Editorial March 15, 1913 Issue

"IF IT BE OF GOD."

Archibald McLellan

In the early days of the Christian Science movement, the truths so fearlessly set forth in its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," naturally enough, because so distinct from the accepted orthodox teaching and practise of centuries past, aroused a storm of criticism from the clerical and the medical professions, with the press as a common vehicle; criticisms which, as Mrs. Eddy herself says, "would condemn to oblivion the truth which is raising up thousands from helplessness to strength and elevating them from a theoretical to a practical Christianity" (Science and Health, p. 341). In those days the number of articles attacking Christian Science which found their way into the newspapers throughout the country was very large, and their mode of attack as a rule left much to be desired both in justice and courtesy.

These conditions were mainly responsible for the organization of the force of publication committees which have since done such splendid work in the way of refutation of misstatements in setting forth the correct teachings of Christian Science. That Christian Scientists should protest against the publication of incorrect and unjust statements, and request the privilege of correcting them, was at first surprising to newspaper editors, but the unfailing courtesy of the committees, and the kindly tone of the articles which they offered in refutation of the false statements which had been made through ignorance of what Christian Science really is, have gradually won the day. Editors commenced to see that Christian Scientists in seeking to controvert the statements which had been made about their religion, had no other purpose than to correct misunderstandings which would naturally follow the publication of that which was not true, and that the means by which they expected to correct these misunderstandings was of the simplest, namely, to tell the truth about the particular teaching of Christian Science which had been misunderstood and therefore was misstated by the critic.

When it is remembered that this work of the committees on publication was undertaken in the spirit of the wise man's counsel that "a soft answer turneth away wrath," and their Leader's admonition that "however despitefully used and misrepresented by the churches or the press, in return employ no violent invective, and do good unto your enemies when the opportunity occurs" (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 3), in accordance with the teachings of the great Exemplar of Christian living, it is not surprising that with the passing of the years there has been a marked decrease in the number and the virulence of these criticisms. Lovingly and with patience disarming their critics, and availing themselves of the opportunity to place before the public the true standard of Christian Science living, the result could not be otherwise than gradually to overcome the prejudice of those who had mistakenly censured both the teaching and its exponents.

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