Article February 1, 1919 Issue

It is somewhat strange that a man who is before the...

Warren O. Evans

The Providence (R. I.) Journal

It is somewhat strange that a man who is before the public as a revivalist, or one who is endeavoring to promote a revival of religion, should so stray from the path of propriety as to say harsh and unnecessary things about a subject of which it is apparent he has little, if any, knowledge. For him to say that "Christian Science is nothing but a revamped Buddhism," is to stamp him as being uninformed concerning this particular subject. Christian Science is not "the attitude of self-forgetfulness," which this ubiquitous informant seems to take particular delight in offering to his hearers as a suitable definition of this world-wide and ever increasing religious movement. Christian Science is the science of Jesus' teachings, which teachings since the third century, due to creed and dogma, have been misinterpreted and misapplied.

Christian Science brings to the human consciousness the good tidings of peace. There is, perhaps, nothing that human beings crave more than peace. This has been especially noticeable during the past few years. Not that all view the matter in the same light, by any means, but in some form or in some way each one is endeavoring to find comfort and happiness. A dictionary defines peace as "a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation." All down through the ages we have the record of men individually and collectively seeking for this peace. But has it been attained or has the pathway to its attainment been discerned? And yet we have it right in the Bible, and all Bible students are familiar with the words, "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace." Multitudes have tried to prove the truth of that statement; but have they been successful, and what has been the reason for their failure? The very fact that peace, real peace, has not as yet been attained by the human race, would clearly indicate that this acquaintance with God has not been cultivated. Yet it could not have been for lack of desire, for every thinking person certainly desires to know God. Has it not been due to the inability of human beings to find God, or to have an intelligent conception of God?

It is plain, then, that to have even a measure of peace one needs to have some idea of what God is. But to have knowledge of anything requires first a correct interpretation of that which is to be known. It is just here that Christian Science comes to the help of the poor suffering human race and gives a right starting point. And the proof that Christian Science is correct in its interpretation of what God is, is given in the results obtained by working from this viewpoint. Those who, perhaps, are questioning, wondering what life is, what God is, and what it all amounts to, as the writer once was, should ponder these words on page 341 of "Miscellaneous Writings," by Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science: "Do human hopes deceive? is joy a trembler? Then, weary pilgrim, unloose the latchet of thy sandals; for the place whereon thou standest is sacred. By that, you may know you are parting with a material sense of life and happiness to win the spiritual sense of good. O learn to lose with God! and you find Life eternal: you gain all."

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