Article November 5, 1927 Issue

If as one of your correspondents states " 'truth' would...

Stanley M. Sydenham, Committee on Publication for Yorkshire, England—York

Yorkshire Herald

If as one of your correspondents states " 'truth' would kill Christian Science," since it has been before the world for over sixty years, it should have been killed long ago! What is considered by some people to be the truth about Christian Science is simply their own misconception of it; and however widely a misconception is spread about or believed about any teaching, it cannot and does not affect the teaching itself. Your correspondent evidently believes that the teaching of Christian Science is different from Bible teaching, whereas the two teachings are identical. Christian Science has spread over the world because it has delivered many thousands from sin, disease, and in some cases death itself. Gratitude for blessings received must find expression; and the beneficiaries of Christian Science are those who are mainly responsible for bringing it to the notice of other sufferers. Christian Scientists greatly desire that the world shall know the whole truth about Christian Science; for they are confident that mankind would then be freed from its sin, its hatred, its misunderstandings, its distrust, its disease, its decrepitude, its belief in the necessity of death, and would realize that the kingdom of heaven is a right state of thought or consciousness. They are certain also that the more that is known about Christian Science the more it will be appreciated.

Your other correspondent declares that Christian Scientists "insist on their patients going without medical aid." That is not correct. What the Christian Scientist points out is that Christian Science and what is termed medical treatment are the opposites of each other and that, therefore, if medical treatment is desired Christian Science treatment cannot be given. The mental condition of one who believes in the efficacy of material remedies is not receptive of the teaching of Christian Science, which demands absolute reliance upon God, divine good, for everything, including healing and health. There are certain notifiable diseases, and Christian Scientists recommend their patients to acquaint the proper authorities immediately of anything they suspect to be of such a nature. My experience, and the experience of hundreds of people I know, is quite contrary to that of your correspondent, in that I have found Christian Scientists to be truthful. I have known members of many families reunited through Christian Science, and homes in which conditions were formerly almost unbearable, restored to that condition of which it may be said that they are the happiest places on earth. Christian Scientists do not compare themselves with Christ Jesus. He is their model, their Way-shower. In modeling their lives on his, there may at times seem to the onlooker to be little or no similarity between the two; but an honest desire to know and to do the will of God and to follow Christ Jesus' example does uplift and purify and manifest itself in human life, and in this way the gulf which may seem to separate the one desiring to be a Christian Scientist from the life lived by Christ Jesus becomes less and less. The happy mental state must progressively be reached which approximates that of the perfect model; and Christian Scientists are striving so to live that they may be accounted worthy followers of the Master, and known by their fruits.

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