Article January 10, 1920 Issue

One of the most interesting things apparent in the growth...

The Christian Science Monitor

One of the most interesting things apparent in the growth of Christian Science is that it does not appeal especially to one class of society more than to another, nor does it require any particular degree of educational attainment before it can be accepted; in fact, Christian Science is readily acknowledged by many who have little, if any, familiarity with the language in which it has been promulgated by its Discoverer. And in this regard the message of Christian Science is similar to that of the apostles on the day of Pentecost, when they were all speaking "with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," and thus "every man heard them speak in his own language." There is, however, one tongue which, independent of translation, can be simultaneously understood by men of different nationality, one which they can "hear"—comprehend—in terms of their mother tongue. It is the language of Spirit and it is interpreted to all through demonstration.

The history of Judaism and Christianity shows that from Moses' time to ours the human mind has been able to grasp the "signs following" far more easily than it has the cause or Principle which produces these effects. Steeped as they are in materiality, mortals are more willing to pay attention to the concrete than to what they consider as the abstract. The struggle for existence seems so severe that it is only when the human mind is startled by the occurrence of something which cannot be explained from a material basis that mortals will pause long enough to inquire the cause for such an occurrence. So, in an age of pantheism and of the worship of many images, the net result of which was hardship, suffering, and slavery, it is small wonder the Israelites were not willing to listen to and follow Moses, until he presented to them and Pharaoh proofs which his knowledge of God gave him.

Christ Jesus came in a time when the religion of Moses had so deteriorated that men loved fair words rather than good deeds. A professional priesthood had arrogated to themselves the right of ruling the people through ceremonial law instead of teaching them to know God for themselves. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must have seemed very far off in the days of the Roman occupation when Herod was king in Judea. The Baptist indeed urged them to turn away from materiality and to bring forth "fruits worthy of repentance," but it was not until the Master proved God's tender love for His children by feeding the hungry, comforting the heavy-hearted, healing the sick, cleansing the sinner, and raising the dead, that they were able to understand that these acts were evidence of God, the existence of whom they could understand and prove for themselves.

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