Article April 18, 1914 Issue

Considerable interest seems to have been aroused by the...

Albert E. Miller—Manchester, Mass.

North Shore Breeze

Considerable interest seems to have been aroused by the reference to Christian Science which appeared in the Breeze some weeks ago. It referred to an article contributed by "A Churchman" to The North American Review under the heading, "Must Protestantism adopt Christian Science?" In commenting upon this article, your paper dealt quite frankly with the subject of Christian Science, but, as I believe, not entirely in a spirit of justice. For example, the use of the term "charlatanism," as applied to Christian Science, would seem to the well-informed reader to be without excuse. As a matter of fact, there is no more justification for applying this term to Christian Science than to the efforts of our Saviour and his disciples to heal those who appealed for help. Christians who seek to follow in his footsteps and fulfil his command that the sick be healed as well as the sinner reformed, naturally resist the effort to designate them in this way.

Your article states: "What is needed is an abandonment by Christian Science of its narrow and bigoted opposition to real and scientific attainments." A close examination into this subject discloses the fact that Christian Science places no obstacles in the way of "scientific attainments," but on the contrary, tends to promote such attainment. It is generally well known that the Christian Science movement embraces among its membership many men and women who are actively contributing, through various walks of life, to the achievement of what is highest and best for humanity. The possibilities which Christian Science constantly unfolds in the line of human achievement, are apt to be overlooked in taking an antagonistic attitude toward this teaching.

Christian Science is not engaged in making warfare upon other churches, neither does it oppose medical practice for those who desire it. In attracting, as it does, favorable attention from other believers, it shows the practical utility of its teaching. This is evidenced in the recent contribution to The North American Review, which it should be remembered was written not by a Christian Scientist, but by one who is described as a priest in the Episcopal church. Should not such effort be recognized as a significant sign of the times, and sober reflection rather than abrupt dismissal be given to the thought which it presents for consideration? Does not the Bible admonish mankind to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good"? Christian Science teaches exactly this, and asks to be judged by its fruits. Those who accept this religion have had, as a rule, considerable training in other churches, and this should enable them to discriminate between the true and the false; hence the significance of their determination, after honest investigation, to adhere to this teaching because of its practical Christian worth. The ranks of the Christian Science movement have been recruited from the great mass of humanity who have constituted, in part at least, the so-called incurables and those adjudged hopelessly afflicted. Are such to be condemned for believing in that which has afforded them the relief they were unable to find elsewhere?

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