Article December 18, 1915 Issue

Personally I have had some experience with Christian Science,...

E. W. Osterhoudt

Kingston (N. Y.) Freeman

Personally I have had some experience with Christian Science,—enough, at any rate, to know that it has no connection whatsoever with the species of mesmerism or aggressive mental suggestion described in your editorial as related to it. It is important for all your readers to understand this, because whatever their individual religious or medical theories might be, they naturally would not desire to misjudge any system of religious thought which has spread in such an amazing fashion over the world and which is claimed by so many people to have been of great benefit to them. The healing effect of Christian Science is due to its teachings concerning the omnipresence and omnipotence of God, who is understood to be all—inclusive divine Love, or divine Mind, and the practice of Christian Science has nothing to do with the exercise of human will—power, neither is its effect ever to deprive one of his individual intelligence or rights of conscience.

Your article points out quite correctly that Christian Science, as such, is not new, but that its basic teaching was known and relied upon centuries ago. The superiority of spiritual over material means was recognized by many Bible characters, and it is one of the central facts of all Bible teaching. It certainly was expressed in the career of Christ Jesus, whose words and works illustrate the Principle upon which Christian Science is founded. When, therefore, today Christian Scientists endeavor to perpetuate the practical value of this Science, it is certainly a subject for serious and friendly interest.

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