Article January 2, 1915 Issue

In a recent issue a critic finds considerable fault with a...

William D. Kilpatrick

St. Joseph (Mich.) Press

In a recent issue a critic finds considerable fault with a lecture delivered in your city on the subject of Christian Science. He nullifies his position as a critic on this subject by admitting his inability to understand the lecture, and therefore we must assume that his criticism is based on his own erroneous conception of something which he claims to be unable to understand. The charge that Christian Science is heretical, merely because it does not agree with some creed or dogma to which the critic has adhered or which may have been taught by some church or sect, gives poor foundation for the assumption that the charge is sustained by this ipse dixit argument. The assertion made by the lecturer that "Jesus was not God," is the only possible conclusion to be arrived at through the study of the Scriptures, the gentleman's creed notwithstanding. It is safe to assume that if Christian Science agreed wholly with all the creeds and dogmas of the centuries, and did not present to suffering humanity a reasonable and demonstrable departure therefrom, it would today be suffering the sting of oblivion rather than drawing to its fold the great army of people who are finding so much help in its teachings.

Christian Science in all its teachings is in strict accord with the Bible, and its position on the question whether or not Jesus was God, can best be explained directly from the Bible. Jesus called himself the Son of God, and is referred to in the Bible as the Wayshower, the Exemplar. Particularly significant are the following words of Jesus: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." And again, his words to Mary: "Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

In urging all who may be interested in this subject first to consult their ministers for guidance, the critic overlooks the fact that a large percentage of the members of Christian Science churches have at some time been members of other denominations and have amply availed themselves of the opportunity to be set right on this and other points by the method advocated by our critic. The critic further begs all those who may be inclined to investigate, to "play fair with their religion." It might be more to the point to ask them to play fair with themselves, to make their own investigation, unbiased and unhampered by the opinions of those opposed to Christian Science and avowedly incapable of understanding this religion. A careful study of the Bible with the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, which can be found in almost every public library, will permit one conscientiously to reach right conclusions.

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