Article September 19, 1914 Issue

The report in the Star of a sermon delivered at Bethany Park,...

Clifford P. Smith

Indianapolis (Ind.) Star

The report in the Star of a sermon delivered at Bethany Park, credits a minister from Columbus with statements which show a lack of correct information on his part. Mr. Quimby, to whom our brother refers, was an avowed mesmerist; and mesmerism is the very opposite of Christian Science. It is therefore impossible that Mrs. Eddy could have learned anything of Christian Science from him. Any one who wishes to read an authentic account of Mrs. Eddy's experience with Mr. Quimby can find it in "The Life of Mary Baker Eddy," by Sibyl Wilbur, at almost any public library. A chapter on this subject is also contained in Mrs. Eddy's "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 378-383), a book which can be found in many public libraries or at any Christian Science reading-room.

Whether a certain charge for a certain course of instruction be suitable or unsuitable, is necessarily a matter of opinion; and it is a fact that Mrs. Eddy did a very large percentage of her teaching without any direct compensation whatever. During the earlier years, while she was endeavoring to make known to all people the "good tidings of great joy" which she had discovered, her income from all sources was of the most meager description. Even later, when Christian Science came to be better appreciated, she applied the most of her income for the benefit of others; and throughout her whole career as the Leader of the Christian Science movement she lived simply, gave liberally, and finally left the bulk of her estate to use for extending the world's knowledge of the religion which she taught. Mrs. Eddy's motive with respect to money is most clearly evidenced by the use which she made of her money.

The occasional passing away of a Christian Scientist no more proves that Christian Science is false than Paul's decease disproved his statement, "We live, and move, and have our being" in God. Paul knew the absolute fact, and he furnished practical proof of it on more than one occasion, even though he did not at once prove the whole of his teaching. The philosophy of Christian Science is indicated by the following excerpt from Science and Health (p. 492): "Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already proved that a knowledge of this, even in small degree, will uplift the physical and moral standard of mortals, will increase longevity, will purify and elevate character. Thus progress will finally destroy all error, and bring immortality to light."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The report in the Star of a sermon delivered at Bethany Park,...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access