Article September 2, 1911 Issue

A large percentage of the membership of the Christian Science...

John M. Dean

Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial

A large percentage of the membership of the Christian Science church were formerly consistent working members in the various orthodox churches, and it is a fair assumption to say that if these churches had ministered to the needs of these people they would not have become afflicted with a "waning faith" which would lead them into the acceptance of what the good doctor is pleased to term a "half-truth." So-called orthodoxy offers only one half of the healing gospel of Jesus—the healing of sin—while Christian Science comes with the "undivided garment" and offers full salvation from both sickness and sin. Whenever Jesus said "preach" he also said "heal," and if our friend will inform us when and by whom the latter command was abrogated, we will acknowledge our error and cease our efforts to obey it. Until he can do this he had best study these commands carefully and prayerfully, and perhaps he will thereby find the reason for the empty churches of which he complains.

Neither "telepathic amusement" nor "occult experiment" enter into the teaching or practice of Christian Science, as the gentleman would know if he had even half carefully read Mrs. Eddy's book, Science and Health; and if he has not done this he is obviously disqualified as a critic. In either event, the testimony of good citizens who have an intimate acquaintance with Christian Science should outweigh the unsupported word of an unfriendly critic, however honest.

The charge that Christian Science "eliminates self-abnegation" is something new under the sun, for its followers put a literal interpretation upon the injunction of the master when he said that he who would "come after" him must "deny himself." They put particular emphasis on the word "self," which certainly means far more than a perfunctory abstinence from worldly comforts or pleasures. They recognize self as their greatest enemy and are in varying degree, striving to overcome this enemy.

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With all other Christian churches, Christian Science...
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