Article October 27, 1917 Issue

The third attack on Christian Science by a certain reverend...

Judge Clifford P. Smith

Virginia (Minn.) Enterprise

The third attack on Christian Science by a certain reverend gentleman, which the Enterprise has printed, again illustrates the fact that people who try to convince others that Christian Science is something bad, continually find themselves relying on misrepresentations. The reason is this: Christian Science is good; it is good in what it teaches and in what it does for its adherents; therefore the choice of material for opposition is very limited.

In this situation, one of the consequences of opposition is that the admissions or concessions made by one opponent refute what is said by another. For instance, here is the reverend gentleman trying to convince the people of Virginia that Christian Science is against the Bible and against prayer. On the other hand, at Alliance, Ohio, not long ago, when a preacher and editor spoke to the representatives of fifteen churches or denominations on how to stop the inroads of Christian Science, he said: "There are many things the church might learn from Christian Science, including greater loyalty to the Bible, more faithful testimony to the power and grace of Jesus Christ, the value and privilege of prayer, and last but not least, the potency of a holy life."

Acceptance of the Bible is the first tenet of Christian Science. Moreover, a Christian Scientist keeps his Bible in active use. It is neither covered with dust in a forgotten drawer nor kept on a parlor table as an ornament. It is needed every day for the study of prepared lessons on which, as Mrs. Eddy has said, "the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends" (Church Manual, Art. III., Sect. 1). The Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, is read at the same time because the light which it throws on the Scriptures justifies its name and has opened the Bible to unnumbered thousands of people for whom the Bible had been closed. With Christian Scientists this textbook does not take the place of the Bible; in connection with the Bible it takes the place occupied, or at least sought, by sermons in other churches.

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October 27, 1917
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