A Communication

W. D. McCrackan

Cortland (N. Y.) Standard

To the Editor of The Standard.

Sir:—My attention has just been called to a question in your issue of February 22, which was asked by F. W. Higgins, after listening to an address on Christian Science, recently delivered in your city. Inasmuch as the question and its answer are calculated to bring out the essential difference between Christian Science and various beliefs which are sometimes confounded with it, I beg leave to add some words to the excellent editorial reply which appeared in your paper.

The question was, in substance, whether any one using mental means for healing would lose the power to heal, if he were given a medical education. In this connection the phrase was used "with unbounded faith in his own powers." This phrase cannot be applied to Christian Scientists, for they know that they themselves do not heal, but that the healing comes from the realization of God's omnipotence over all evil, whether appearing as sin or sickness.

So, too, the following sentence from your reply does not exactly describe the attitude of Christian Scientists: "Natural and peculiar qualifications enable some persons to accomplish results in this direction—often in ignorance of what the power is which they exert."

Christian Scientists do not profess to have any peculiar qualifications for the healing work which are not equally accessible to all sincere searchers. It is one of the blessed results of Christian Science that it reveals the glorious possibilities in all men, and thus breaks down any Pharisaism, or artificial sense of better-than-thou, which tries to separate them. The Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy, says on this point:—

"Having one God, one God, one Mind, establishes the brotherhood of man, and fulfils the divine laws: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,' and 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' When these divine commands are understood they unfold the principle of brotherhood, wherein one mind is not at war with another, but all have one Mind, one Soul, one God, one intelligent Source, in accordance with the Scriptural command: 'Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Man and his Maker are correlated in divine Science, and consciousness is cognizant only of the things of God" (Rev. Ed. p. 276).

Moreover, Christian Scientists are very certain of the power which works through them, and they know that it is benign and blessed, bearing healing on its wings, for St. John tells us that "God is Love."

If I may be permitted, then, to answer the questioner in a general way, I should say that so far as Christian Scientists are concerned, they do not practise medicine for themselves or for others, but they are careful not to interfere with those who desire to acquire a medical education, or to receive medical assistance. As far as I am acquainted with Christian Scientists, they have not found a knowledge of medicine any help in realizing that God is omnipotent. Mrs. Eddy once replied, when asked:—

"Do

"Do you sometimes find it advisable to use medicine to assist in producing a cure, when it is difficult to start the patient's recovery?"

"You only weaken your power to heal through Mind, by any compromise with matter; which is virtually acknowledging that under difficulties the former is not equal to the latter. He that resorts to physics, seeks what is below instead of above the standard of metaphysics; showing his ignorance of the meaning of the term and of Christian Science" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 53).

I hope that this brief explanation will be of service to those who are trying, like the questioner in your issue of February 22, to reach a satisfactory understanding of the subject of mental healing.

Yours truly,
W. D. McCrackan.
In the Cortland (N. Y.) Standard.

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