Article March 25, 1922 Issue

In your monthly you have permitted the publication of...

Hans Frey—Zurich, Switzerland (translation)

Parish Paper of Neumünster

In your monthly you have permitted the publication of a pamphlet, "Christian Science," a lecture by a clergyman. In reference to the beginning and development of what he calls the "Chosen Principal, Zurich," there is the following foundation: Some families from Zurich, residing in America, were privileged to experience the healing activity through the teachings of Christian Science, both morally and physically, upon themselves. They notified their relatives here of this, sent them Christian Science periodicals, and the foundation, combined with further development, was laid. This is the history of each and every Christian Science church. It develops individually, and is built upon the conclusory words of the author of the pamphlet, "I know whom I have believed," "I know that my redeemer liveth," and, "For I am persuaded, that [nothing] ... shall be able to separate us from the love of God." It is a something which is enacted in the inner man at the time of taking up the new-old message, which first strives for the kingdom of God, perhaps weakly at first, and later participates in the fulfillment of the promise, "And all these things shall be added unto you."

The clergyman marks the so-called demands of Christian Science even at the beginning, and gives them a significance which is not in accord with Mrs. Eddy's teaching. On page 444 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says: "Students are advised by the author to be charitable and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion and medicine, but to those who hold these differing opinions. Let us be faithful in pointing the way through Christ, as we understand it, but let us also be careful always to 'judge righteous judgment,' and never to condemn rashly. 'Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.'" There is certainly nothing contained herein which justifies the words that one "wants to put aside the up to this time church-like Christendom."

Why does the clergyman disregard the chief demand of Christian Science, namely: "Christian Science explains all cause and effect as mental, not physical" (Science and Health, p. 114). John says, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing;" and also: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." He cannot do otherwise than admit that much is dependent upon the spirit of the world, the trend of thought that everything has a footing upon the ideal world. He also knows that thought precedes the material expression, and also that one cannot "gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles" but that like begets like; that is, that they are one in nature or quality, or must be equal in it. A good idea will bring to light and express what it is and never its opposite. In Hebrews we read: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

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