Article May 18, 1918 Issue

A kindly and interesting article under a Paris, France,...

John M. Dean

Johnson City (Tenn.) Comet

A kindly and interesting article under a Paris, France, date line told something of the work of Christian Science among the soldiers, but it implied that Christian Science relies on "suggestion" for the curative powers which are now well-nigh universally acknowledged as following the application of Mrs. Eddy's teachings. Permit me to offer some correction of this misconception of the modus operandi of Christian Science healing.

Suggestion may be the basis of hypnotism, but it has no part whatever in the work of the Christian Scientist. In Christian Science God is seen as the only Mind and this divine Mind is reflected by men according to their varied degrees of spiritual understanding. In proportion as men possess and reflect this divine Mind, are they equipped to heal the sick; therefore, those who possess fewest of the qualities of the mortal, or "carnal mind," as Paul phrases it, are the best reflectors of the one Mind, and, consequently, the best healers. The ability of Jesus to heal infallibly was due to the fact that his thought was consistently pure and spiritual. Regarding creation from a standpoint of absolute spirituality, he could not help healing every receptive individual with whom he came in contact. On page 476 of her book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy explains Jesus' healing work as follows: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."

As mortals gain some glimpse of the real meaning of Mind, they inevitably begin to rely on God's power to help in every emergency, and thus it is that soldiers who know something of Christian Science learn to trust in God for protection from the terrors of war. It may be said broadly that if all men were Christian Scientists there would be no war. Failing in this at the present time, the next best thing is to apply Christian Science toward the alleviation of war's horrors, and those patriotic Christian Scientists who have enlisted in this war for liberty are doing this in large measure. They accept the Bible promises as definite and final, and in doing this they begin to live in the "safety zone" so well indicated by the ninety-first psalm. This beautiful psalm of promise, understood in the light of Christian Science, is a bulwark against error of every kind, and if it means what it says, why should any Christian doubt its practical availability?

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