Article May 16, 1914 Issue

A recent issue of your paper contained a clergyman's...

A. H. Skinner

The Detroit (Mich.) Times

A recent issue of your paper contained a clergyman's curious comment on Christian Science. With your permission I will give the first tenet of this religion, which is: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (Science and Health, p. 497). In "Rudimental Divine Science" by Mrs. Eddy, is this definition of Christian Science: "The law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony" (p. 1). And yet this critic says that "Christian Science is founded upon absurdities through and through." An absurdity cannot be built on the foundation just given.

Christian Science has reported no cures which cannot be verified, and there is no disease that has not yielded in some instance to Christian Science treatment, although this critic speaks unpleasantly of the "unqualified claims of a panacea for all ills." We admit that we do consider the true understanding of God, the loving, tender Father, a panacea for all human ills. Has the gentleman read the one hundred and third psalm, which says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, ... who healeth all thy diseases," and also that passage in Exodus, "I am the Lord that healeth thee"? We heartily agree with him that "throughout the universe there is an ever-active healing principle that continually operates in mighty power to cure and heal in body, mind, and soul, whatever is weak or sick or broken." We know past all doubting that God is that Principle. Of ourselves we can do nothing, but relying wholly on God, to whom all things are possible, we know that healing, physical, moral, and spiritual, can be accomplished.

This critic also says: "There are no cases too hard for Jesus to heal." No one claims to equal Christ Jesus in spirituality, but Christian Scientists are earnestly trying to follow him. Has our friend forgotten that this same Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also"? Christian Scientists are striving to obey his command to preach the gospel and heal the sick; not half of the command, but all of it. The healing of physical sickness is the smallest part of the Christian Scientists' work. Our Leader has taught us that the emphatic purpose of Christian Science is the healing of sin, and Christian Science practitioners are endeavoring to lead to God those who come to them, teaching them to put off "the old man with his deeds," and to put on "the new man."

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