Article June 23, 1917 Issue

In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew is given an account...

Carl E. Herring

Central City (Neb.) Republican

In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew is given an account of Jesus' return to his own country, and how the people scoffed at his wisdom and his healing power; then follows that remarkable statement: "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

To the writer it has been an unsolved mystery why certain classes of people so eagerly hope that Christian Science is not true. They wish it so ardently that they are willing to pay for imported talent to tell them that it is not true. They buy and read literature that misrepresents Christian Science, and close their eyes against all authentic literature for fear the "delusion" they hug will prove indeed to be a delusion. Surely if some gentle soul should visit your city and offer to bring you health and happiness, you might doubt that one's ability to do it, but you would not unchain the dogs or splinter your pulpits in denunciation of the generous offer.

Suppose you never had read the New Testament, and some one had told you that in the four gospels you would find the directions left by Jesus for healing the sick and reforming the sinner. As you sat with the Bible in your hand ready to open it, would you wish that this was so, or would you hope that it was false and that Jesus left no such direction? This is what would happen. If you wished that it was true you would open the Bible and read all that Jesus said and did until you satisfied yourself as to whether it was true or not. If you wished that it was false you would not open the Bible, but would put it out of sight and send for an evangelist who would pound on the pulpit and tell you what you wished to hear,—that it was false,—and would sell you books and pamphlets that said it was false; and after it was all over you would not know what Jesus said or did, but only what the evangelist said and did. Christian Science is the gentle soul that is walking through your streets today.

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