Article April 3, 1926 Issue

The statements made by the writer of an article in a recent...

Carrington Hening, Committee on Publication for the State of New Jersey,—Trenton

Times

The statements made by the writer of an article in a recent issue entitled, "Discusses Christian Science," are rather absurd, and for that reason I beg space for a brief statement of facts.

Many prominent thinkers and scientists to-day are understanding more and more the unreality of matter and are explaining its unreality by "explaining it away." The Christian Science lecturer referred to arrived in Trenton as any one else would have arrived, and talked as others would talk. He did not "contend" that there do not seem to be material laws; he explained that the laws of God supersede the so-called laws of matter. Jesus the Christ taught and demonstrated the fact, namely, that the law of God is supreme, and that the understanding and application of this law annuls so-called material laws, theories, and beliefs. The teaching of Christian Science as to the unreality of matter is nothing new: Paul says in II Corinthians, "The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Yet, to the physical senses, the material seems real and the spiritual unreal. A counterfeit dollar may seem to be a real dollar to many, and yet, when brought to the attention of one who knows, it is pronounced unreal, worthless. Similarly, that which seems real to the material senses is found to be unreal, when the truth is known. The lecturer, having practiced medicine, has proved the value of adhering to the spiritual law of God, rather than to the material so-called laws of matter, which your writer is upholding, and is thereby loosening the hold on himself of the so-called laws of matter that claim to hold mortals in bondage. In this he, as many others, has accepted the better and more effectual was of helping mankind out of their sicknesses and sorrows and sins.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, so understood the spiritual law of God that material, so-called laws had less power over her; but she never claimed that she had reached the ultimate. She appeared and acted as other mortals do, but her understanding of God and reliance on Him brought to her ample supply to meet her needs. The work she accomplished has brought far greater good than anything else that has been done for humanity in our age. Her followers have also already accomplished, in healing and regeneration, what the followers of the systems which teach the reality of matter have been unable to do. There are no "tricks" in Christian Science; and the more one becomes acquainted with its teachings, and correctly understands the author of its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the sooner he will understand what Mrs. Eddy means by her statement therein (p. 468) that "matter is the unreal and temporal." It is quite true that Trenton will eventually have a church edifice, built of the usual materials, and that men and women will worship God in it; but the fact will remain that the true Church is, as explained by Mrs. Eddy on page 583 of the above-mentioned textbook, "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick." The teachings of Christian Science are true and demonstrable. This Science has stood the test of sixty years, and is now stronger than ever, counting its beneficiaries by the hundreds of thousands. A system that has proved its worth to mankind demands respect and consideration by all thinking people, and should not be ridiculed.

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