Article May 19, 1917 Issue

Sharp criticisms that appeared in local papers on the...

China Advertiser

Sharp criticisms that appeared in local papers on the lecture delivered on the subject of Christian Science supply a somewhat amusing topic of conversation to those who are not interested in religious matters. To him who does not profess to be a follower of Christ's doctrine, Christian Science appears to be but a new religious sect. The theory propounded by Christian Science, especially that of divine healing, is perhaps a novelty; but we see nothing wrong in it, because healing is admitted to have been performed by Christ himself. Fair-minded and unprejudiced outsiders fail to understand why a certain denomination which preaches the uplifting of manhood to the level of godly holiness should be assailed as a heresy.

The trouble is no doubt due to the singular newness of the creed, which if accepted by the world will cause the services of medical practitioners to be dispensed with. The public invariably receives a new idea with ridicule and contempt. The steam engine, electricity, the airship, the submarine,—in fact all startling inventions,—were scoffed at on their first announcement. Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and other denominations were subjected to persecution at their advent; yea, Jesus himself was mobbed and crucified.

It seems to us not a wise course for a man to pursue to denounce anything because it happens to be unfamiliar or strange to him. We have many, many things to learn, advanced as we are in knowledge and science. The best thing for us to do, therefore, whenever we are confronted with a seemingly preposterous problem, is not to turn it down as mere nonsense at the first encounter, but to delve into the thing in an impartial spirit before we arrive at the final judgment. As to Christian Science, if it is founded on truth the propaganda will spread despite all malicious attacks, just as the teaching of Christ is ubiquitous, because truth can never be stamped out by force or argument.

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