Article July 31, 1926 Issue

It is generally acknowledged that officials of the public...

Hugh Stuart Campbell, Committee on Publication for the State of Illinois, in the—Belleville

News-Democrat

It is generally acknowledged that officials of the public press may differ at times as to what constitutes good news. On the other hand, it is recognized that discriminating editors consider unreliable data to be undesirable newspaper copy. It was surprising, therefore, to observe in your recent issue several columns devoted to inaccuracies and misrepresentations of a great religion. I refer to a malicious attack on Christian Science by a careless writer, a story evidently released for the sole purpose of creating a sensation. In submitting this letter for publication, I do so with a conviction that the readers of the News-Democrat prefer unimpeachable testimony founded on fact, rather than conjecture.

The writer in question condemned Christian Science because, through its Christly ministrations, poverty and limitation of every nature are healed. He intimated that Jesus "preached poverty;" therefore Christians should be paupers. Jesus did not consider lack to be a virtue. His great mission on earth was to heal lack of every description among the people—lack of health, lack of food, lack of purity—and on the memorable occasion when tribute was required by Caesar, Jesus supplied a seeming lack of money.

Jesus was the richest man that ever lived—rich in his understanding of spiritual or true substance; and this substance he continually shared with others. In addressing the multitude he said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"—things, mark you, the material necessities of living, shall, he said, be awarded to those who strive to know God aright, to know Him as Spirit, Life, Truth, Love, and to obey His gracious precepts. In following the example of the Master, Christian Scientists do not seek worldly possessions, but through their understanding of God as the only creator of a spiritual universe they inherit the kingdom; that is to say, God bestows upon them as true seekers His blessings of wisdom, truth, and love. As Mrs. Eddy explains in her volume, "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 307): "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment." In fulfillment of this glorious promise, Christian Scientists are expressing affluence in proportion to their fidelity to the Principle of Jesus' teachings, now practically explained in Christian Science.

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