Article July 10, 1915 Issue

In the columns of your paper there appeared recently a...

Henry A. Teasdel

The Ogden (Utah) Standard

In the columns of your paper there appeared recently a synopsis of a sermon, the subject being, "Christian Science: Is It Reasonable?" Our critic seems to lose sight of the difference between the mortal concept of man and man, the real spiritual man created in God's image and likeness, as described in the first chapter of Genesis, who was given dominion over all materiality. Is it any wonder that, with such God-given power, God's children are able to destroy disease and sickness as well as sin, the procuring cause of most sickness?

Our friend, in referring to Mrs. Eddy, says: "She held to the Bible, though she perverted its teachings. She laid stress on healing, and settled all doctrinal difficulties with the dictum that there is no evil; there is no sin, no death." If this critic would spare the time to study Mrs. Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," instead of relying on what he can learn by conversing with others, he would find that she did not pervert the teachings of the Bible, but by interpreting them spiritually, threw greater light on them, perhaps, than any one else has ever done. She laid stress on healing. Why not? When Jesus issued the instructions to his followers to preach the gospel, did he not also command them to heal the sick? Furthermore, this command was obeyed by Christians for three hundred years after Jesus went to the Father, until the spiritual healing power was seemingly lost through the same beliefs held by so many of our churches today, in materiality to the exclusion of spirituality. The statement that there is no evil, no sin, no death, refers to the real man, the spiritual man made in God's image. These errors are unreal in the sense that they are not eternal or God-created. Christian Science teaches that the God-created man is a spiritual being, and has power, through a correct understanding of God, to overcome the ills of the flesh, the discordant conditions of the material body.

Our friend refers to Christian Science as being born owing to certain existing conditions, whereas it is the Christ Science practised by Jesus nineteen hundred years ago, and discovered by Mrs. Eddy through the spiritual life which she led. This preacher says that the teachings of Christian Science appeal to a very intelligent class of people of considerable mental independence. That surely should be a strong point in its favor, and would suggest the wisdom of more thorough investigation. He further says that owing to the physical healing of its followers, a religious sentiment has been aroused such as has never been known before. It is not religious sentiment, but gratitude to God for His wonderful power among men. When John doubted the ministry of Christ Jesus nineteen hundred years ago, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus with the inquiry, "Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?" Our Master's answer was merely a reference to his works of preaching and healing. On another occasion, when referring to his followers, Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Christian Scientists are willing to be judged by their fruits.

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