Article April 6, 1918 Issue

Christian Scientists hope that The Milwaukee Leader...

Judge Clifford P. Smith

The Milwaukee (Wis.) Leader

Christian Scientists hope that The Milwaukee Leader will not insist on misrepresenting either them or their religion; but the letter from a representative of the People's Council of America and the editorial adoption thereof, were both mistaken and misleading.

Christian Science does regard war as an evil; but this statement alone does not fully present its teachings on this subject. Christian Science also teaches that the defense and preservation of human rights by force of arms may be relatively right. As Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has said: "War will end when nations are ripe for progress" (Miscellany, p. 281). Nations, like persons, do not live alone, and one may be more ready than another to listen to other reasons than superior force. Therefore, in March, 1898, just before the United States employed force against Spain for the liberation of Cuba, Mrs. Eddy, in reply to a question from The Boston Herald, spoke thus (Miscellany, p. 277): "I will say I can see no other way of settling difficulties between individuals and nations than by means of their wholesome tribunals, equitable laws, andsound, well-kept treaties;" but she also declared (p. 278) the possibility that God's "purpose for peace" might be "subserved by the battle's plan."

In June, 1898, soon after the beginning of the war, Mrs. Eddy sent a Message to her church, in which she asked Christian Scientists to "pray for the prosperity of our country, and for her victory under arms." In the same Message she rejoiced that "our nation will be as formidable in war as she has been compassionate in peace." This Message is now published as a pamphlet entitled, "Christian Science versus Pantheism," and that part of it relating to this subject will be found on page 14 thereof, and is as follows: "Pray for the prosperity of our country, and for her victory under arms; that justice, mercy, and peace continue to characterize her government, and that they shall rule all nations. Pray that the divine presence may still guide and bless our chief magistrate, those associated with his executive trust, and our national judiciary; give to our congress wisdom, and uphold our nation with the right arm of His righteousness. In your peaceful homes remember our brave soldiers, whether in camp or in battle. Oh, may their love of country, and their faithful service thereof, be unto them life-preservers! May the divine Love succor and protect them, as at Manila, where brave men, led by the dauntless Dewey, and shielded by the power that saved them, sailed victoriously through the jaws of death and blotted out the Spanish squardron. Great occasion have we to rejoice that our nation, which fed her starving foe,—already murdering her peaceful seamen and destroying millions of her money,—will be as formidable in war as she has been compassionate in peace."

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