Article November 15, 1924 Issue

Any observant reader might reasonably wonder what...

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

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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).

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