Article September 22, 1917 Issue

In a report of a lecture under the caption "The Church...

Frederick P. Rhodes

The Hull (England) Mail

In a report of a lecture under the caption "The Church and Mental Healing," are several references to the subject of Christian Science. The lecturer stated that the real objection to it was that it was founded on a false metaphysics, and seemed to ignore the unity of the human race. A statement of this kind, without a single quotation from or reference to any authorized Christian Science work, reminded one of Lord Byron's "Bunting," and did not sound very convincing. If the teachings of Christian Science were based upon anything false they would come to naught, instead of which hundreds of thousands of human beings are expressing their gratitude to God that His Word has brought a measure of health and happiness into their lives after all human efforts had failed. Is not this in keeping with Jesus' words, "By their fruits ye shall know them"? It is quite natural to say that "the science of bodily healing grew very slowly and by observation," because this is simply the result of human efforts to deal with a bodily or physical condition, an alteration of outward manifestations. This does not, however, apply to the healing in Christian Science, which deals solely with the only true healing, i.e., the transformation of the body by the renewing of the mind. On page 261 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes, "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts."

True healing is surely the recognition of man's at-one-ment with his God, which constitutes the kingdom of heaven; and does not our Master tell us that "the kingdom of God cometh not with observation"? The greatest exponent of true healing never said that those who asked for help, either mental or physical, could only gain it very slowly, and I cannot recollect any instance of periods of convalescence being necessary in the works of healing done by his followers. When we come into line with any basic law it operates immediately in the human experience, and when we call upon God, the Principle of being, the reply is, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Christian Science certainly does not "ignore the unity of the human race," as is clearly proved by the following words of Mrs. Eddy (Science and Health, p. 340): "One infinite 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."

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In a report of a lecture under the caption "The Church...

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