Veritas Answered

J. Edward Smith

The Courier

Editor Courier, Dear Sir:—In your edition of December 21, 1899, was a letter signed Veritas, in which the writer ostensibly attacks Christian Science as a religion, but in reality attacks Christianity.

Science needs no logical defence and no logic can overthrow it, for all Science is divine, else God is not the great Author and Creator of all. All God's works were pronounced good and God is conceded to be Omniscience (All Science), hence, all God's works are scientific, therefore to deny Christianity scientific basis and operation is infidelity. To denominate the works which Jesus set for a sign to "every one that believeth," as "belonging to the realm of fancy, imagination, and supernatural,"—to denominate as such, the healing of sickness and sin, and that, too, in the face of all the Bible promises in this direction, is a denial of the Bible itself, and certainly challenges the truth of Christ's doctrine and the sincerity of his promises.

To conclude that God will not hear the prayers of poor, suffering, and sin-laden humanity, and send His word to heal them, is to mock the divine mercy and make "Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." What is the record which God gave of His Son? What record did the Son leave behind him? He healed sickness and sin from first to last. What does God require of us? That we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. What did the Lord himself say of those who believe? "And these signs shall follow them that believe." Jesus said he came to do the will of his Father, and he did just these things. He said that all believers should do the works that he did if they would keep his word; that is, understand his doctrine, and we take him at his word.

I was reared in the Orthodox church and love it; and I believe every word that Jesus uttered, whether I understand it or not. He knew what he was saying and meant what he said.

The Christian Scientist loves good wherever found and honors every channel that works for higher morals and a better humanity. Every lover of Jesus Christ and his gospel has the prayers of the Scientist and his benediction on every good work. If some, or all denominations, differ on unessential points of the Christian religion, or even on seeming vital ones, God will surely redeem this human weakness, for He is Love. He sent His son into the world to save it; to establish His Kingdom on earth; and God's purpose cannot fail. Christ taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come" on earth, and we expect our prayers to be answered. If Christian Science has some ideas which are unique and original, it only stands in the same relation to popular thought as did the doctrines of Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and other reformers in their respective days.

Acquaintance with the lives and teachings of the great reformers and founders of Christian denominations, and of eminent divines and evangelists all through the centuries, teaches us that belief in the interposition of divine Love in behalf of every human need, circumstance, and condition, is a universal doctrine, and has been and is now, the star of hope that points to Emmanuel, or God with us. The Orthodox church has nothing to fear from Christian Science but much to gain.

Jesus was crucified, not because the world did not need and did not want what he came to offer, but because he was not understood. Christian Science is not attacked because of what it is, but because of what the world thinks it is.

Our critic claims that divine power never fails, and he is right. Did Peter heal with divine power? We must concede that he did, and yet he failed to walk upon the water. Did the disciples heal with divine power? We must concede that they did, and yet they failed at times to demonstrate the healing power.

Principle never fails, for it is absolute, and divine power is omnipotent; but we have the treasure in earthen vessels, as it were, and we are doing just as the early disciples did, viz.: the best we can, and this is less than we would have it at times, but God will also redeem this weakness and the fulness of His power will yet be manifest in the earth, for hath He not promised it? "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised."

Judge Clarkson of Omaha, says in the Christian Science Journal for January, 1900, "At this day no valid excuse can be given for not knowing what Christian Science is, hence no valid excuse can be given for abusing it for what it is not." Now some of our best citizens stand ready to verify the claims made for Christian Science to any sincere inquirer who comes in the proper way and in the right spirit. Intolerance and unjust criticism cannot hide the Truth nor shake the Scientists' faith in all the promises of Christ, nor in the sincerity of Christians generally, nor in the final triumph of Christianity over sin, sickness, and death. J. Edward Smith.
The Courier, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

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