Article December 14, 1918 Issue

The report of Lieut. Col. Rev. G. H. Williams' sermon...

George R. Lowe

Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator

The report of Lieut. Col. Rev. G. H. Williams' sermon might have read that he went out of his way to condemn Christian Science, without understanding it. While Christian Science certainly is adapted to banish pain, it does not define pain as "only a creation of man's mortal fancy." Mrs. Eddy, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 460), says explicitly: "Sickness is more than fancy; it is solid conviction. It is therefore to be dealt with through right apprehension of the truth of being. If Christian healing is abused by mere smatterers in Science, it becomes a tedious mischief-maker. Instead of scientifically effecting a cure, it starts a petty crossfire over every cripple and invalid, buffeting them with the superficial and cold assertion, 'Nothing ails you.'"

We agree with him, however, that to charge God with the war is sacrilege. Likewise, it must be sacrilege to charge God with the suffering, pain, and death resulting from the war. Logically it follows that inasmuch as God is not the cause of pain, it is not a spiritual creation or Godlike entity, and therefore is not eternal and is not real. Every sort of attempt to relieve pain aims to make it seem unreal to the patient, at least temporarily. When a patient is under the influence of morphine, where is the pain? Sufficient spiritualization of thought would banish it permanently. All idealism points to the obliteration of pain from the human consciousness. In Revelation it is written: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." This is quite in line with the text chosen by Colonel Williams, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore." Christian Science explains this, not by "emphasizing strongly the absoluteness of death"—according to the report of this sermon—but by directing attention to the abundance and eternality of life, according to Christ Jesus, who, as Paul says, "hath abolished death."

Far from ignoring the suffering due to the war, Christian Scientists desire to appreciate very fully the noble sacrifices made by our splendid soldiers and sailors. The Mother Church has engaged in war relief for several years, and more recently has sent a band of workers to France. Christian Scientists serve as chaplains in the American Army and Navy, and are very willing to render similar service in the Canadian Army. Will Lieut. Col. Williams do his best, as chief chaplain, to obtain this opportunity for Christian Scientists? In forty-five Army and Navy camps in the United States, Christian Science committees have been carrying on camp welfare work. In Canada similar work has been inaugurated. Christian Scientists support this work without appealing to the public for funds. A creditable number of Christian Scientists have enlisted in the various branches of military service since the beginning of the war.

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