Article June 15, 1912 Issue

In the Times appeared a report of a discourse by a...

Alfred Farlow

Montgomery (Ala.) Times

In the Times appeared a report of a discourse by a clergyman which contains the following statement: "Today, with a truer knowledge of law, order, unity, miracles are regarded neither as a violation nor suspension of law, but as a manifestation of a higher law." The gentleman further declares, "At no time have men ceased entirely to believe in miracles, not only as a past historical fact, but as a present reality." Thus far, he agrees with the teaching of Christian Science, that healing the sick and overcoming the discords of human life by spiritual as distinctive from material means, is not supernatural, but, as Mrs. Eddy puts it, "divinely natural" (Science and Health, Pref., p. xi).

In spite of the foregoing admission, the gentleman criticizes the proposition that the overcoming of sin and disease is considered of "evidential value to attest the truth" of the teachings given forth by those through whom such healings are effected. We think we are justified here in asking the question, Does the gentleman consider it important to seek the manifestation of the "higher law"? If so, by what evidence, then, would he hope to realize that he is acting in accordance with the "higher law," and how would he dispose of the saying, "By their fruits ye shall know them;" and what explanation would he give of the Master's conduct when asked by the disciples of John the Baptist whether he was the Messiah, in bidding them to tell John what they had seen? He did not answer the question by yes or no, but told them to mention to John what they had observed,—that "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised." Our Saviour confidently believed that the most convincing evidence of his Messiahship was the overcoming of sin and disease.

We agree with the gentleman's sentiment that mere physical demonstrations do not always evidence the correctness and worthiness of the means employed. Jeremiah once said: "They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Since all disorders are at bottom mental, there may be an apparent healing result which consists merely of exchanging one belief for another, and in consequence of which the second condition may be no better, but, on the contrary, may even be worse than the first condition; but the fact still remains that there is a genuine method of overcoming discord, a method which consists of destroying error with truth, in keeping with the Master's injunction, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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