Article October 19, 1912 Issue

In an interesting resume of a Whitsunday sermon, the...

David Anderson

Melbourne (Aus.) Herald

In an interesting resume of a Whitsunday sermon, the preacher appears to have discriminated between the joyous atmosphere of the early Christianity, when the church was full of life triumphant, and the modern clerical visitation of the sick, in which the minister of religion, who has been called in after the doctors have done all they could, must not come to the bedside as the agent of the life-giving Christ; all energy in that direction having been abdicated in favour of the "cranky followers of Mrs. Eddy."

"Cranky" is a somewhat indefinite description. It conveys the suggestion of mental weakness, although Webster also gives as an obsolete meaning, "full of spirit, brisk, lively." The reverend canon is too much of the manly sportsman to seek from the vantage of pulpit and clerical position to sneer at a woman or to scoff at a religious belief because it may not be in accord with his own conviction. He may, however, be one of those who, having formed opinions of Christian Science at second hand, feel justified in launching ridicule and invective at what they have not taken pains to investigate. Probably some of the Whitsunday congregation would have liked to hear what authentic knowledge the preacher had of the life and work and teachings of Mrs. Eddy, and how many of her followers he personally knew, by way of justification of his conclusion that Christian Scientists are cranks.

In less than half a century Christian Science has encircled the globe. Its church-membership comprises intelligent people in all grades of life, and includes judges, doctors, university professors, and ministers of the canon's own and other denominations; and more than a million witnesses are living to testify to its efficacy as a healing agency. The preacher would appear to have recognized that the proportion of Christian Scientists who are "full of spirit, brisk, lively" church-members, is greater than in his own communion. The percentage of the mentally unstable is not.

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