Article January 20, 1917 Issue

The attempt of a certain minister to separate Christian Science...

Judge Clifford P. Smith

Urbana (Ohio) Citizen

The attempt of a certain minister to separate Christian Science from Christianity, as reported in the Citizen, was necessarily a failure, because it consisted mainly of misrepresentations. Indeed, Christian Science cannot by any means be separated from the religion of Christ Jesus, for they are substantially identical. No matter what conflict there may be between Christian Science and any sect or creed, there is a complete consistency between Christian Science and the divine teaching recorded in the four gospels.

The statement of this preacher that Christian Science discards a divine Christ, has no basis in fact. This religion is thoroughly Christian and it teaches that the Christ is divine. To quote Mrs. Eddy's words on page 26 of Science and Health: "This Christ, or divinity of the man Jesus, was his divine nature, the godliness which animated him." In this connection I am reminded that Paul spoke of the "meekness and gentleness of Christ." When an avowedly Christian minister speaks disrespectfully of Mrs. Eddy, the honored Leader of a world wide religious movement, he does not prove anything against her, but he does cast a severe reflection on his own credentials. The fact that Mrs. Eddy is loved and revered by a great company of grateful people who are no less sincere than he is, should give this gentleman pause, and it should move him to consider whether they do not have ample reasons for their gratitude. While he is taking a second thought (or possibly a first one) on this subject, he would do well to consider whether Christian Scientists have not the same right to their religion as he has to his, and whether their rights as well as his do not include the right to freedom from such an attack as he has made and caused to be reported.

Another reference to Christian Scientists in this reverend gentleman's discourse was as follows: "If they claim that there is no sin, then there is no need of a Saviour." The attitude of Christian Scientists toward sin is the same as that of him who spoke of evil as a lie and overcame it accordingly (see John viii. 44, 46). But since, as John said, this lie "deceiveth the whole world," a savior from it is evidently needed, and in Christian Science Jesus is regarded as the only person who should be called our Saviour. Mrs. Eddy has not in any wise offered herself as a substitute for Jesus.

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