Article March 8, 1913 Issue

In a recent issue there appeared references to Christian Science...

Frank C. Barrett—Gardiner, Me.

Reporter-Journal

In a recent issue there appeared references to Christian Science and Mrs. Eddy which, while evidently intended to be fair and kind, nevertheless contained several statements which conveyed an erroneous impression. For the benefit of the readers of your valuable paper I would like to state that Mrs. Eddy never claimed that she was the source of healing in Christian Science. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Thus, by gaining a spiritual sense of God, and of man in His image and likeness, one may so put off materiality as to become a transparency for Truth. Mrs. Eddy discovered this fact: that God will manifest Himself through man whenever "man is spiritually-minded enough, but she never taught that she or any other human being is or was the source of healing, which is God. Even Jesus disclaimed the ability to do the healing work of himself, for he said: "I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." Then he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; . . . because I go unto my Father." It is evident from this that he expected his works to be perpetuated by his followers throughout all time, for he was going away; but he left his example and revealed the source of his power to heal and save.

Mrs. Eddy discovered that "the prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love" (Science and Health, p. i). Christian Science teaches that those who would follow the Master in his works, must have that Mind in them "which was also in Christ Jesus." "For to be carnally minded," Paul tells us, "is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Mrs. Eddy's whole work has been to help mankind to be "spiritually minded," which is essentially and necessarily a religious work. No mere philosophy can accomplish it, because it lacks the vitality of a religion, and psychology cannot explain the works of Jesus, much less approximate them. The phenomenon of physical healing in Christian Science is not a phase of the action of the human mind, as intimated in the article under discussion, nor is it is any way related to psychotherapy.

Mrs. Eddy stands as the Discoverer, teacher, and Leader of the Christian Science movement, and it is in this light that Christian Scientists have always regarded her. She has merited the Father's high commendation, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant;" and Christian Scientists are grateful for all that she has done, but they never could worship her or any other human being. She says of herself, "Today, though rejoicing in some progress, she still finds herself a willing disciple at the heavenly gate, waiting for the Mind of Christ" (Science and Health, Pref., p. ix).

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