Article May 10, 1941 Issue

[The fifth of a series of six articles as published in the current issue of The Christian Science Journal]

"Opinions of the Press" in "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy

ALBERT F. GILMORE

TUCKED away between the pages of "Letters from those Healed by Reading 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures'" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 460—463) are a number of statements from the contemporaneous press regarding the recently published "Science and Health" and the method of healing it set forth. Since they indicate the immediate attitude of the public toward Mrs. Eddy's discovery, their importance, it seems, quite overtops their fewness.

It is easily understandable that Mrs. Eddy awaited with eager eyes the reception of her great discovery. Had she not boldly and uncompromisingly denied the age-old theories regarding three of the most important modes of human thought, namely, science, theology, and medicine? Not only did these represent generally accepted conclusions, but they had received the imprimatur and support of the most brilliant intellects of the centuries. Also they were supported by vast vested interests which might suffer collapse if their foundations were proved to be false and insecure. And Mrs. Eddy's teachings were aimed at the very fundamentals of these age-old structures. It is little wonder, then, that she was deeply concerned with the reception of the revolutionary Science which she had so convincingly proclaimed; revolutionary, that is, to what she was proving to be false in the premises of all these modes of human belief.

The press was quick to respond, and many comforting statements were made which must have greatly heartened this lonely woman, adventuring into realms where the great of the earth had so triumphantly trod. Among the first to comment upon this newly discovered Science was the Herald of Health. And materialistic though it was in its general outlook, yet the editor obviously caught some glimpse of the truth set forth, for he comments that "applied to certain conditions, this method has great value: even the reading of the author's book has cured hopeless cases" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 460).

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