A Fair Observer

Famous for his sensible comments on many subjects, Edward S. Martin observes events of general interest from editorial positions. In the current Harper's Magazine, Mr. Martin, after referring to a contentious book about Mary Baker Eddy, continues thus: "The important thing about Mrs. Eddy is not so much her personal peculiarities as what she did and how she did it. Very likely she did not know; but there seem to be plenty of facts in Christian Science, and a certain, or perhaps uncertain, control of health and of physical well being, and also of mentality. Christian Science thought seems to be on a different basis from ordinary thought."

In behalf of all Christian Scientists, we acknowledge gratefully the fairness of the foregoing comment. We presume that Mrs. Eddy would have us do this, for she has said on page 303 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "What I am remains to be proved by the good I do." In these words she accepted, and perhaps claimed the protection of, the test for all men set up by the one perfect Teacher: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good."

We agree that Mrs. Eddy did not, in the beginning of her discovery of Christian Science, know how she did what she did. For many years she had given attention to mental causation. Then she recovered wonderfully from an injury when she read an account of healing in the New Testament (Matthew 9:2-8). She attributed to divine agency the marvel wrought for her. She felt that there must be a law explaining the cures related in the Bible and explaining her own recovery, and she sought for this law until she found it in the Principle, rule, and practice of Christian Science. This unfolding in Mrs. Eddy's thought occupied years and went on for further years. Advanced by divine imparting, it was also advanced by prayer, study, practical use, and by the formative process incidental to expressing her discovery in words. In the result, therefore, Christian Science is available now and is doing what it is for the reason that Mrs. Eddy actually learned to know how she did what she did. Science, defined simply, is knowledge coordinated with law and made available for use.

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Editorial
"Our daily bread"
February 22, 1930
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