Article January 1, 1910 ISSUE

Your last Sunday's editorial on the recent incident in...

Charles K. Skinner

Detroit (Mich.) Free Press

Your last Sunday's editorial on the recent incident in New York, while exceptionally fair in its review of the case, seems to entertain a pessimistic view of the future of the Christian Science church as an organization. The earnest Christian Scientist has, however, no foreboding for the future of his faith. His confidence in divine Principle, God, and his understanding of Christian Science and its rules, which enables him to apply them successfully in his daily work, supports him in his belief that no problem can arise which cannot be harmoniously settled by the application of this teaching.

Christian Science as a practical religion is not founded upon any personality. Had such been the case, it would long since have ceased to be. No one has labored more strenuously to bring this fact to his followers, than has Mrs. Eddy to Christian Scientists. Her words to them are. "Follow your Leader only so far as she follows Christ" (Messages to The Mother Church, p. 78). Her message to the New York church, and the action of the Board of

Directors of The Mother Church, were but the voice of the Manual of that church, which has been provided to cover all cases of misdoing. The rules of this Manual will speak again and again, if occasion demands, for government and discipline, and all who are Christian Scientists in spirit and in deed will cheerfully obey. The defections of others may come, as the Free Press states, but they will be those who either do not understand the rules, or are unwilling to meet the demands of their teachings. This will by no means cause a new Christian Science church, for no organization can prove its right to this name except it is bringing out the fruits of Christian Science teaching and practice.

The Free Press refers to the "Christian Science Bible" and says, "It will remain in the pages of Science and Health." This is impossible, for it has never been there. I may say without fear of truthful contradiction, that the Authorized Version of the Bible is read and studied as much, if not more closely, by Christian Scientists as a body of Christians, than by any other denomination. Its use in the Christian Science church services is more general, and the individual study of it is greater, than of any other book. I do not say this boastfully, but in refutation of the statement which is sometimes foolishly made, that the Christian Scientists have a different Bible. The text-book, Science and Health, is the commentary by which its students gain the spiritual understanding of the Scriptures, and the teachings of Jesus of which he said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

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