Article August 20, 1927 Issue

One could hardly believe that you expected your readers...

Ralph B. Textor, Committee on Publication for the State of Ohio, in the

Democrat

One could hardly believe that you expected your readers to take seriously the suggestion, made in a recent editorial of the Democrat, that Christian Scientists are involved in any effort to pass laws which would compel all to attend their church or observe their religious tenets. This inference seems to have been drawn from the fact, referred in the editorial, that in California, such effective protest was made against the use of a textbook on physiology, in which an attempt was made to discredit the teachings of Christian Science, that the State Board of Education promised to have the offensive paragraph eliminated in succeeding editions. However, to infer that the Christian Science church would employ, or even countenance, any means of forcing people to enter its ranks, is far from expressing the truth. Even if the passage of such religious laws as those referred to were not prohibited under our Federal Constitution, they would still be contrary to the spirit and letter of the By-laws of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, which provide that an applicant for membership "must be a believer in the doctrines of Christian Science, according to the platform and teaching contained in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Rev. Mary Baker Eddy;" also that this church will not receive "a church-member from a different denomination until that membership is dissolved" (Manual of The Mother Churchp. 34).

Furthermore, Christian Scientists are so occupied with the demonstration and practice of their religion, and with conforming their own thoughts, words, and actions to the pattern laid down by Christ Jesus, that they find no time for endeavoring to force their religion upon others. Rather are they trying to heed the Master's counsel, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

A song is more lasting than the voice of birds!
A word is more lasting than the riches of the world!

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