Article October 28, 1911 Issue

A late issue quotes three reasons given by the Rev. A. F....

George Shaw Cook

Elgin (Ill.) Courier

A late issue quotes three reasons given by the Rev. A. F. Purkiss for the success of Christian Science, the last being "absolute trust in God" and "the supremacy of the spiritual over the material." History warrants the belief that twenty or more years ago a minister of the denomination to which the reverend gentleman belongs would not have found even three points in favor of Christian Science. Is it not fair to assume that a little more knowledge of what Christian Science is accomplishing for the good of mankind, and a little more familiarity with its fundamental teachings, will remove all objections to it in the thought of those who are seeking the betterment of humanity?

The teaching of Christian Science regarding the nature of matter seems to be a stumbling-block to many, in common with our present critic, but this is often due in part to previous education along different lines, which tends to prejudice the student. Yet since the theories of material science regarding the nature of matter have been subject to so many revisions, is it not possible that further changes will prepare thought for the general acceptance of Mrs. Eddy's statement of page 468 of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter.' All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal." The foregoing is perhaps the most radical statement contained in Science and Health, and a careful study of the book as a whole will show that Mrs. Eddy makes full allowance for the appearance of reality which matter and evil present to human sense. That the physical senses cannot, however, be depended upon to testify to the true nature of that which is eternal and real, is indicated by the words of Paul, who said in substance that "the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal." Mrs. Eddy defines substance as "that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay" (Science and Health, p. 468). What we call matter, therefore, is not eternal, neither is it incapable of discord and decay.

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October 28, 1911
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