A critic says that "if that book [Rudimental Divine Science]...

Frank C. Barrett

Portland (Me.) Argus

A critic says that "if that book [Rudimental Divine Science], and Science and Health, were offered to any church, they would be rejected on the ground that they were unscriptural." Then he goes on to say that a statement of Christian Science might be submitted to the Methodist conference or the Episcopal convention for final judgment. But would the judgment of such a conference or convention be entirely reliable? To make my meaning more clear, let us suppose the Methodist conference should sit in judgment on the creed or doctrine of the Episcopal church, and vice versa. Would not each find that they themselves were right, and the other wrong, on Scriptural authority? No doubt they might attempt to disprove the Scriptural authority of Christian Science by the same token.

The "scientists" mentioned by our critic who have sat in judgment on the discovery of the North Pole, understand the "science" of astronomy. Unless the clergymen likewise understand Christian Science, and prove it by actual demonstration, how can we be sure they are competent to pass judgment until they do understand it? Christian Scientists have proved their claims. The Master said. "By their fruits ye shall know them." It matters not whether Christian Science is approved by certain individuals in the churches, or not: it must stand or fall on its own merits. That is the reason why I did not refer to our critic's statement in reference to putting the books before a committee of men who do not profess to understand Christian Science. I do not see that the opinion of such a committee would carry any more authority than our critic's opinion.

I assure you, I propose to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth: therefore I must thank our critic for giving me this opportunity to answer the whole statement. However, it has not been proved that Christian Scientists are "impostors," nor that Christian Science does not heal the sick and sinful. And what is more to the point is that the public is turning to it for moral, spiritual, and physical healing, in ever increasing numbers. Would this be so if the claims made for Christian Science were not being proven? If it is desired, the writer will furnish testimonies of healing, made on oath in court. Also testimonies by physicians of renown concerning cases which passed under their own observation. In fact, there is so much evidence to sustain our claims that even our critic's only excuse for rejecting them is that the cures were not effected instantaneously in every instance, and because of some failures on the part of Christian Scientists to demonstrate Christian Science.

The apostle Paul went about for a long time with a "thorn" in his flesh. Some say it was rheumatism; others that it was sore eyes; but we may well believe that after a period of spiritual growth he overcame his difficulty. So it is with every one who attains "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." When they do attain that standard, they will never fail; but no person on earth can claim to have attained all. It is what a person has accomplished for humanity that shows his real worth, and today hundreds of thousands rise up and call the Discoverer of Christian Science blessed, for they have been restored to their friends and their families, ofttimes when they would have perished without the truth which destroys all error. It is such proofs as these that sustain Mrs. Eddy's claims for Christian Science and annul the charges of her detractors. Her claims have been so thoroughly proven that today many M. D.'s have given up the practice of medicine and are now Christian Science practitioners; and many clergymen have joined the ranks of the Christian Scientists. Surely, this could not have happened until the efficacy of Christian Science had been demonstrated to their satisfaction. In fact, the teachings of Christian Science have received such general recognition that many leading clergymen and divines approve of spiritual healing and are even now taking steps to introduce it into the churches. Does not this prove that Mrs. Eddy's prophecy to the effect that "in the twentieth century every Christian church in our land, and a few in far-off lands, will approximate the understanding of Christian Science sufficiently to heal the sick in his [Christ's] name" (Pulpit and Press, p. 22), is already coming true?

In the face of these facts is it not true that Christian Science has advanced the "standard of medical and theological thought"? The one depends less on drugs and more on nature, cleanliness, purity, etc., and with a growing recognition that the mental condition of the patient has a great deal to do with the success of the cure,—and last, but not least, some have already given up the practice of medicine for Christian Science methods. In the churches the clergy do not preach an all-powerful devil, to the exclusion of the one omnipotent God, so much as they used to. No, evil is not accredited so much power since Christian Science has taught people to allow nothing but Life, Truth, and Love to fill their consciousness. It has raised theology to the point where it must demonstrate its utility; where it must meet the needs of the people in actuality rather than in theory. Christian Science has taught them that creed and dogma give place to the authority of Truth. Indeed, Christian Science has elevated theology to the point where preaching without practice is seen to be incompatible with the words and works of our Lord and Master.

Christian Science has been the greatest factor in this awakening for the reason that it has proved the efficacy of divine Life, Truth, and Love to destroy the sins, diseases, and discordant conditions of mortal mind, by the power and supremacy of the divine Mind which it reveals. In writing of her discovery of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy says: "The Bible was my only text-book. The Scriptures were illumined; reason and revelation were reconciled, and afterward the truth of Christian Science was demonstrated" (Science and Health, p. 110). Thus it will be seen that what Mrs. Eddy teaches in Science and Health was gleaned from the Scriptures. What she found there she comments on in Science and Health, making the Bible teachings practical in this age.

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