The columns of our newspapers are full of the decline...

E. M. Ramsay

Dundee (Scot.) Advertiser

The columns of our newspapers are full of the decline in church-going, but though many reasons are assigned for this, not one of them, I believe, gets down to the root of the matter. All the churches accept the Bible as the foundation of their faith, but they differ widely as to the interpretation of the Bible teaching, and only one of them, as a church, is endeavoring to fulfil the command of the Master to heal the sick.

If an ancient manuscript were discovered which seemed to describe the process by which the Tyrian dye, let us say, was produced, we should certainly say that the student who produced the dye was the one who had rightly interpreted the manuscript. So when a church, through a new understanding of the gospel teaching, is able to produce results which no other modern interpretation has produced, would it not seem probable that this fruit-bearing interpretation was the nearest right?

In what respect do the experiences of the Christian Science church differ from those of the other Protestant churches? While the others complain of declining numbers, of the indifference if not hostility of the working classes, and of the difficulty of raising funds, the Christian Science congregations are growing constantly, their members are drawn from all sections of the community, religion is found to be the most interesting of all subjects, the brotherhood of man is seen to be obtainable through the fatherhood of God, and a great vigor of spiritual, moral, and physical life makes itself felt.

How is the new movement regarded by the other Christian bodies? A steady stream of books and pamphiets, purporting to show up the fallacies of Christian Science, is sent forth year after year by people who have no understanding of the subject they criticize, while the healing of the Holy Spirit is ascribed to suggestion and men are unkindly spoken of for believing in the omnipotence of God! Would it not be wiser to follow Gamaliel's advice: "Refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."

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POEMS BY MARY BAKER EDDY

December 3, 1910

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