Article February 25, 1928 Issue

In reply to a question propounded by one of your readers,...

Hugh Stuart Campbell, Committee on Publication for the State of Illinois,

Chicago Daily Journal

In reply to a question propounded by one of your readers, "Why should a man raise his hat to a woman?" a writer in your recent issue said, "Lifting one's hat to a woman is a custom inherited from chivalry." Among other things the writer also asserted that such a custom expressed "our reverence for womankind." The paragraph following contained another query soliciting an "honest opinion of Christian Science and its Founder." Did the reverend gentleman exhibit the courtesy "inherited from chivalry" in his reply to this question? Did he show the slightest reverence for Mary Baker Eddy, a consecrated woman? I regret that he did not. An "honest opinion" was requested; yet the writer answered his inquirer by means of fiction, not by facts. He falsely informed your readers that financial gain was uppermost in Mrs. Eddy's thought; he even voiced an opinion that Christian Science inflicted suffering on helpless invalids and children. Furthermore, the writer intimated that to correct his misleading statement — as I am now doing—is unethical practice, because "all who claim to have the truth should be willing to let the light play upon it."

Christian Scientists are well aware that biased opinions can in no wise dim the luster of Christian Science, obstruct its growth throughout the civilized world, nor retard its Christly mission of healing and salvation. We are more than willing to have the light—when it is light—shine upon our religion. But Christian Scientists believe that readers of the public press should be protected from misrepresentations. Therefore, I am prepared to furnish the following unimpeachable facts: The "Quimby" referred to was Phineas P. Quimby, of Portland, Maine. He was a mesmerist. He was not a religious man. Nothing Quimby practiced bears any relationship to Christian Science. A decree of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Massachusetts in 1883, established beyond question Mrs. Eddy's sole authorship of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Mrs. Eddy's life was one of constant sacrifice for others. Her estate, while a valuable one, consisted partly of copyrights, and is being used to-day to promote the religion she discovered and founded, a religion that is bringing to suffering humanity the fulfillment of the Master's glad promise, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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