Article August 8, 1908 Issue

Our critic commits a very common error in assuming...

R. Stanhope Easterday—Indianapolis, Ind.

The Star

Our critic commits a very common error in assuming that poverty (evil) is as real (eternal) "as the existence of God" and then setting for himself the Herculean task of eliminating the illimitable, and that by a process of finite human reasoning. The assumption, to begin with, that poverty is "unnecessary" and possible of destruction, precludes the possibility of divine origin thereto and directly substantiates the Christian Science contention for its unreality. In Christian Science, therefore, we argue more reasonably than does our critic, that the "first step necessary is to realize" not the "actual," but the seeming "existence of evil," for even in the "seeming" there is ample incentive to effort, inasmuch as the believing of any lie ruptures harmony. Very logically, then, will the second step in the process be a clear conviction that said evil of poverty or of aught else is "unnecessary." At the third step, the point where our critic begins to founder hopelessly in the more of "dogged public opinion," the Christian Scientist gets light and encouragement from Jesus' words, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world;" "and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Appreciating now, as our critic cannot possibly do, that "one on God's side is a majority," the Christian Scientist approaches with assurance the main proposition left untouched by "Student," even the arousing of "public opinion" by actual and practical and individual demonstration of the practicality of the Scriptural admonition, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness [rightness]; and all these things shall be added unto you. ... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

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