Article September 20, 1913 Issue

In a recent article upholding Dr. Osler's position on the...

W. C. Williams

Baltimore (Md.) American

In a recent article upholding Dr. Osler's position on the inefficiency of the saints in curing human ills, a certain reverend gentleman referred to Christian Scientists as representing the extreme form of trust in miracles. He stated that it is just beginning to be seen that this is the wrong kind of trust in God.

Christian Scientists do not believe in miracles, if by miracles is meant something which is accomplished contrary to law; nor did Jesus, for he said that he came to fulfil the law, not to destroy it. He also said that as the Father did the works, all who believed him and trusted in God would do even greater things than he did; and most of his work was the healing of "all manner" of diseases. He did not advise people to go to medical men or to study medicine, but proved to them that it was their God-given privilege to be filled with health and holiness, and that through obedience to God's law,—seeking the kingdom of heaven, loving their neighbor, and overcoming sin,—health of mind and body would result.

Either sickness and disease are in the divine order of things or they are not; either God afflicts His children with suffering or He has nothing to do with it. If the Father visited disease on His children, we would have no right to try to overcome it, and we could not overcome it if sent by an all-powerful God. Jesus showed that it was not through God that we were made sick, but that through the understanding of Him and man's relation to Him, sickness and all other discords can be overcome, since they are unreal. A human father would not inflict suffering on his children for the benefit they might derive from the patience gained in fighting for their health, and would we attribute to a loving heavenly Father that which we would condemn in a human one? The command, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," will keep one busy enough without wasting his energy during the whole of his mortal existence in struggling for freedom from the nightmare of disease, and the promise is there which makes such a waste unnecessary.

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