Article August 19, 1911 Issue

The university sermon preached by the Right Rev. the...

Algernon Hervey Bathurst

Oxford (Eng.) Times

The university sermon preached by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Pretoria refers to "Christian Science, falsely so called." It would be difficult to imagine any two words that could better describe the teachings of Christian Science than those selected by the Discoverer and Founder, Mrs. Eddy. It is true that the teachings of Christian Science do not coincide entirely with those of the Church of England, since the latter teaches that the reformation of sin is the special care of the church, while the sick man must turn to the doctor or surgeon for assistance. Christian Science, however, goes back to the teachings as uttered by the Master and demonstrated by him and his disciples two thousand years ago.

The healing of sickness and the destruction of sin are, he pointed out, one and the same thing, and Mrs. Eddy has always emphasized the absolute necessity of Christian Scientists proving their faith by their works; in other words, proving that the teachings of Jesus the Christ are scientific. Theory alone is of no avail. "Shew me thy faith without thy works," the apostle James said, "and I will shew thee my faith by my works." This, then, is the standard adopted by Christian Scientist, for what was true two thousand years ago is equally true today, in addition to which there is the clear and unmistakable declaration of the Master to the effect that those who understood his teachings would not only do the works he did, but even greater works than these.

It is true that the teachings of the Galilean Prophet were attacked by those who were either unable or unwilling to accept them, and history has certainly repeated itself in this respect. Nevertheless, those who have turned to Christian Science for help and obtained it, having perhaps failed to find it elsewhere, know that its teachings are not only Christian but scientific, and they realize that just in so far as they continue to strive to put into practice those teachings so clearly set forth in the New Testament, will they be able to accomplish the works which are so essential a proof of the fact that their religion is both Christian and scientific.

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