Article May 4, 1918 Issue

A clergyman in a sermon as reported was clearly disposed...

Peter V. Ross

Fresno (Cal.) Republican

A clergyman in a sermon as reported was clearly disposed to discuss Christian Science in a kindly and unbiased spirit. Some of his statements, however, are hardly in line with the thought of students of that religion. He says, for example, that "Christian Science makes exaggerated claims about its ability to cure diseases" and that he does not believe that it "has ever cured cancer or typhoid fever." But does the clergyman not overlook the fact that he is dealing with science, hence that what he believes is entirely irrelevant and immaterial? He would scarcely presume to offer an opinion on the truth of a mathematical proposition; rather he would resort to demonstration. Why not adopt the same course with Christian Science propositions based on the Scriptural promises that "the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save" and "the prayer of faith shall save the sick"?

His opinions and beliefs might then give place to knowledge and demonstration, and he might find, just what others are finding, that Christian Science cures one form of disease as readily as another, and that the only limit to its healing power is human incredulity. Why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should heal all manner of sickness now as He did in the first centuries of the Christian era?

Our clerical critic is credited with saying that "God has not done all things well already." Christian Science declines to ascribe any delinquency to Deity. It prefers to regard God's work as finished and perfect, and any seeming imperfection as the human erroneous concept of perfection and reality. This human misconception embraces, among other things, pain and disease, and its correction by the introduction into consciousness of the true concept of things displaces or releases sickness and suffering and causes them to vanish into their native nothingness. This is nothing more than the application of Jesus' dictum, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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Referring to a Christian Science service, the church editor...
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