Article April 13, 1929 Issue

An article appearing in your recent issue under the...

Aaron E. Brandt, Committee on Publication for the State of Pennsylvania,—Wilkes-Barre

Sunday Independent

An article appearing in your recent issue under the heading "Curing by Faith" purports to emanate from an adherent of "an independent minority movement in Christian Science." The article speaks of Christian Science and the Christian Science movement established by its Discoverer and Founder, Mary Baker Eddy, in a way that necessitates comment. The article is misleading to those uninformed as to the nature of this attack upon genuine Christian Science, an attack which would adulterate its pure teaching. In fairness to the public and the loyal followers of Mrs. Eddy, kindly permit me to say that those leading this little group which is trying to gain recognition from the public as a "movement in Christian Science," have either been dismissed from Mrs. Eddy's organization on grounds amply justifying such action, or withdrew therefrom before ultimate dismissal, and that they and their followers in no respect represent the Christian Science movement, and must be classed as opponents of Christian Science. Only from this standpoint can it be understood why this group, in contrariety to the real facts, speaks of "the tragedies that have been permitted in the name of Christian Science," and attempts to throw discredit upon a teaching that has encircled the globe in less than half a century, that has done more than all other movements combined to place healing successfully upon a spiritual basis, that has conferred happiness upon multitudes of people and prolonged the lives of many thousands, that is meeting with such present success that medical doctors of the highest standing are increasingly acknowledging its efficacy and commending it to their patients. Indeed, Christian Science has been the last and only efficacious resort of large numbers of its adherents.

With these facts in mind your readers may readily comprehend the reason for the propriety of this letter. Christian Scientists feel it to be their bounden duty to see that the sacred truths which Mrs. Eddy discovered in the Bible and revealed to the world in her writings shall be maintained in their purity. It should, however, be clearly understood that Christian Scientists freely concede the right of everyone to believe what he pleases, and to choose whatever form of religion or medicine he prefers. They extend their good will to every movement sincerely endeavoring to alleviate the suffering of mankind. But when the teaching of Christian Science is presented to the public on a basis directly contrary to that taught by its Discoverer and Founder, and she is represented as advocating the general use of drugs or the more or less common faith in material means for healing in aid of or in combination with the spiritual understanding of divine Truth, it is essential to call attention to what Mrs. Eddy really taught, though without ill will toward those of different views, or desire for controversy.

"Does Christian Science, or metaphysical healing, include medication, material hygiene, mesmerism, hypnotism, theosophy, or spiritualism?" asks Mrs. Eddy on page 484 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." And she answers that question in no uncertain way in these words: "Not one of them is included in it." In terms equally certain she also declares repeatedly that a faith which relies upon matter instead of Spirit as a remedy is as material as the prevailing medical systems. Therefore, she says again, and with a conviction which no true Christian Scientist can ignore (ibid., p. 140), "We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship materially." Genuine adherents of Christian Science have no more intention of combining its practice with, or subordinating it to, the practice of medicine than of attempting to mix darkness with light, or employing ignorance and superstition to make more efficacious the power of God.

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