Article August 18, 1928 Issue

Referring to the answer of a reverend doctor to the question,...

Aaron E. Brandt, Committee on Publication for the State of Pennsylvania,

Harrisburg Telegraph

Referring to the answer of a reverend doctor to the question, as published in a recent issue, "What is your honest opinion of Christian Science and its Founder?" it should be noted that it was quite unnecessary to bring Mark Twain's opinion into it; but since it was, his prediction, apparently made in all seriousness, that in fifty years there would be only two religious denominations, should not be overlooked, as it indicates a change of mind and a different conclusion. As to "unfriendly criticism," it is quite in keeping with the profession of Christian Scientists to correct wrong impressions. Of genuine criticism they have little to meet.

It is true that Christian Science teaches that matter and disease do not exist in spiritual consciousness. And it agrees with Paul that spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and that no man is to be known according to the flesh. Christian Science is much more than "an elaboration of the simple truth that mind affects matter." Its conclusions are sane and logical deductions from generally admitted Scriptural premises.

As to human experience being "real," Christian Scientists do not at a bound jump into the full realization of the kingdom of heaven. But in the degree that they understand and apply Christian Science, they can improve the conditions of human experience and relieve themselves of many of its burdens. In consequence, they have less concern than perhaps they once had about bank accounts, physical health, and other cares, and are proving the great truth of Jesus' admonition, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." The question whether life is "both subjective and objective," is of little importance compared to the great gain conferred by the understanding of the difference between the assumed objective sense of the carnal mind, as Paul called it, and that Mind which he said was in Christ Jesus. In this connection the statement of a Chinese sage that there is nothing external to consciousness, has more than a passing interest. After some thousands of years the truth of that statement has not yet been refuted. The practice of Christian Scientists does not tend, as alleged, to "separate them from the actualities of life," but it enables them to find the spiritual actualities.

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