Article March 24, 1917 Issue

From a report of a case in which a conscientious objector...

H. R. Colborne—New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Telegraph

From a report of a case in which a conscientious objector stated he was a Christian Scientist, a misconception may arise in the minds of your readers as to the teachings of Christian Science.

Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, at the time of the Spanish-American War wrote as follows: "Pray for the prosperity of our country, and for her victory under arms; that justice, mercy, and peace continue to characterize her government, and that they shall rule all nations" (Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 14). In answer to the question that was put to her about the same time, "Should difficulties between the United States and Spain be settled peacefully by statesmanship and diplomacy, in a way honorable and satisfactory to both nations?" she wrote, "I will say I can see no other way of settling difficulties between individuals and nations than by means of their wholesome tribunals, equitable laws, and sound, well-kept treaties;" and later on she says, "But if our nation's rights or honor were seized, every citizen would be a soldier and woman would be armed with power girt for the hour" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 277). On page 448 of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes, "It is Christian Science to do right, and nothing short of right doing has any claim to the name."

From these quotations it will be seen that Christian Science stands for right and justice; it nowhere teaches that men should shirk their duty, but it does teach that their acts are the results of their right or wrong thinking, and that while in the present stage of human experience the sword may have to be taken in defense of human rights, it never teaches that the sword should be taken for any other purpose, nor that it should be taken with the thought of malice, hatred, or revenge; nor does it teach that war will be destroyed by war. In speaking of the first commandment of the Decalogue Mrs. Eddy says that it is her favorite text, and adds that "oneinfinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed" (Science and Health, p. 340).

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