Will you allow me space to explain to your readers some...

W. D. Kilpatrick—Benton Harbor, Mich.

News-Palladium

Will you allow me space to explain to your readers some of the points touched on in a recent issue in reporting an attack on Christian Science by an evangelist? Just how the gentleman reconciles his untempered and blindly prejudiced remarks concerning Christian Science to the doctrine "on earth peace, good will toward men," taught by Jesus, I would not attempt a conjecture; but as his entire effort does not indicate any marked familiarity with the Scriptures, it seems as if the attack was intended to discredit the religious views of many of his fellow men rather than to point the way to salvation by the light of Bible teaching.

The Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is the outcome of many years of devoted study of the Bible on the part of its author, Mrs. Eddy. In the Preface of this book it is stated by the author that "as early as 1862 she began to write down and give to friends the results of her Scriptural study, for the Bible was her sole teacher" (p. viii). She further states: "I have found nothing in ancient or in modern systems on which to found my own, except the teachings and demonstrations of our great Master and the lives of prophets and apostles. The Bible has been my only authority. I have had no other guide in 'the straight and narrow way' of Truth" (p. 126). This emphasizes the fact that Christian Science is based solely on Scriptures, and that in its text-book Christian Scientists claim nothing more than an elucidation of the Scriptures in their spiritual import, corresponding in intent to the articles of faith and ritualistic text-books of other denominations. The allusion to Christian Science as a religion without a Bible is, therefore, either the result of gross ignorance or a desire to misrepresent. As a matter of fact, Christian Scientists are most consistent students of the Bible, and it is doubtful if one could be found who is not giving more devout and prayerful study to the Bible than ever before.

Anent the challenge to Christian Scientists to walk on the water, it is not reported that any of Jesus' disciples did all the works that Jesus did, but that fact renders his injunction none the less binding on all who believe. His admonition to "heal the sick" and "raise the dead" cannot in honesty be divorced from his direction to save the sinner, nor do his instructions in those particulars admit of any misunderstanding or halting and half-way position. We are either healing the sick by spiritual means alone, or we are not following Jesus in the way of his appointing,—one of the two,—and all the facetiousness at the command of our critic will never alter that fact. All of Jesus' disciples, in following his direction, left record of much healing by spiritual means only, and the early church for three hundred years after the time of Jesus was renowned for its healing in conformity with his teachings. This spiritual knowledge which enabled the early Christians to carry on the healing work long after the time of Jesus, was lost only as a result of the crass materialism of the times. It did not cease with the ascension, nor was it intended ever to cease, and Christian Science claims that the many injunctions in the Bible to this end are as applicable today as in the time of Jesus.

The reference of the critic to will-power as a healing agent might tend to confuse some as to the method whereby the many cures are wrought through Christian Science. Christian Science does not employ the use of will-power in any way, but teaches that all healing is effected through a clear understanding of God and man's relation to Him. The Scriptures command, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," and in replying to the accusation that his healing was done through the "prince of the devils" (willpower), Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; ... if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? ... But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."

In this we clearly see that Jesus recognized but one Mind, one God, and in proportion to our understanding of this one Mind are we enabled to follow his example in healing the sick and casting out demons. The use of will-power is not countenanced by Christian Science any more than it was by Jesus.

The human will may go to many extremes, and it would not be in the line of reason to suppose that a mind capable of hating could also be capable of healing. "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" Paul said, "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Mrs. Eddy says, "The Bible contains the recipe for all healing" (Science and Health, p. 406), and a careful study thereof would make clear to the earnest investigator the fact that will-power, hypnotism, mesmerism, drugs, and the like, were never employed by Jesus and his disciples in accomplishing their wonderful works. The divine Mind, or God, alone heals.

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