Article November 7, 1914 Issue

The Presbyterian Messenger, which brooks no contradiction...

David Anderson

The Mercury, Kew, Australia

The Presbyterian Messenger, which brooks no contradiction in its columns to what is from time to time set before its readers as a representation of Christian Science, says that it "is to be abhorred, resting as it does on gross error." Unsupported ipse dixit has, of course, only the weight of the "I" that makes it; but it is hardly conceivable that anybody, and least of all those whose avocation is to uplift public thought, should abhor a religious movement which, encompassing the globe in considerably less than half a century, has, beyond all possibility of contradiction, brought to thousands upon thousands, and is bringing to more every day in the week, that health in sickness, light in darkness, comfort in affliction, and hope in despair which they had previously sought long and vainly through other channels with fullest sanction of the clergy. And, wonderful to tell, Christian Science has been doing this in face of just such aspersions as that above quoted, and in spite of harmless fusillades of blank cartridge fired from safe entrenchment of pulpit and editorial chair.

The Messenger says that Christian Science rests on error. The study of Mrs. Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," shows that Christian Science regards as error every contradiction of Truth; that it rests on the premise of God, Spirit, as All; that it accepts as conclusion the universe of Spirit's creation as spiritual; and that it tolerates no error in the premise or conclusion. Its first commandment (which analysis of the decalogue shows to include the other nine) is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," and anything short of fullest obedience to that command Christian Science unhesitatingly denounces as error.

Much publicity has been given to the recent report of a committee of English clergymen and physicians, appointed three years ago, to which the Messenger alludes, and which, in the words of the London correspondent of a Melbourne daily, "leaves things very much as they were as far as the general public are concerned." A conclusion of the committee is, that faith and spiritual healing can be permanently effective only in functional disorders as distinct from organic diseases. It is not so stated, but it is no doubt intended that Christian Science practice should be included in this comprehensive deliverance; and of the committee it may be fairly said, with fullest respect, that its members are, at the least, not sympathetic with Christian Science. Its information has been obtained chiefly, if not entirely, from antagonists of Christian Science. The spiritual healing of Christian Science is the healing of that Physician who healed "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease," and who never stopped to ask whether the disease was organic or functional. It is the healing which Jesus commanded his followers to combine with the preaching of his word,—an express command more than one repeated, which was not given for a special class or for a limited period; and the command has never been abrogated. The Master adduced his works as proof of his Messiahship, and the only test of discipleship he ever gave was obedience to his commands and ability to do his works.

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