Article October 14, 1922 Issue

Christian Scientists do indeed believe and have often...

Willard J. Welch, Committee on Publication for the State of Iowa, in the

Coon Rapids Enterprise

Christian Scientists do indeed believe and have often proved that "Christianity will cure any disease however chronic" and "all the ills of the flesh as well as the ills of the spirit, when properly applied;" also "that death in this world can be conquered,—overcome." The fact mentioned, that the best demonstration of life made by Christians to-day is the long life promised in the Bible, does not correctly argue against the truth expressed by Paul,—that "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Jesus, our Lord, triumphantly overcame "death in this world." And it is a matter of history, recorded by Gibbon, that the early Christians, inspired by the Master's teaching and healing, were so strong in the faith that they often raised the dead. Christian Scientists are to-day striving to learn more about God, striving to imbibe more of the Christ-spirit, striving to show more and more their faith by their works,—to demonstrate that God is an ever present help in trouble. Greater healings will be the fruit of a higher understanding of God and more consecrated lives. Surely it is the hope of the world that Christians in all churches are now turning their thought to spiritual healing.

Christian Scientists strive to live right lives in their communities, but never to dominate or dictate either to communities or individuals; neither do they segregate or live abnormal lives. They are taught to obey God, and to mind their own business. They are quick to respect the inherent right of their neighbors to use drugs or doctors. While they know, and declare, that the power and law of God are always adequately available and spontaneously responsive to man's need, whatever that need may be, right now, they also realize that one can act only up to his highest understanding of God's power and law. They heed the instruction found on page 283 of Mrs. Eddy's book "Miscellaneous Writings": "As a rule, one has no more right to enter the mind of a person, stir, upset, and adjust his thoughts without his knowledge or consent, than one has to enter a house, unlock the desk, displace the furniture, and suit one's self in the arrangement and management of another man's property."

That here and there an individual passes on is no argument against spiritual healing. This would be like condemning mathematics as useless, because some boy does not solve his problem. What he needs is to learn more about mathematics, and to be sure he applies the rules correctly. With all due respect to the higher class of physicians and their efforts to aid the sick, Christian Scientists still maintain, and to a large extent consistently prove, that God alone is the great Physician, the natural healer of diseases, as Jesus taught and practiced. Christian Scientists know they are the children of God, and thus under His most high protection here and now. John said, "Now are we the sons of God." As we put off "the old man,"—the belief of being sons of the flesh,—we are able to put on "the new man,"—to claim spiritual sonship and its rights, and, like the prodigal son, return to the Father.

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