criticism delivered at the Museum of Art is certainly a remarkable expression for a thinker of the present hour. A local clergyman said: "I think Christian Science is the most preposterous thing on earth, but I have sent to Scientist patients afflicted in spirit. I knew just what ailed them, and that they were just the kind to be affected by the impressive imbecility of Mrs. Eddy's book." Think of it! Patients afflicted in spirit, sent by a minister of spiritual things to a doctrine of "imbecility" for help! Strange consistency this! The claim of certain of the clergy has always been that Christian Science is not Christian, although some of the broader ministers have admitted that it does heal. Now, if Christian Science is not Christian, why should a Christian minister send patients to it for spiritual help? Imbecility has never been considered a healing agency, neither has it been known to restore confidence in God or man.

Is it not possible that the reverend gentlemen knew better than he was willing to admit before his audience of doctors and others? He certainly would not wish to be considered less intelligent than scores of the orthodox clergy and of other professional men who have read and studied Mrs. Eddy's works with such success as to be restored to health and peace, which neither the medical profession nor his own had been able to bring them. The critic was, however, right in sending patients to Christian Science for spiritual help, as thousands of his peers will tell him, for of all the benefits which this religion has to bestow, none is greater than the spiritual uplift which gives to man a higher understanding of God and man's relation to Him, by which he realize his birthright of dominion.

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