Article December 12, 1925 Issue

In your review of a book by the Dean of Chester, entitled...

Louis Potts, Committee on Publication for Cheshire, England,—Chester

Cheshire Observer

In your review of a book by the Dean of Chester, entitled "The Nature of a Cathedral," a passage is quoted in which the author suggests that the clergy should be available in cathedrals at certain times for the purpose of giving spiritual counsel and absolution when requested. The passage continues, "In this the Christian Science temples have taken a leaf out of our old book." The subject of spiritual healing is also referred to, the use of consecrated oil being recommended. When Christian Scientists require spiritual help, they invariably turn to the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. They have been enabled, through studying their textbook, to grasp in a satisfying degree the deep spiritual truths contained in the Scriptures, and, intelligently applying these truths, they have been able to heal themselves and others of disease and sin. Did not Jesus say, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"?

Neither manipulation nor the use of any material agent is in consonance with Christian Science healing, which is purely spiritual and is the natural result of the spiritual understanding that "now are we the sons of God," already possessing, as such, the rich heritage of health and holiness which God alone imparts. Christian Science teaches that absolution from sin is gained only as sin is destroyed in the consciousness of the individual; and this takes place when it is understood that sin, the unlikeness of God, cannot be part of the real man, who is spiritual and is made in the likeness of God. The third tenet of Christian Science, which is found on page 497 of the Christian Science textbook, reads as follows: "We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts." At the Wednesday evening meetings, held in Christian Science churches all over the world, and in the Christian Science weekly and monthly periodicals, the Christian Science Sentinel and The Christian Science Journal, testimonies of the healing of disease and sin are given, which bear witness to the fact that spiritual understanding is the healing factor, and that neither material means nor the confessional have any connection with the practice of Christian Science.

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