Our clerical critic has referred to a few people as having...

Lloyd B. Coate

Dayton (Ohio) Herald

Our clerical critic has referred to a few people as having passed away under Christian Science treatment, dying with cancer and tuberculosis, and the public must be the judge whether or not charity was here made manifest. It is seldom that any one suffering with either of the diseases named calls upon a Christian Science practitioner without first having medical aid and usually remaining under the care of physicians until told that there is no hope of ever being restored to health. There are living witnesses in the city of Dayton who have been healed in Christian Science of the diseases named, at least so pronounced by reputable physicians. It is true that in one family a child passed away with diphtheria under Christian Science treatment, but our friend omitted to tell his congregation that four cases passed away with the same disease under medical care. Is it just to speak of cases passing away under Christian Science treatment and to say not a word respecting the people who pass away under medical treatment?

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord," we read in the prophecy of Isaiah. When reputable physicians are called into a home to help some sick one and they do all they know how to do to prolong life and alleviate human suffering, but fail, should we not be grateful to them for what they tried to do? There is no strife between Christian Scientists and physicians. Those who prefer medical treatment should have that right, and those who prefer Christian Science treatment should have the same privilege. And should the loved one not be restored to health when a Christian Science practitioner is called into a home to pray for the sick, does not fairness and charity demand that both the parents and practitioner be respected without publicity from pulpit and press.

If materia medica were never known to fail, then there might be some excuse for censuring Christian Science treatment. From the days of Abraham, down through the ages up to the present hour, the sick have been healed through prayer. In St. John's gospel we read these words of the Master: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." Jesus also gave this counsel: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." These commands of Jesus the Christ apply no more to Christian Scientists than to other professing Christians. Instead of preaching on the failures of other professing Christians, would it not be a greater exercise of charity to examine our own heart, our own church, our own denomination, and see whether we are obeying these commands or not?

Christian Science teaches plainly that to the human sense of things sin, sickness, and death exist as stern realities, to be overcome in the way pointed out and demonstrated by our divine Exemplar, Christ Jesus, the supremacy of the Spirit over every law of matter. Christian Scientists are daily praying to be governed by that Mind which was mani-ifest in Christ Jesus, so as to bring out more perfect healing in accord with the promise of the Master. Here let me say that the healing of disease, while not a thing to be despised by any means, is the smallest part of the work of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy speaks of the healing of disease as but the "bugle-call" (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 2) to higher and holier living. The prime object of Christian Science is to lead people to God, and to quote from one of the tenets to which every member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, must subscribe (Science and Health, p. 497): "We acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death."

Christian Scientists are honest; they are frank to acknowledge that not every case has been healed which presents itself to them. If our brethren who criticise us can do better healing through their faith in God, we will say, "Well done." The beloved disciple, John, lays great stress upon professing Christians loving one another. He writes: "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. ... And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." This being the Christian status, why is there any occasion for one denomination to assail another? Why should not each one go ahead and do all the good possible, according to the light it has, instead of biting and devouring one another?

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