Article September 4, 1909 Issue

In the account of the proceedings at the opening of...

W. J. Bonnin

Rochdale (Eng.) Times

In the account of the proceedings at the opening of St. Aidan's bazaar, one of the speakers is reported to have spoken somewhat harshly of Christian Scientists, for that they undertake to minister to both the spiritual and the physical ailments of humanity, and also to carry out the "duties of God." If "will" be substituted for "duties," as perhaps a rather more appropriate term to use in reference to divine omnipotence, Christian Scientists will gladly acknowledge that what is here laid to their charge is not only true, but that it represents their highest aspirations. But they fail entirely to see why such aims should bring reproach upon them. He who came as the Wayshower, to do the will of God, most assuredly indicated, not only by his own great example, but by his repeated command, that the way to do that will was to a very great extent by so ministering to our fellow-man.

There is no authority in the Bible for dividing this duty and allotting as separate duties to separate persons, holding perhaps widely differing views as to the source of all power and authority, the healing of the mind and the healing of the body. On the contrary, the divine mandate "to preach the gospel, and to heal the sick," was individual and indissoluble; and if it was one duty when laid upon the disciples, it surely remains one duty upon Christians today. The healing is the test of the preaching. There is no advice in the Book of Life to the effect that life should be guarded or prolonged by material means or remedy. Then either such a title is a misnomer or else life is something independent of matter. But the Bible tells us something about life on almost every page, and in that supreme statement of Jesus it tells us "this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Christian Science is this knowledge of God, and Christian Scientists are students of this Science, who are proving for themselves and for others that this knowledge of God is not something to be acquired only after death. but that it is to be gained here and now; that it is a practical solution of the troubles that harass humanity; and by so proving, they are also proving that Christian Science is both essential Science and essential Christianity. Today there are literally hundreds of thousands who have tested and proved the truth of Christian Science, and their great desire is that others may know something of the joy and freedom from sickness and misery that is in store for all who will worship God in spirit and in truth.

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In the account of the proceedings at the opening of...

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