The current May number of Health Culture contains an...

William S. Campbell

Washington (D. C.) Post

The current May number of Health Culture contains an article on "Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science," from the pen of Dr. T. J. Allen, whose contributions to the Post make his name a familiar one. Referring to Christian Science, he says: "It is entitled to great credit for popularizing the healing practice of the 'great Physician.' " He adds, "To dwell upon the sunny side, as Christian Science teaches, is not merely beautiful, but practical." Elsewhere in his article, Dr. Allen says: "In emphasizing the importance of the spiritual side of life, and especially of faith as a means of cure, Christian Science has done great good, especially in an age that has leaned too far to the material side; and it is apparent that its work is not yet finished."

These frank statements are from a member of the medical profession, and the doctor is to be commended for his honesty of expression. Still, there are some things that he assumes are included in Christian Science which do not meet with his approval, and in this respect he represents a large class of people. Some of these things are not included in the Christian Science teaching at all, but are mere misconceptions of its teaching; others are misunderstood, for the reason that the Christian Science view-point is always on the spiritual side, and the view from the material side gives the wrong perspective.

If one could get off the earth a sufficient distance to get a correct view of the movements of the solar system, it would not be difficult to comprehend that the earth is not only circling around the sun at a terrific speed, but is also revolving on its axis at a rate that moves everything on its surface a distance of more than a thousand miles an hour. Standing on the earth, it is more difficult to comprehend this, yet it is the fact, regardless of whether one believes it or not.

In much the same way it is necessary to get outside of matter in order to get the right view-point of the real universe—the universe that God made and governs. The statement of the apostle Paul is, "Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord," and his advice is "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Jesus said, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink." The personal habits of both these teachers showed that they intended their teaching to be practical. Paul advised that whatsoever is set before us, we are to "eat, asking no question for conscience sake." Jesus ate with his disciples, and in eating what was set before him he probably gave no thought to the subject of hygiene, for he was constantly absent from the body and present with the Lord—realizing the presence of divine power to govern all the phenomena of existence, even to the delicate texture and coloring of the lily.

Mrs. Eddy has stated in the Christian Science text-book, on page 478: "That body is most harmonious in which the discharge of the natural functions is least noticeable." And again, on page 388, "If mortals think that food disturbs the harmonious functions of mind and body, either the food or this thought must be dispensed with, for the penalty is coupled with the belief. Which shall it be? If this decision be left to Christian Science, it will be given in behalf of the control of Mind over this belief and every erroneous belief, or material condition. The less we know or think about hygiene, the less we are predisposed to sickness."

It is sometimes difficult at first to understand that Christian Science is a consistent whole. It can be seen that there is good in it, but in other respects it is at variance with material ways of thinking. But people are learning more and more that if any part of Christian Science is good, it is good all through. Its proposition is that it is Science, and the highest and most accurate form of Science, because its Principle or primal cause is God or Spirit. The system is therefore consistent, and if any part is good, it is good in its entirety. If the proposition is admitted that God is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, then all the deductions from that proposition will be found in harmony with the Christian Science teaching.

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