To call Christian Science "Eddyism" is just as logical and fitting as to call algebra "Newtonism." Christian Science is a science and not contingent upon any human personality. It is not an invention or creation of Mrs. Eddy, but solely the outcome of her spiritual study and research. It is a subject so vast that it cannot possibly be regarded in the light of an "ism" or "ology." It is not a mere doctrine. It is too large for a creed, and it goes beyond mere form in worship. There is no insubordination to the divine law of Life, inaugurated by the Master, taught in Christian Science, but on the contrary an undeviating adherence thereto. Christian Science makes for purity, righteousness, honesty, and good will to others. In fine, Christian Science is but the scientific statement of Christianity. The two are indissoluble and cannot be considered separately. For this reason Christian Science cannot be considered as akin to any human teaching or system. Furthermore, it cannot be understood in the light of these teachings, nor explained by means unlike itself, because it is spiritual, entire, and complete.

Our critic asks the question, "Is Christian Science Christian?" and then as a preliminary to his conclusion that it is not Christian he declares that Christian Science denies a personal God. If he had studied what Christian Science teaches on this subject, he would have found the following on page 116 of the Christian Science text-book: "If the term personality, as applied to God, means infinite personality, then God is infinite Person,—in the sense of infinite personality, but not in the lower sense." In amplification of the foregoing, Mrs. Eddy writes: "We understand that God is personal in a scientific sense, but is not corporeal nor anthropomorphic. We understand that God is not finite; He is infinite Person, but not three persons in one person. Christian Scientists are theists and monotheists. Those who misjudge us because we understand that God is the infinite One instead of three, should be able to explain God's personality rationally. Christian Scientists consistently conceive of God as One because He is infinite; and as triune, because He is Life, Truth, Love, and these three are one in essence and in office" (Messages to The Mother Church, p. 40). The Christian Science text-book on page 587 defines God as follows: "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all-substance; intelligence." It is not possible to obtain a clearer definition of God as person than that quoted above from the Christian Science text-book, when we regard the word person in its correct sense.

Because God is infinite, He works according to infinite laws. The word infinite precludes the possibility of time. What was done through an understanding of God in the year one can be done in the year 1911, and all other years. The word infinite precluding the possibility of limitation, God is omnipotent or all power, in fact the only real power in the universe. Christian Science therefore reveals the God of the Bible, "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies." Because God is good, His laws are good and are therefore for man's integrity, health, and well-being. Christian Science declares unreservedly for an infinitely good God, who is, as John said, "love," and who does not send sickness or sin to afflict the race. If we are to be stoned, this is the place to stone us, for we rest our full hope of salvation on the boundless goodness and love of God, who is "of purer eyes than to behold evil."

Christian Science is not pantheistic. Pantheism (which is from the Greek pan, all, and theos, god) means that God and the material universe are identical. The word is defined in Webster's as follows: "The doctrine that the universe, taken or conceived of as a whole, is God; the doctrine that there is no God but the combined forces and laws which are manifested in the existing universe." Pantheism is a sort of middle ground between atheism, which denies the existence of God, and theism, which teaches belief in God. It is inductive, going from effect back to cause. It makes matter, if indeed it regards matter, the necessary expression of a God who is Spirit, and includes sin and evil in the divine order. Christian Science is entirely spiritual in premise and conclusion, and is deductive, going from cause to effect. It includes the conclusion that the man and universe which is the basis of pantheism is a counterfeit of God's real spiritual man and universe. When one grasps the meaning and significance of what Christian Science gives, it is readily seen that sin, disease, and death are not a part of God and cannot possibly be, any more than "light can commune with darkness," or "Christ have concord with Belial." Christian Science, therefore, declares and proves evil, root and branch, to be unreal, without basis, foundation, or cause, and something to be denied and cast out through a realization of the infinite power and presence of God.

Because Christian Science declares sin is not a part of the "very good" things which the Scriptures declare God made, it does not in consequence overlook the fact that belief in sin and evil pertain to mortal existence. It is doubtless true that this statement of Christianity constitutes its students a "peculiar people," but there has never come to this world, either as a philosophy or religion, a teaching that so clearly, so concisely, and so demonstrably shows the necessity of overcoming "the world, the flesh, and the devil" as does Christian Science. Christian Science bases the whole of salvation upon an infinitely good God, but it shows that there cannot be salvation and attainment of "everlasting life" without the acceptance and living of Christ's moral standard. Christian Scientists have set their hand to the most stupendous task that has ever engaged or ever will engage the attention of men—namely, the extinction of evil. They are taught to bring "every thought to the obedience of Christ." Christian Science is emphatic in its confirmation of the Scriptural teaching that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." It reveals the imperative necessity of grappling with and overcoming all evil through the power of God.

The denial of evil in Christian Science means such a denial as puts sin aside and quenches all thought of it. Through the revelation of God's omnipresence and omniscience that comes in Christian Science, the sinner is encouraged to master all sense of sin and destroy it. He learns that God, good, is the only real power; consequently evil is without power, allurement, or attraction. He learns that sin is not something to be loved or feared, hence it ceases to exist for him. Through the unceasing prayer of Christian Science the sick and the sinner reach the consciousness of the ever-presence of an infinitely good God, and prove that "the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." Christian Science teaches one Christ, the Christ of the Scriptures, and also declares that Christ is divine.