Article August 19, 1933 Issue

Simplicity in Christian Science

DOROTHEA D. DULIN

Students of the Bible, when considering the life of Christ Jesus, must always be impressed by the tender compassion which he manifested toward those whose thought reached out for healing. Students of Christian Science find deep significance in that compassion, in the healing quality which expressed a loving desire to loose and lift the suffering ones and also voiced an effective rebuke to the error which would bind.

When the multitudes were hungry, as we read in the ninth chapter of Luke's Gospel, instead of dismissing them or withdrawing from them, Jesus commanded his disciples, "Give ye them to eat." He went to the beside of the woman who was "sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her." To the widow who was grieving for her only son, he said, "Weep not." Then he restored her son to her. His teaching given to the woman at the well was in simple terms, such as she could understand. His appeal and mental attitude could be comprehended; he was unaffected, sincere, loving, and little children were naturally drawn to him. He met on the ground of their human need the thought of those who came to him.

One also is impressed by the loving-kindness that marked the beloved Leader of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy, and the rare simplicity of expression in her works. There breathes through all her writings this same compassionate quality, tender and healing in its effect. In two biographies of Mrs. Eddy—one by Sibyl Wilbur, the other by Dr. Lyman P. Powell—are records of those who were privileged to be with her, of the many deeds of thoughtful kindness which indicated that she was never too much occupied to be mindful of the interests and welfare of those around her. Indeed, the latter biographer relates a homely little incident in which our Leader brought out an important lesson by remarking, "There's a scientist that isn't soaring o'er the church steeples."

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