Article June 4, 1910 Issue

In my working relations with different churches for...

E. M. Deuel

Harbor Springs (Mich.) Graphic

In my working relations with different churches for many years, I have found none more earnestly persistent in going about doing good "in his name" than the Christian Scientists; none more fully awake to the fact that, if they expect to reign with Christ, they must also share his cup of earthly sorrow, rejoicing if they may be counted worthy to suffer shame and persecution for his name; none who take more literally his whole command to "preach the gospel" and "heal the sick," well knowing that only in proportion to their right understanding of Truth can they cast out the evil in themselves and others.

Gamaliel said, "If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." It seems strange that in this enlightened age, "the painful story of the persecution of every new truth goes on, and in proportion to its vitality has been the bitterness of attack."

We know that "Jesus amazed the multitude with his new ideas followed by his works, with the resulting persecution, false witness, and the martyr's crown; and his disciples were slain, save one, who was banished." We read that the founders of the Baptist and Methodist denominations received very unchristian treatment in this country from our good old Puritan forefathers. They were reviled, persecuted, and driven from place to place by mobs. In one small town Jesse Lee, the founder of Methodism in New England, was much encouraged because one or two dared kneel down during prayers, and he said, "The lion begins to roar very loud in this place, a sure sign that he is about to lose some of his subjects." Does history repeat itself in our enlightened day and country?

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In my working relations with different churches for...

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