Christian Science does by no means "stifle inquiry;" it is...

W. E. Fell

Yorkshire (Eng.) Herald

Christian Science does by no means "stifle inquiry;" it is not so foolish as to attempt to do so, since the honest enquirer approaching the subject without bias is invariably convinced of the truth. In every Christian Science community large enough to support it there is a reading-room open to the public. This room is furnished with the canonical writings, the authorized text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and such other literature as teaches this subject. Moreover, the text-book may be borrowed from the reading-room free of charge. It is also supplied to free libraries.

Our critic asserts that "Christian Science was impugning the sanctity of marriage." Well, all I can say is that any one who takes the trouble to read the chapter on Marriage in Science and Health will see what a very high ideal is held in regard to marriage and its obligations.

The criticism that follows appears to me to be nothing short of a frank attempt to create prejudice in the minds of the people, namely, that Christian Science "inflicted the most horrible cruelties on little children." There is not a word of truth in it. It is a simple matter to make such statements, and as wicked as it is simple. I do not, however, suppose for a moment that your intelligent readers will be misled by our critic's ipse dixit, unsupported, as it is, by any kind of evidence whatever. It remains to be said that thousands of children have been lifted out of agony and diseased conditions that would infallibly have resulted in lifelong deformity, through the ministrations of Christian Science.

Now I would like to give a word of advice to these evangelical clergymen. The Master whom they profess to serve distinctly commanded that his followers should abstain from sitting in judgment on others, and he also said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words." Are all Christ's commands being kept? Is there any attempt being made to keep them? One of the commands was: "Preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils [evils]." What authority have the critics of Christian Science for divorcing the command of healing from that of preaching the gospel. Is one incumbent on the churches? Then equally must the other be enforced.

It is incontrovertible that Jesus gave but one proof of those who should be known as his followers, and that was that they should do the works which he did. "These signs shall follow them that believe [understand]." All professing Christians are today without excuse. The Principle and the rule are manifest, and the Christ-works are again being done. It is a question of law and not of miracle, if by that is meant wonder-working,—the working out of the divine law of Spirit's dominion over all unlike its own pure and perfect self. Jesus demonstrated this law. His immediate followers demonstrated it for some three hundred years, as history relates, after his ascension, and the Science of Christianity again demonstrates this law in healing the sick, reforming the sinner, and casting out the demons of lust and intemperance. Plain speaking, you may say, but is it not full time that some one thus spoke?

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