Article December 6, 1924 Issue

Kindly allow me to say a word in your columns by reason...

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

Mercury

Kindly allow me to say a word in your columns by reason of a disrespectful comment on Christian Scientists and a mistaken statement about Christian Science which was reported in a recent issue of your paper. Christian Science does not teach that "sin is a figment of the imagination." Nothing to this effect can be found in Mrs. Eddy's writings, and nothing of this sort is believed by Christian Scientists. Christian Science teaches that every form of evil is unreal, but this is a different proposition. In this sense, that only is real which exists inherently or intrinsically as distinguished from what is apparent or seeming. No one questions that evil in all its forms seems real, but the practice of Christian Science proves that it does not possess the qualities of reality and can be overcome. No one is obliged to accept this teaching. Every one may read the Bible and the dictionary for himself. On the other hand, no one proves anything by calling Christian Science "Eddysim," nor by preaching against what Christian Science does not teach.

The same speaker also tried to spread the impression that Christian Scientists are a frivolous class of people who go from poodle dogs to Christian Science and take up the next thing that comes along. Here, also, the speaker showed his ignorance of facts. Doubtless some Christian Scientists were frivolous before they became interested in this religion. On the other hand, everybody knows that Christian Scientists are at least as much in earnest as most people, and nobody has observed any considerable number of Christian Scientists leaving it for the next thing that comes along. In fact, the next speaker against Christian Science who comes along is liable to find some other fault while admitting that Christian Scientists are setting a good example for other religionists.

Speaking of the unreality of evil, Mrs. Eddy has said, "To be delivered from believing in what is unreal, from fearing it, following it, or loving it, one must watch and pray that he enter not into temptation—even as one guards his door against the approach of thieves. Wrong is thought before it is acted; you must control it in the first instance, or it will control you in the second. To overcome all wrong, it must become unreal to us: and it is good to know that wrong has no divine authority; therefore man is its master" (Message to The Mother Church for 1901, p. 14).

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