Our ministerial critic returned to the charge against the...

Out West

Our ministerial critic returned to the charge against the Christian Scientists and against Christian Science last Sunday evening. He justified all that he has said by reading letter after letter from people who think as he does. All of which is inconsequent, irrelevant, and immaterial, and not at all convincing. He forgets that it is entirely possible to find any number of people in this world who believe that the other fellow ought to be exterminated for being heterodox. Orthodoxy is built that way. Every man is orthodox—to himself—and the other fellow who does not agree is a perfectly dreadful creature, you know. If the effort were worth the time, we could find any number of people who would affirm that our critic ought to be exterminated, and that his teachings are error. John Calvin, of sainted memory, thought that way when he burned Michael Servetus for heresy.

Our critic is preaching from his pulpit and we from ours. We have the larger congregation. He preaches doctrine, and we humanity. Whereas he is certain that his sail and rudder are perfect and will guide him into a safe port, we preach the wider doctrine. He has his scheme of conversion all ready for sinners; we go farther, and say that we hope and believe that all mortals who are true to the teachings and promptings of their own consciences will eventually get their reward of happiness, whether in this world or the next, about which we do not pretend to know anything.

Some years ago the Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, who was considerable of an acting pulpiteer, preached a sermon drawn from one of Paul's epistles, the text being, "And some on pieces of the ship." Paul, it will be remembered, tells the story of a shipwreck, and describes how every one on that ship was saved, "and some on pieces of the ship." Well, now, perhaps that is Universalism pure and simple, and perhaps we are encroaching on theological matters more closely than we care to do, but it is suggested, and in perfect good faith, that our critic get a file of Talmage's published sermons and read that particular one.

As far as the Christian Scientists are concerned, we fail to see wherein they are reprehensible. If they have turned from their old-time Protestant sects, is it not that they had found husks where they sought food? If they have improved in their attitude toward the world—and most of them have—is it not to be set down to the credit of Christian Science? If they accept Mrs. Eddy's Key to the Scriptures, is that not their business, and are they subject to abuse for making their choice elsewhere than in our critic's fold? If there are fanatics among them, are there not also fanatics among other sects and cults? If they obey the laws and are worthy and honest citizens, who gave our critic or any other man the license to abuse them or their faith?

This is the Christmas season, and it is a time for remembering the Christ. Did he ever preach anything else than toleration, than perfect love, than justice, than regard for others, than all that goes to make up perfect manhood and womanhood? Will some people ever learn to discriminate between theology and religion? Will they read the epistle of James and learn what religion is?

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