Article July 12, 1913 Issue

The parallel between the present ministerial attack on...

John W. Harwood

Blackpool (England) Times

The parallel between the present ministerial attack on Christian Science and the attack made by the same class of people nineteen centuries ago on the teachings of Christ Jesus is indeed striking. The reverend critic declares that Christian Science is a new religion, and not in any sense a Christian religion. Surley a Christian is one who believes in the teaching of Christ Jesus and follows his precepts as far as they are understood. Jesus himself gave the test by which a follower of him might be identified, in these words: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me [understands my teaching], the works that I do shall he do also." When the teaching seemed too difficult, Jesus referred to the works and said, "Believe me for the very works' sake." When the works of Christian Science are cited as proofs of the correct reiteration of Jesus' teaching, there is hurled back, as of old, the reply that these works are the works of the devil, or Beelzebub, or hypnotic suggestion, which are synonymous terms.

No one can state how the works of healing, of which there is abundant proof, are done through Christian Science ex cept those who are doing them. For an outsider, who is entirely ignorant of Christian Science and its method of healing, to declare how they are done, is, to say the least, presumptuous, and is just what the Pharisees did. Jesus told the people how they were done when he said: "If I with the finger of God [the power of God] cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." There is abundant proof in Blackpool, as well as in all parts of the world, of the healing of all manner of diseases and evils, of drunkenness, gambling, and all kinds of vice, through Christian Science. Surely, if Satan, or the devil, were destroying these, it would indeed be a house divided against itself, and would fall. But just because it is having these good results, and the beneficiaries are rising up with grateful hearts and giving thanks to God for this discovery of the practical teaching of our Saviour made by Mrs. Eddy, and named Christian Science, the movement is growing with astounding rapidity.

When Jesus sent out his disciples, it was not to teach any creed or ceremony, but his command was to "preach the gospel" and "heal the sick;" and he did not say to do it for nothing, but he did say, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Although our critic ridicules the charge made by Mrs. Eddy for teaching, it does not alter the fact that her teaching was more than worth it. I do not think that the reverend gentleman has refused his salary for what he considers to be God's work.

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