Article January 2, 1915 Issue

To say that Christian Science and Mormonism resemble...

Frank Bell—Coatesville, Pa.

The Record

To say that Christian Science and Mormonism resemble each other because each has had a founder and an explanatory literature, is like saying that two houses are alike because both have foundations, walls, doors, windows, and roof. Yet such is one of the reasons assigned by an evangelist, as quoted in a recent issue, for disapproving of Christian Science. Only one other so-called resemblance is averred, namely, that these systems were "founded by individuals totally lacking in intellectual training." A theory that uneducated persons necessarily think alike on religion or any other subject would be, to say the least, unique. But it so happens that the gentleman's information is as faulty as his reasoning. Mrs. Eddy, who founded the Christian Science church, was a woman of culture and refinement. Although she did not claim to be a great scholar, the volumes she wrote bear evidence of familiarity with the best of literature, art, philosophy, and so-called natural science. The quality of her intellectual attainments cannot be seriously disputed.

Our friend disapproves of Mrs. Eddy's putting her interpretations of the Bible into writing and calling the volume a "Key to the Scriptures." True workers, he says, are content to "place the Bible in the hands of the common people, knowing that it guides to life everlasting." And this from one who spends many hours, not in distributing Bibles without comment, but in proclaiming from a public platform his individual opinions as to Bible teachings. What is the essential difference between writing one's interpretations in a book and preaching them from a platform? Was there ever a sermon that was not intended as a key to the Scriptures? And are there not in print hundreds of books of sermons? May every one else freely undertake that which it is an offense for Mrs. Eddy to do? Of what avail is it to quote the familiar Scriptural warning against the false prophet who would deceive the very elect, unless one is able to offer some proof of the correctness of his assumption that the aforesaid false prophet is the other fellow and not one's self? The Bible mentions no names in this connection, and opinions may differ as to the application. Mrs. Eddy has carried her interpretations to no such presumptuous lengths.

The wonderful success of Christian Science is not due to anybody's being deceived, but to the demonstrated reliability of the promises as to what spiritual truth will accomplish in the overcoming of sin and the healing of disease, when properly applied. Nobody is asked to believe anything merely because Mrs. Eddy has said it, but those who have followed her instructions in the practical use of scientific Christianity are everywhere testifying to the good results obtained thereby. Since the critics appear to be unable to disprove these results or offer a better means of obtaining the same, they might as well spare themselves the trouble of trying to stop the spread of Christian Science.

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