Any observant reader might reasonably wonder what...

Judge Clifford P. Smith, Committee on Publication for The Mother Church,—New Bedford, Massachusetts

Standard

Any observant reader might reasonably wonder what sense of values furnished headlines and introductory matter for the report in a recent issue of a sermon containing a disrespectful reference to Christian Science. As was to be observed, nearly all of the quoted sermon presented the speaker's view, or that of his denomination, on the subject of prayer. Yet the headlines and the preliminary matter were directed at Christian Science, and did not even allude to the sermon on prayer.

There are many people other than Christian Scientists who deprecate aggressive comments by sectarian speakers. For instance, in his last annual report, Colonel John T. Axton, chief of chaplains of the United States army, made the following observation: "Soldiers readily see the difference between that effort which is religion pure and undefiled and that which merely seeks sectarian advantage. They are quick to recognize a positive and practical appeal to those in need of salvation and they have little time or sympathy for those who indulge in unbrotherly denunciation of others who seek the same God through different forms of faith, expression, and relationship."

All that the speaker in question said about Christian Science was that "the Church of Christ should never allow Eddyism to rob Christianity of the great truth of Christ's power to heal the body as well as the soul." By these words, he attempted to exclude Christian Science from the Church of Christ, and attempted to deny what is known by millions of intelligent people; namely, that it is Christian Science which has restored to Christianity the great truth of Christ's power to heal. The definite purpose of the Christian Science church, as stated by its Founder, Mrs. Eddy, is to "commemorate the word and works of our Master" and to "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Church Manual, p. 17).

Now almost every intelligent and unbiased man in Christendom knows that the teaching and practice of Christian Science has accomplished this purpose to a very considerable degree, and is continuing to accomplish it. Even if this fact were not attested in any other manner, it is amply proved by the attention now given spiritual healing by various Christian denominations as compared with the attention given this subject by the same denominations before Mrs. Eddy began the practice and teaching of Christian Science. For instance, at the conference of bishops of the Anglican communion held in 1920, they considered the relation of Christian Science to their faith and concluded that "there is much in Christian Science which ought to be found within the Church, where it would be supplemented by truths which in Christian Science are neglected." Similar action has been taken by certain other Christian communions. Furthermore, even the Jewish rabbis, prompted by the turning of Jews to Christian Science, have begun to ascribe more importance to the passages of the Old Testament which show that the one God whom they also worship "healeth all thy diseases."

Therefore, when the speaker at New Bedford said that Christian Science should not be allowed to rob Christianity of its healing power, he attempted nothing less than a reversal of historical fact. In a similar situation, but with reference to another speaker, the editor of the Rhinelander (Wisconsin) Daily News recently said: "He has evidently forgotten the work originated by Mary Baker Eddy something over half a century ago, which has advanced until there are several thousand churches of her sect engaged in the broad work of healing the sick in the manner taught by the Saviour more than two thousand years ago. That they are not only preaching the gospel but healing the sick in great numbers is now a matter of common knowledge and accepted as fact throughout the civilized world."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit