Article February 5, 1927 Issue

There is no doubt that Arthur Brisbane, in his reference...

Thomas C. Hollingshead, Committee on Publication for the State of Idaho,—Boise

Capital News

There is no doubt that Arthur Brisbane, in his reference to Christian Science in a recent issue of your paper, intended to convey the impression that this religion claims that its study and the living of its teachings confer ability beyond what one has been accustomed to consider natural to himself. Mary Baker Eddy, writing on this subject in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 128), says, "Business men and cultured scholars have found that Christian Science enhances their endurance and mental powers, enlarges their perception of character, gives them acuteness and comprehensiveness and an ability to exceed their ordinary capacity."

But lest some of your readers should have misinterpreted his words, as being intended to convey the impression that Christian Science teaches that one has the right to do whatever he may want to do, regardless of whether his desire be in accord with law and morality, I trust you will allow me space to say that I believe that Mr. Brisbane himself would be the first to object to such an interpretation being placed on his words. The teaching of Christian Science is directly opposite to such a thought. There is but one standard in Christian Science, which Mrs. Eddy states very plainly, thus: "It is Christian Science to do right, and nothing short of rightdoing has any claim to the name" (Science and Health, p. 448). Only to the extent that one does right, can he be said to be truly living the teachings of Christian Science. How great is the task which this religion places on its adherents, and how far short each one falls daily in meeting this requirement in his thoughts, motives, and acts, none but the one who makes the effort to do so is able to say. All will, however, admit that if one makes a conscious endeavor to do this, he is doing much. Every honest person will be pleased if the person referred to by Mr. Brisbane and accused of something of which he is not guilty, has through Christian Science, or by any other means, been enabled to prove his innocence; but if he has been guilty and under process of law has been freed, it is the teaching of Christian Science that he has escaped only the legal penalty, and that he can be freed from the moral penalty only when he shall have paid the "uttermost farthing."

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