Article May 23, 1914 Issue

Song of Truth

ALMUS PRATT EVANS, M.D.

Some two years ago, while in one of the larger towns of Missouri, the writer met a Presbyterian minister who resided there. The introduction came through a Christian Scientist, who said in a jocular way, "This is another one of these heretics." The conversation turned quite naturally to the subject of religion and the church, and during the course of his remarks this minister said: "The religions of the world have been largely overridden and bound down by creeds and dogmas. The children of Israel had a creed which was continually repeated by them, and it became dry and tiresome, but they had no song to sing. During the early history of the Christian church it was entirely free from creeds and dogmatic influence; but after the first few centuries creeds began to creep in, and for hundreds of years the members of the various Christian denominations have been saying their creeds, though they have had no song. Christian Science came singing a song which is attracting hundreds of thousands to its fold."

What a blessed truth is here voiced! Christian Science is a song of freedom, a song of Life, Truth, and Love, which is freeing all those who are accepting its teaching. It is the same song which, when sung on the shores of the Galilean sea, healed the sick, gave feet to the lame, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, cleansed the leper, and raised the dead. For many centuries it seemed as though this song had been irrevocably lost, but there finally came one whose hearing was so acutely attuned to the voice of Christ, Truth, that she caught the refrain, and it may be well said of her, that for this cause was she born, to give again to the world the Master's message of truth. At first, no doubt, the tones were indistinct and scarcely perceptible; but by patient, prayerful adherence to Principle she heard the glad tidings of great joy, and gave it to the world. In Science and Health (Pref., p. ix) she tells us (quoting from a certain poet) that she "'lisped in numbers, for the numbers came.' "

It has been less than a half-century since Mrs. Eddy heralded this song of redemption to the world, and in this relatively brief period it has conveyed this message of "on earth peace, good will toward men" to the people of many tongues and nations. Today the benign influence of Christian Science is being felt in all the greater activities of life. If it were in any way possible to weigh or measure this influence, it would greatly astound even its most ardent supporters.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"Passing through the midst of them"