A recent issue has an account of a lecture by Doctor—...

The Patriot

A recent issue has an account of a lecture by Doctor —on the subject of Christian Science, from which one might draw the inference that this lecture is given in a Christianly spirit and as a duty. I take it this is the same lecture which this critic of Christian Science has delivered in Detroit and other places. Just how this spirit of religious intolerance can be characterized as "Christianity," or as comporting in any way with the teaching of Jesus the Christ, "Love thy neighbor as thyself," it would be difficult for an unbiased thinker to decide. The methods employed by the critic in dealing with the subject are unqualifiedly unjust. While it is true that he quotes freely from the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and other Christian Science literature, yet by giving to his audience these quotations entirely removed from their context and so far diverted from their original meaning and import as entirely to obscure their intent, he very artfully and ingeniously conveys impressions (to one who has not thoroughly investigated for himself) entirely erroneous. The same methods used by this critic, if applied to the Bible, could so distort that holy book as to make it unrecognizable by those who love it most. The reverend gentleman may be correct on the point taken that Christian Science differs substantially from his interpretation of Holy Writ, but that, nevertheless, does not argue that Christian Science is not in strict accord with the Scriptures at every point, or is not Christian.

The Founder of Christianity himself indicated certain essential tests which were to determine for his time, and for all time to come, whether one were really a follower of Christ or not. He declared definitely, "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly things, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Also, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Christian Science is doing at least some of these works. It is healing hundreds and thousands of cases of so-called incurable and organic diseases; it is uplifting and regenerating those buried deep in beliefs of vice and sin, and it is bringing sunshine and joy and harmony into the homes of thousands.

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