Article May 27, 1922 Issue

By quoting a few lines taken from different pages of...

Charles E. Heitman

Yonkers (N. Y.) Statesman

By quoting a few lines taken from different pages of Mrs. Eddy's book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," a correspondent of your paper endeavors to convey the impression that Christian Science denies the crucifixion and ignores the lesson to be learned from the cross; whereas, the same lines read in conjunction with their context reveal the fact that the opposite is true, and that the author possesses and expresses an immeasurable depth of love, respect, and reverence for Jesus, and an equally deep appreciation of all the trying experiences through which he passed for the enlightenment and benefit of mankind. In this connection, she says on page 497 of the volume just referred to, "We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter."

Christian Scientists recognize that, in allowing men to attempt the destruction of his mortal body in order that he might furnish the proof of immortal life, Jesus was but demonstrating the truth of his statement, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." It will be seen, therefore, that the acceptance of Christian Science does not entail the loss of a "crucified Redeemer" or a "risen Christ," but rather does it make possible the finding of both through giving us a spiritual and demonstrable understanding of the words and works of the great Teacher. Only through this understanding is one able to appreciate the true significance of Jesus' experiences and rightly interpret the many forms of religious ceremonies commemorating the same. We have no word of criticism for the manner in which these events are observed by the various religious denominations, yet we hold that our Easter is none the less real because we choose to make its observance continuous and spiritual, accompanied by no form or ceremony other than an earnest effort to gain more of the Mind of Christ, and thus come into a clearer vision of the risen Christ.

Just so, when viewed from a spiritual instead of a material standpoint, Christian Science is not without its Christmas and Pentecostal Day. On this point it is interesting to know that the Rev. Henry H. Barstow, referring to Christian Scientists, recently said in a sermon published in the Auburn (N. Y.) Citizen, "They have rescued from the theological junk-heap the great fundamental religious truth that God is the All-Spirit, pervading and pressing in upon all being; and, if we will let Him, suppressing the power of material and physical ill by the sheer might of omnipotent mentality. They have shown that the basis of a religious life is not ceremonies nor creeds nor church machinery, but the human spirit in living contact with the divine Spirit."

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