Article April 18, 1914 Issue

The assertion in a sermon quoted in a recent issue that...

Frank Bell—Oil City, Pa.

The Derrick

The assertion in a sermon quoted in a recent issue that nine tenths of the Christian Scientists have become such in order to be healed, is substantially correct, although seventy-five per cent is perhaps more nearly the actual proportion. This being the case, it must follow that the statement, "There is no such thing as sickness," does not correctly present the teaching of Christian Science on the subject. Sick persons are not healed by telling them they need no help, nor would they be likely to turn for relief to a system whose practice consisted of ignoring illness. The large and growing membership in Christian Science is made up of those who have found in its teaching and practice a substantial response to their need for better health and morals, for relief from the blighting effects of fear and superstition, for a larger knowledge of the vital things of life.

Reference has been made to the philosophies of India, and it is asserted that they should be judged, not by the beautiful phrases in which they may be expressed, but by their fruits, their effects upon their adherents. Why then attempt to reverse this order of reasoning and judge Christian Science by what some careless persons have mistakenly assumed to be its teachings, instead of looking into the great good it has done and giving it due credit therefor? If the well-nigh invariable effect of Christian Science is to heal the sick and cleanse the sinner, to promote the Christian virtues and to make of its adherents better men and women in all respects, why should professed opponents of evil waste their time trying to misrepresent and discredit Christian Science?

Christian Scientists are taught to go quietly about their work of doing good. They do not thrust their opinions into unready ears; they do not proselyte, nor do they seek to build up their religion by pulling down others. They never hold evangelistic meetings to gain adherents. They believe the best influence in a community is a pure-minded man or woman, the most effective sermon a genuinely good life. They see much that is good in other religious beliefs and they are never found on the housetops shouting the shortcomings of their fellow men. They ask, and usually receive, like consideration. On page 354 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: "The opponents of divine Science must be charitable, if they would be Christian. If the letter of Christian Science appears inconsistent, they should gain the spiritual meaning of Christian Science, and then the ambiguity will vanish. The charge of inconsistency in Christianly scientific methods of dealing with sin and disease is met by something practical,—namely, the proof of the utility of these methods."

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