Editorial October 28, 1911 Issue

SUBSTANCE AND SHADOW

Archibald McLellan

Much as is being accomplished at the present time by the more public methods of placing Christian Science rightfully before the world, the real work which counts, that which is most convincing of its potency, is the healing of the sick that is daily taking place through the understanding and application of its teachings. Mrs. Eddy knew this; she saw from the beginning of her great undertaking that she must prove her faith by her works before she could hope to gain a hearing, and in Science and Health (p. 109) she tells us that demonstration was a factor in arriving at the absolute conclusions of Christian Science; that its truths she had discovered must be "supported by sensible evidence," its divine Principle "demonstrated by healing the sick and thus proved absolute and divine."

Mrs. Eddy simply followed the Master's methods. The great Teacher bore a wonderful message to the children of men, but it was not until he began to heal the sick before their very eyes that the rabbis and priests began to question by what power these works of healing were wrought. They could but admit it was greater than they themselves possessed. In one of her later messages Mrs. Eddy writes: "Had not my first demonstrations of Christian Science or metaphysical healing exceeded that of other methods, they would not have arrested attention and started the great cause that today commands the respect of our best thinkers" (Messages to The Mother Church, p. 53).

Christian Scientists will do well to keep this statement of our Leader ever before them, so that they will not be led away from the substance of Christian Science to pursue the shadow of form and ceremony. Each one of the activities of the Christian Science church, the church service, the reading-rooms, the lectures, the periodicals, has an important place in the growth of this movement, but each of them would be ineffective, without impulse, were it not for the healing that is being done quietly and unostentatiously through the ministry of those who have consecrated themselves to this work which our Master said should be the distinguishing mark of his followers. The hundreds of Christian Science churches and societies that are in existence today all had their beginning in the healing of the sick, whereby attention was drawn to the efficacy of this teaching and one after another was brought into the fold. It is equally true that no Church of Christ, Scientist, can hope to maintain its prestige in the community unless it continues to manifest this vital element of healing.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

THE VITAL MESSAGE