Article September 9, 1916 Issue

As reported in recent issues of your paper, an evangelist...

John L. Rendall—Keokuk, Iowa

The Gate City

As reported in recent issues of your paper, an evangelist has taken occasion to say many unkind and unjust things concerning Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science. Thinking people, however, know that abuse, vilification, misrepresentation, and the like, even when combined with ridicule and cheap alleged witticism, do not constitute a valid argument. Challenges to "perform miracles," interspersed with "scathing denunciations," may be one form of "old-fashioned religion," but it is scarcely the kind which will appeal to right thinking men and women who appreciate the ordinary amenities of Christianity. Thousands of intelligent Christian people have embraced the teachings of Christian Science. Why? Certainly not because of the "impotency of the doctrine," but because of the fact that they have found it to be an intensely practical religious teaching. Because of its teaching of the omnipotence of God they have been healed of sickness and sin and their lives have been immeasurably bettered. In all of this there is the positive recognition of the infinite presence and power of Christ, "the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

Christian Scientists believe in and practise Christian healing because they have Scriptural authority for doing so, and because they consider it to be essential and fundamental to the practice of Christianity as Jesus taught it. He who would decry God's power to heal or ridicule those who believe in the manifestation of this power at this time or at any other time, does so in the face of some very plain teachings of Scripture. Christian Science strongly emphasizes God's allness, ever-presence, and all-power, which certainly includes power over sickness as well as over sin. If it is true that God healed the sick in Jesus' time (and no Christian can doubt it), then it must be true that God heals the sick today, for in Him "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

The Christian Science church has been established in each and every community on the basis of actual results in the overcoming of sin and sickness and in the betterment of all conditions among those who have embraced its teachings. That it differs from scholastic theology in many respects is true, and from the standpoint of Christian Scientists therein is its value. It does not, however, differ from any of the fundamentals of Christianity as taught by Christ Jesus and his disciples. Christian Science as a religious teaching is progressive and constructive. Its adherents attend strictly to their own business, and are endeavoring to build up the cause of Christ in their own way without interference with any one else, and certainly without attempting to tear down the religious beliefs of others. There is one proof of the utility of Christian Science which is incontestable, namely, the proof given by Jesus: "By their fruits ye shall know them."

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