Article December 29, 1928 Issue

In an address entitled "Christian Science and Universal Health,"...

Albert E. Lombard, Committee on Publication for Southern California,—Los Angeles

Evening Express

In an address entitled "Christian Science and Universal Health," which appeared in your recent issue, a speaker quoted certain excerpts from Mrs. Eddy's writings. From the interpretation thereof in the address, a reader might erroneously conclude that a Christian Scientist should start with some knowledge of the material atom if he expects to reach the spiritual facts of being; but when Mrs. Eddy's complete statements and their contexts are considered, it will be seen that she excludes material premises from her religious teachings. For instance, when Mrs. Eddy wrote the words, "Atomic action is Mind," she added the words, "not matter," and stated in the same paragraph, "nor does the material ultimate in the spiritual" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 190). Likewise, Mrs. Eddy's statement, "When false human beliefs learn even a little of their own falsity, they begin to disappear," should be considered when explaining the meaning of the sentence immediately following, which begins, "A knowledge of error and of its operations must precede that understanding of Truth which destroys error" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 252). Throughout her writings, Mrs. Eddy shows that matter is not a factor in the reality of spiritual being.

In healing the sick, Christian Science follows the spiritually mental method of Christ Jesus, who lovingly and compassionately mingled with the multitudes, speaking the truth to those who were suffering with sin or disease, and healing them as he went his way. The Master utilized the law of God, divine Truth and Love, in each case he encountered. He did not depend on "collective" assistance from his disciples, but he said: "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do. ... I can of mine own self do nothing," and, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." The Gospels are replete with instances where Jesus healed sickness and sin.

The philosophy set forth in the address of our critic is clearly at variance with Mrs. Eddy's teachings. The person who delivered the address cannot properly claim that she is "the loyal follower of Mary Baker Eddy," that she has advanced to a "higher standpoint pointed out by Mrs. Eddy," or that The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, is "the denominational ancestor" of her (the critic's) organization. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science, is the authority in this religion, and her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," contains the full, final, and complete statement of Christian Science.

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