Article April 26, 1913 Issue

In a recent issue, under the heading "Christian Science...

Thomas F. Watson in

Hanford (Cal.) Sentinel

In a recent issue, under the heading "Christian Science and Methodism—How Far Between?" a Methodist minister "pokes fun at the rapidly increasing cult in his Sunday sermon." From obeying Christ's command, "Feed my sheep," to "poking fun" at another church or religious teaching, one might well ask, "How far between?" The commandments of Christ Jesus, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel," "Heal the sick," etc., which the Christian Science church emphasizes, its members are humbly and earnestly endeavoring to obey; and the fact that they have undoubtedly met with some success along this line explains why its followers are "rapidly increasing."

The avowed purpose and mission of the Christian Science church today is to "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Church Manual, p. 17). The first tenet of Christian Science, as given in the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, is as follows: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (p. 497). Surely there is nothing in this teaching which could produce "spiritual wrecks," as the gentleman avers; but among the followers of Christian Science are thousands who have been healed of their infidelity, their sickness, sorrow, sin, and despair, through the study of Science and Health, which has taught them how to understand God; and they gratefully testify to this fact.

It has been well said that Mrs. Eddy's writings "arouse an insatiate hunger for more of the Bible, more of God, more of the Christ, more of Jesus, more of the Holy Comforter." Our friend the minister admits that Christian Science "performs many cures," but states that the Indian witch doctor does the same, which reminds one that in those days when Jesus healed the sick, there were some who would not admit that the healing was done by the power of God, but by Beelzebub. Even the disciples could not understand why some were casting out devils, and yet were not following them; but they were rebuked by Jesus, as we read in St. Mark.

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