Article July 2, 1927 Issue

My attention was recently called to a letter that appeared...

W. Clyde Price, Committee on Publication for the State of Utah,

Lehi Sun

My attention was recently called to a letter that appeared in your columns a short time ago wherein one writing of his missionary work in California mentioned Christian Science people as "not being willing to read our literature," and also said that "they are self-opinionated and spiritualize everything." Your readers may readily understand the mental attitude of Christian Scientists towards other religions by knowing the position taken by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. On page 444 of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she advises her students "to be charitable and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion and medicine, but to those who hold these differing opinions." Christian Scientists have found what to them is "a new and living way" and are willing to follow the advice given in the epistle to the Hebrews, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)."

There is nothing in the teachings of Christian Science that would ever justify its students in becoming "self-opinionated," if by that term is meant self-conceit or obstinacy. Greater love for mankind is a rule of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy has written (ibid., p. 113): "The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,—pulseless, cold, inanimate." Of necessity, therefore, every individual who would understand and demonstrate this Science successfully must strive continually to express more of patience, meekness, affection, good deeds, self-forgetfulness, and purity, for without these Love is unknown. This is the aim of every Christian Scientist. To spiritualize, according to Webster, is "to refine intellectually or morally." Spiritualization is thus in harmony with Christian Science. A material concept of man and the universe, with its accompanying forms of sin, disease, and death, does not afford the Christian Scientist satisfactory evidence of God's spiritual man, created in His (God's) image, or of the universe as created by God and recorded in the first chapter of Genesis as being "very good." Therefore, a Christian Scientist endeavors to spiritualize his thoughts by seeking to know more of spiritual reality, and thus to recognize the presence, power, and knowledge of God in all that He has created.

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