Article September 13, 1913 Issue

In more than a decade of close observation of the progress...

David Anderson—Melbourne, Australia

The Weekly Times

In more than a decade of close observation of the progress of Christian Science the writer has read many pulpit and sectarian attacks on the personality of Mrs. Eddy and on the religion she founded, as these have from time to time been reported in this and other lands. Usually these attacks have been marked by bitterness of tone and a remarkable similarity of inaccurate assertion, but so far as their ultimate effect could be traced it has always been to advertise the good of Christian Science in the very circles where the opposite end was sought. Quite recently, under the egis of different denominations, addresses have been delivered to suburban audiences which have not been striking manifestations of the love which "thinketh no evil," and one is constrained to ask, Cui bono? Can it be that, where but yesterday there was praiseworthy and concerted effort to stimulate city men to practical religion of recognizable vitality, there is now a starring of the suburbs on a mission to becloud the memory of one who did more in forty years to restore the practical Christianity of the early church than any evangelist of the subsequent centuries; a woman venerated and beloved by thousands of intelligent people who have abundant knowledge of her character and history; a woman of stainless reputation, on which not even emissaries sent out in search of copy for "biography" could find a shadow of reflection.

The maxim, De mortuis nil nisi bonum, is so universally respected that public utterance of contrary taint requires amplest justification if it is to be regarded as other than unseemly. In these attacks there is usually much said in attempted disparagement of Mrs. Eddy, and no word of recognition of the supremacy of omnipotent Spirit which her writings consistently uphold, and by the realization of which the works of the flesh, including the devils of malice, envy, and hatred, can be overcome and destroyed.

To deny the Christian Science healing of organic disease is only to confess one's eyes blind to common occurrences which are open to the investigation of all. The platform sneer of one minister at personal testimonies heard by him in a Christian Science mid-week congregation numbering several thousands, may be set in the scale with the published testimony of another who, in the course of an active Australian ministry, had been led to the investigation of Christian Science, and who had subsequent proof of its practical utility in the speedy and permanent healing of his son, who had sustained concussion of the brain and was not recovering under medical treatment. A grain of proof is worth bushels of opinion.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In more than a decade of close observation of the progress...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access