Article August 30, 1913 Issue

In a recent contribution to your editorial page entitled...

Charles E. Jarvis

Los Angeles (Cal.) Examiner.

In a recent contribution to your editorial page entitled "Mind and Health," from Prof. Garrett P. Serviss, the writer takes the position held by many, that disease is the result of fear or imagination; and in this we agree with him. Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 411 of her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that "the procuring cause and foundation of all sickness is fear, ignorance, or sin. Disease is always induced by a false sense mentally entertained, not destroyed. Disease is an image of thought externalized. The mental state is called a material state. Whatever is cherished in mortal mind as the physical condition is imaged forth on the body." When Professor Serviss indicates that the same human mind whence emanates the fear, can cure the result of its own vagaries, we shall have to part company with the gentleman. And when he goes further and classifies Christian Science with so–called mind–healing through concentration, blind faith, or willpower, the situation calls for correction.

The sum total of human misery is the result of wrong thinking, the product of the mortal mind, or carnal mind, which, we are told, "is enmity against God," and it is as impossible for this human mind to correct its own errors as it is for a fountain to send forth sweet water and bitter, or the fig tree to bear olive berries. Therefore, every so–called metaphysical system attributing any ability to heal to the human will, suggestion, or other mortal phenomena, is antithetical to Christian Science. Briefly speaking, Christian Science is a religion which teaches absolute reliance upon God, "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;" the religion taught and practised by Christ Jesus, who promised his followers that a knowledge of the truth should make us free.

When Jesus was doing his greatest work among the people, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk, the dumb to speak, the skeptics of that age were quite as critical as they are today, and on one memorable occasion charged him with employing evil means in his ministrations. His answer as given in the twelfth chapter of Matthew is as timely today as when uttered by the Master: "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."

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