Article May 16, 1925 Issue

Christian Science has no connection with or similarity to...

Rowland R. Hughes, Committee on Publication for Bombay, India, in the—Bombay

Times of India

Christian Science has no connection with or similarity to faith healing, hypnotism, or yogis, with which it is grouped in the article in question. The purpose of the Christian Science church is to "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Church Manual, p. 17). Recognizing and emphasizing that God, good, is omnipresent and omnipotent, which most Christian theoretically admit, Christian Science logically concludes that good is the only real power. It sets about proving this practically, not by overlooking, but by overcoming and healing whatever would maintain the opposite in human experience, such as sickness and sin. Any system which depends on human personality and will-power for its strength, involves mysticism or occultism in its practice; and that which can be used for good or evil purposes at will is obviously not correctly to be classified with this new-old religion. Such systems break the First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." On the other hand, the First Commandment is fundamental to Christian Science, which also shows how it may be obeyed. Mrs. Eddy states in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 340): "The First Commandment is my favorite text. It demonstrates Christian Science;" and she adds, "The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal." Every one who has actually demonstrated Christian Science, and proved in personal experience that it does heal sickness and sin, can testify to the truth of that statement.

One can be a true follower of Christian Science only in so far as he is a true follower of Christ. There is no other way of obeying its rules and demonstrating its power to heal. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy, admonishes, "Follow your Leader, only so far as she follows Christ" (Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 4). Neither mental manipulation, human will-power, nor magic in any form has anything to do with following Christ, and systems which depend upon such practices have nothing to do with Christian Science.

Speaking for Christian Science and not for any of the other systems mentioned in your column, I should also like to correct the erroneous statement about its healing power. That is to-day not a question of theory but of fact,—largely recognized by physicians, ministers, and other men and women in every walk of life. Thousands who have actually been healed are grateful that Christian Science heals not only what are called functional and mental diseases, but every kind of disease. The statements made in your column, so far as they concern Christian Science, must have been made rather from what the writer thought ought to be true than from actual investigation. In each issue of the monthly and weekly Christian Science periodicals (the Journal and the Sentinel) there are published, and at the midweek meetings held in all Christian Science churches are spoken, testimonies of actual healing by Christian Science, which give a sufficient answer to any such "warnings" as those published in your column. It is noteworthy, too, that time after time it has only been after medicine and surgery could offer no further hope—after the dread sentence of "incurable" has been pronounced—that Christian Science has been called upon and healing received. In the Christian Science textbook it is written (p. 135): "There is to-day danger of repeating the offence of the Jews by limiting the Holy One of Israel and asking: 'Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?' What cannot God do?" And the Bible assures us, "The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear."

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