Article September 30, 1922 Issue

It is not claimed, as was stated by a critic recently in...

John W. Harwood, Committee on Publication for Lancashire, England,

Southport Visitor

It is not claimed, as was stated by a critic recently in your paper, that Christian Science is something new; but that it is giving to the world the understanding of the truth which, like Christ, was before Abraham, and is from everlasting to everlasting, but which had been lost sight of for over sixteen centuries. The teaching of Christian Science regarding the unreality of matter is not acceptable to the critic. Has he not read what Mr. Balfour said some years ago, that scientists now explain matter by explaining it away? The mind which does not deny the existence of matter is the same mind which does deny the existence of Spirit, and this is the mind which Mrs. Eddy designates mortal, and which Paul names carnal, and is "enmity against God." It is in the mortal or carnal mind where all sin, suffering, and disease of every nature seem to exist; and the remedy for all these ills of the flesh is to be found only in the divine Mind or Truth. Our Savior said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free;" and this truth is what Christian Science teaches—the truth that God is Spirit, and that man is spiritual; that God made all that was made, and that it was good. This is not in accordance with the critic's ideas of God and His creation. He says we must accept the world as it is, and the conditions as laid down for human existence,—sorrow and trial,—as being inevitable. Is this the kind of hopeless pity and compassion he would like the Christian Scientists to have? Is it not just this kind of teaching that has prevented people from receiving the healing of their diseases through prayer, and from endeavoring to overcome their sinful tendencies? Is it not this teaching that has caused more agnosticism and atheism than anything else?

Christian Science comes to the sick person, and says with assurance and loving compassion: "God never made you sick. God is infinite Love, and in His presence disease has no real existence. He gives to you dominion; and his power is present, and available to help you, and give you health and harmony." Jesus proved this; for in whatever form evil appeared before him, whether as sin, disease, or death, it was rebuked and destroyed. He said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also," and, "These signs shall follow them that believe,"—one of which was that the sick should recover. His command was to preach the gospel and to heal the sick. Through Christian Science the sick are being healed; sinners are losing their sinful habits. Hundreds of thousands of people in all parts of the world can testify to these facts; and also that, through its teachings, they have gained an understanding of God and His Christ which is enabling them, in some measure, to overcome "the world, the flesh, and the devil," and ultimately to destroy the "last enemy," death. In face of this, can the critic's statement be true that the Christian Scientists' Christ is not a savior at all? Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." And one might ask, Can the critic prove that his Christ is saving the sinner and destroying the drunkard's false appetite, and freeing the victim of clinging vice, and meeting the desires and needs of suffering humanity? If this were so, there would be no wailing over empty churches, or questions as to the reason for the churches' failure. The preaching of a salvation which only operates after death does not appeal to mankind to-day. A present salvation from sin, disease, and suffering is demanded; and Christian Science has come in fulfillment of the promise that "when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth;" and this Christ, or Truth, which Jesus demonstrated, is being proved to be as effective to-day as nineteen centuries ago, in taking away the sins of the world and in healing all manner of diseases. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 135), "It has been said, and truly, that Christianity must be Science, and Science must be Christianity, else one or the other is false and useless."

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