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."

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