Article March 18, 1916 Issue

In a sense, Christian Scientists can agree with the preacher...

Judge Clifford P. Smith

Springfield (Mass.) Homestead

In a sense, Christian Scientists can agree with the preacher who was reported in the Homestead as speaking of Christian Science and saying, "One needs no mental healer who has the will to cultivate those states of mind which make for calmness and peace." Although Christian Scientists do not put dependence on human will, they would say that the cultivation of those mental states which make for calmness and peace is of unlimited value to every one who undertakes it rightly; also that his own endeavor, in unity with the divine Mind, is of utmost importance to this end. From the fact, however, that our friend saw fit to deliver public instruction on this subject, we may safely conclude that his proposal to dispense with healers was not intended to abolish teaching or teachers. And since he spoke from a Christian pulpit, we may, I trust, draw the further conclusion that our brother does not wholly reject those parts of the New Testament which declare the possibility of Christian healing and commend this as a Christian service by one person for another.

When the Master directed his disciples to teach he also told them to heal. (See Matthew x. 5-10, where he spoke to the twelve, and compare Matthew xxviii. 19, 20, where he directed them to make disciples of all nations, and made all of his commands universal.) It is to be observed, moreover, that he healed while teaching, and that he spoke of healing as no less related to salvation than is teaching. (See Luke iv. 16-24, especially verse 18; xi 14-20, especially verse 20; xiii. 11-17, especially verse 16; and x. 1-9, especially verse 9.) For a Christian minister, therefore, to decry or deprecate the function of healing is anomalous. Mental healing, truly considered, is spiritual healing; it is healing by having "the mind of Christ." Teaching or preaching without healing may be nothing better than "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." With regard to men who do not advance beyond this latter position, Paul's advice to Timothy was, "From such turn away."

What is here said draws a contrast; but this is due to the occasion for vindicating the entire Christianity of Christian Science which was furnished by the sermon in question. Seeing that its theme was "Rest," I hope that two quotations from page 519 of Mrs. Eddy's "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" may be offered as a helpful bit of teaching on this subject: "God rests in action;" "The highest and sweetest rest, even from a human standpoint, is in holy work."

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