Article January 5, 1918 Issue

A lecture recently delivered in San Diego brought out the...

Henry Van Arsdale—San Diego, Cal.

The Sun

A lecture recently delivered in San Diego brought out the fact that Christian Science teaches that the basic truths of Christianity, such as the omnipotence, goodness, love, and help of God, are available to man through prayer to meet the untoward circumstances and vicissitudes of human existence, including sickness. The medical doctor now president of the San Diego board of health, in a letter to The Sun, takes exception to this teaching, apparently not seeing, and perhaps not caring, that what he has written is an attack on the fundamentals of Christianity; for he says, speaking of disease, "Praying is here of no avail."

Now the Bible is replete with instances to the contrary, as every student can evidence. The Christian hope has always been that the promises might be fulfilled sometime, but unfortunately the expectation has placed that time in the future. Christian Science teaches and proves that the time is now, in the present. The Bible states the promises in plain terms, repeated in varying phraseology by many writers over a period of many centuries. Notwithstanding the statement of the head of the city's board of health, that reliance on the Scripture belongs to the "days of superstitious belief" and is the "result of sectarian dogmatism or ignorance," there is but one question for the public, to whom the letter is addressed, to consider,—Are these promises of the Bible true? Space allows a repetition of but two of the hundreds of promises: "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions;" "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

The outward measure of one's right to be called a Christian is belief in the Bible; the measure of one's understanding of Christianity is the ability to apply the spiritual truths of the Bible. Jesus said he came to testify of the truth, and that the truth would free those who knew it. He commanded those who followed him to heal the sick, stating that the works he did they could do also, and that healing would always accompany his followers. Our doctor critic prefers to separate himself from the Christianity which Jesus and the spiritual minds that preceded him knew and taught and wrought; but I am persuaded he will carry but few with him. In passing, it may be stated that the necessity, availability, and effectiveness of prayer is taught as a matter of doctrine by Jewish, Protestant, Roman, and Greek denominations.

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