Article July 31, 1909 Issue

IMITATIONS

WALTER SHAW

Since Christian Science has proved such a success as a great healing and reformatory movement, the world has been flooded with various imitations of it. These (like other counterfeits) bear more or less resemblance to the original, and while the adage may be true that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," it is nevertheless desirable to be alert to the distinction between the genuine and the spurious.

Christian Science claims no patent or monopoly in the realization of the great love that God has showered upon humanity. We remember our Master's rebuke to those disciples who, seeing another doing miracles in the name of the Christ, sought to stay him because he followed not with them. Yet there is also recorded the warning that Jesus uttered concerning those who desire to climb into the sheepfold by some other way. Our Leader foresaw that the time would arrive when people would desire the benefits of Christian Science, but demand a more material teaching. The subtlety of error in these imitations is, that they are generally projected upon those who are just striving to learn their way in the truth. The writer knows some in this stage to whom literature purporting to be "just as good as Christian Science, without leaving the church," is being constantly introduced. In our early struggles to acquire more understanding of the truth we are tempted to read anything and everything that seems to bear upon this absorbing subject. I well remember sending for copies of a certain pamphlet, which I took to the friend who was helping me, delighted to show him how much Christian Science was being appreciated. I was surprised at the way the pamphlet was received, and it took me some time to realize that my purchase was really a parody upon the truth as taught in Science and Health.

What we all need, and what we need alone, is a true apprehension of genuine, absolute Christian Science, and nothing short of this can ultimately satisfy any wise student. The writers of these various books, pamphlets, tracts, etc., may be sincere, but as the ideas expressed therein originate in the writings of Mrs. Eddy and her teachings of Christian Science, it is to be deplored that so little credit is given to their true author. These Christian Science ideas are generally filtered down to accommodate sundry time-honored beliefs, and are sometimes direct misstatements of divine Science. When such are foisted upon the unwary, they lead to confusion of thought and to difficulties which retard progress. To advance in the understanding of this truth, the present-day student has all the help he or she needs in the Lesson-Sermons and the Christian Science periodicals, and we cannot afford to miss reading any of them, if we desire to progress. Few of us care to deprive ourselves of our usual meals, for the reason that we have not yet demonstrated the ability to go without our ordinary food. Much less should we endeavor to do without or curtail the supply of spiritual nomishment contained in the authorized Christian Science literature and which should be daily assimilated.

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