Article November 3, 1928 Issue

A columnist in the Jewish Advocate writes: "I am in receipt...

Judge Clifford P. Smith, Committee on Publication of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts,—Boston

Jewish Advocate

A columnist in the Jewish Advocate writes: "I am in receipt of the following letter from Judge Clifford Smith, in reply to the question put recently to the Christian Science church. It is one of the clearest explanations of the relation of the Jew to the Christian Science movement that I have had the opportunity of publishing, and I am very glad indeed to give it space in this column. While on the subject I cannot refrain from restating my appreciation of the extreme courtesy that characterizes all utterances of my Christian Science neighbors. And I find this same characteristic in the articles that appear in The Christian Science Monitor. There seems to be no room for prejudice, or petty gossip, or mean criticism, or personal attacks. The high quality of its articles has always made a profound appeal to me. I have also been deeply impressed by the character of the men and women identified with the Christian Science church, whom I know personally."

This is the letter from Judge Smith:

Accepting your published invitation, I offer the following statement as to whether a Jew, by affiliating with the Christian Science movement, "ceases, religiously speaking, to be a Jew." As it seems to me, however, the phrase "Jew, religiously speaking" is liable to have different meanings for different people. Therefore, I am using other words. Christian Science is distinctly Christian. It accepts and is based upon the Jewish Scriptures or Old Testament, and on the Christian Scriptures or New Testament. A Jew can become a Christian Scientist without forsaking the Old Testament; but he will interpret those writings, as well as the New Testament, from the Christian Science position, which differs in certain respects from any other viewpoint. Furthermore, no one can become a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, while continuing as a member of any other denomination.

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