Article February 2, 1929 Issue

Recently, at a prohibition meeting held in Rifle, pamphlets...

Ralph G. Lindstrom, Committee on Publication for the State of Colorado,—Rifle

Recently, at a prohibition meeting held in Rifle, pamphlets containing misstatements about, and unfounded criticism of, the teachings of Christian Science were circulated. It seems regrettable that those who labor for civic righteousness should thus engage in useless and unworthy controversy with those who likewise strive for the uplift of mankind. In the first place, the pamphlets state only the misconceptions of those whose prejudice has prevented actual study of the teachings of Christian Science. Furthermore, and in the second place, the critical literature was aimed at the movement which publishes the world's leading newspaper advocate of prohibition—The Christian Science Monitor. If those responsible for the circulation of these pamphlets wish intelligently to refute the propaganda of the wets they will daily read the Monitor, which, in almost every issue, turns the searchlight of truth on the prohibition situation. Indeed, the investigation of the Quebec system of liquor control; the analysis of the economic and industrial phases of prohibition by one of the leading economists of the country; the series of daily articles on the fruitage of prohibition, and like series, are the result of most exhaustive investigation made at large expense to sustain the prohibition amendment and our federal Constitution.

How much better for religionists to join in efforts to exterminate evil rather than to divide and fight each other! Gamaliel gave very sound advice when he said to those in early Christian days who desired to exterminate the work of the apostles: "If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it." Lady Norah Bentinck recently wrote in the London Sunday Graphic: "To go to church and hear a sermon containing bitter attacks upon other creeds or learned disputations on fine points in dogma, does not, I take it, influence the minds and the hearts of the hearers for good; for such sermons do not conjure up the happy, consoling, and peaceful atmosphere which one has been taught to associate with attending a divine service. ... I think that to-day many, many thousands need and long for spiritual help; I think that even millions, perhaps in our England, are asking for bread but they are given a stone each time; and because they are given stones is the reason that the pews are empty. Tell us that God is Love, that right is right, that wrong is wrong. Tell us to cease to admire philanthropy and to begin to love men. Tell us not to stop hating each other for the love of God, but rather to love each other for the love of God."

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