Article June 3, 1922 Issue

It must be observed that mere information in regard to...

Hans Frey, Committee on Publication for German-speaking Switzerland,

St. Galler Tagblatt

It must be observed that mere information in regard to Christian Science is not sufficient to pass judgment upon it. Its teachings must be put into daily practice and lived; and the result is seen in an increased understanding, in demonstration and discernment. The Christian Scientist endeavors daily, with the aid of the Bible and the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, to search for Truth. He does not consider that he already apprehends the full truth, but rather agrees with the statement made by the apostle Paul in the twelfth chapter (third verse) of Philippians. Christian Scientists are still human, as are others. But they are endeavoring to "put off the old man with his deeds;" as no doubt a great many other people are trying to do, each one in his own way. Does such a change rest entirely on "the poor human will," as the writer calls it? Is realization, for instance, only will-power? Can a correct calculation be made with will-power? Is it not rather the result of the right knowledge of the rules of arithmetic? According to one of the writer's statements, there is in will-power a state of knowing, a certain form of consciousness. To call this will-power goes far beyond the usual concept of it. Christian Science uses two separate terms when speaking of the fleshly mind and the spiritual; one sense, the "human or material consciousness," and the other the "divine or spiritual consciousness." Paul says: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." The critic acknowledges only a human will; to him there is no other. According to his statement man has no other agency at his command. Not so did Jesus teach. He said: "The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

Christian Scientists do not deny the existence of sickness in the way expressed by the writer. They solve their problems on the basis of understanding, exactly in the way that one corrects a mistake in a calculation, by applying to it the rule that is the basis of right calculation, instead of merely denying the mistake. "Healing physical sickness is the smallest part of Christian Science," as Mrs. Eddy says in "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 2); and she continues: "It is only the bugle-call to thought and action, in the higher range of infinite goodness. The emphatic purpose of Christian Science is the healing of sin."

According to the writer, one would be obliged to assume that the Christian Science movement is still in its infancy. He seems to forget that it has flourished for fifty years; therefore, his prophecies would by now have had ample time for fulfillment.

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