Editorial August 21, 1909 Issue

SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY

Annie M. Knott

There can be no question that the spirit of the age tends toward scientific methods in all directions, and this is well. Christian Scientists gladly acknowledge the many valuable contributions to human knowledge which have been made in the last half century, through insistence upon scientific accuracy in both study and work. They can the better appreciate the necessity for accuracy because they know that the Principle of Christian Science demands this, and no less than this in thought, word, and deed. It is therefore a matter of surprise that after many admonitions some people continue to disregard the rule relative to the non-use of formulas by Christian Scientists.

Quite recently the attention of the editors has been called to the fact that typewritten articles are in circulation in various places, the statements in which, it is claimed, have been copied from articles published in the Journal or Sentinel, but as neither date, volume, nor page is given, it is well-nigh impossible to trace these statements to their asserted source. All that can be done is to examine them carefully, in order to see if they correspond with the teachings of our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Where this has been done, the result shows that very serious misstatements have been offered to unsuspecting readers. Here is one, taken from a typewritten sheet: "Now, if man is God's child, he is nothing more or less than a part of the eternal, universal good," etc. What is the teaching of our text-book on this point? On page 336 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: "God is indivisible. A portion of God could not enter man; neither could God's fulness be reflected by a single man, else God would be manifestly finite, lose the deific character, and become less than God."

Nearly all of these so-called "copied" statements are lacking in scientific accuracy, and they may therefore be characterized as counterfeits of the truth. It were well for all students of Christian Science to ponder our Leader's words in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 302): "Behind the scenes lurks an evil which you can prevent: it is a purpose to kill the reformation begun and increasing through the instructions of Science and Health." We would all surely shrink from harming ourselves and others in this way, and why should any be tempted to give out formulas when their use is forbidden? Even if statements from our periodicals were correctly quoted, there are many good reasons why these should not be taken from their context and given out in an irresponsible manner, without the volume, page, or line. What would be the result if detached sentences or paragraphs were taken from a standard work on engineering or chemistry, and these incorrectly quoted and circulated in such a way that the original statements could not be traced? Yet Christian Science deals with the most vital problems ever presented to humanity, and nothing can be of greater importance than to see that its teachings are preserved in their purity; that they are accurately stated and faithfully demonstrated.

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