Article November 27, 1915 Issue

A speaker from New York city advertised that he would...

Ezra W. Palmer

Trinidad (Col.) Chronicle-News

A speaker from New York city advertised that he would lecture upon Christian Science, which he designated as an "anti-Christian cult." Fortunately for the modern world each individual at the present time has the blessed privilege of determining for himself whether any religion is or is not anti-Christian, but the attempt to decide for an individual what system of religion or worship he shall accept is a species of intolerance.

In advertising Christian Science by his statement that it is anti-Christian, the speaker is merely expressing a personal opinion, an opinion not determined by the standard set by the Founder of Christianity. Jesus gave this test of Christianity: "By their fruits ye shall know them." The statement that Christian Science does not agree with the theological conceptions of this critic by no means supports the conclusion that it is not in harmony with the teachings of the Master.

Christian Scientists ask that Christian Science be judged not by comparison with creeds and dogmas, but by the results obtained in healing the sick and awakening the sinner, and by the better and more spiritual lives of its adherents. Surely this is what the Master meant by declaring that "fruits"—results—were the test of Christianity. Can the critics of Christian Science point to similar happy results from the practical application of their religious views? If not, would it not be well for them to investigate and accept Christian Science, which proves its conclusions in the lives of its adherents, rather than subject it to misrepresentation and abuse?

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