Article April 10, 1915 Issue

A recent issue contains a statement to the effect that...

Frank C. Barrett

Lewiston (Maine) Journal

A recent issue contains a statement to the effect that Christian Scientists deny the existence of pain and that suffering has a beneficent purpose. Also, the author of said statement implies the futility of treating pain and suffering by the Christian Science method.

Like some others, this gentleman has apparently given Christian Science very little thought, and has never studied it sufficiently to know what its teachings are, although he has not hesitated to publish his misconceptions of it, probably with the best intentions in the world. Therefore it will no doubt surprise our critic, and perhaps also some of his hearers and the readers of your esteemed paper, to know that Christian Science does not teach that mortals do not experience pain, are not sick, sinning, and dying; or that suffering has no beneficent effect.

The following passages from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy prove what I say: "Sinners flourish 'like a green bay tree;' but, looking farther, the Psalmist could see their end,—the destruction of sin through suffering" (p. 5). "To cause suffering as the result of sin, is the means of destroying sin" (p. 6). "Jesus suffered for our sins, not to annual ... an individual's sin, but because sin brings inevitable suffering" (p. 11). "Waking to Christ's demand, mortals experience suffering" (p. 22). "The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, 'rejoicing the heart'" (p. 265). "The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares" (p. 574). Thus it is apparent that we agree with this critic as to the possible good effects of suffering.

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