The wonderful progress which Christian Science has made,...

Thomas F. Watson

Oakland (Cal.) Tribune

The wonderful progress which Christian Science has made, and its remarkable growth in less than half a century from a little handful to more than a million of adherents, its revival of primitive Christianity, healing and teaching as the Master commanded,—all this has brought forth much comment from pulpit and press. That this comment has become more and more favorable, is not surprising when one considers the good which Christian Science has accomplished and is still accomplishing. Many liberal-minded clergymen, physicians, and other professional men, though holding to different systems of healing or theology, have acknowledged the great good which Christian Science has achieved in uplifting the fallen, reforming the sinner, healing the sick, and bringing hope and renewed courage to those weighed down with sorrow and despair.

The article, "Must Protestantism Adopt Christian Science?" by "A Churchman," which was published in The North American Review, has accorded to Christian Science the merit it has earned by proving its faith by its works, with "signs following," the signs which Jesus promised should follow "them that believe [understand]." That this article, which simply renders "to Caesar the things that are Caesar's," should have brought forth such a deluge of bitter denunciation and vituperation from the reverend Episcopal clergyman in Oakland, simply goes to show that the gentleman did not take the trouble to inform himself on the subject of Christian Science, or he would not have published in his Weekly Message a bundle of falsehoods which were at one time circulated by malicious gossip, and which have each and every one been proven false; nor would he have heaped abuse on the gentle and noble Founder of a religion that has brought consolation to hundreds of thousands of the sick and sorrowful.

Assuming that this minister of the gospel is honest in his condemnation of that which he has been mistakenly led to believe is Christian Science, and that he has unfortunately gathered his information from unreliable sources, we unhesitatingly recommend for his perusal, and those who read his paper, the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, also "The Life of Mary Baker Eddy" by Sibyl Wilbur. These books are in every public library, and thus are easy of access, so that none need be without reliable information on this subject. We are reminded that Paul was honest in his ignorant persecution of the early Christians who dared to differ from him in his religious belief, until the light of Truth came to him and transformed him into a humble follower of the Christ.

Our clerical friend has been misinformed in regard to the movement's "losing ground," and the "rumors that its costly church [in Boston] is to be sold" are without any foundation whatever. Any one who will visit the Christian Science churches in this city or elsewhere will find them usually crowded, some to overflowing, for the world is hungering for a practical religion, and humanity is finding it in this new old truth. Christian Science is no more "Eddyism" than the law of gravitation is "Newtonism," as has been said by the Christian Science writers many times. No consecrated follower of the Christ can afford to speak thus disrespectfully of any religion which has rescued even "one of these little ones" from misery and sin and brought him into "newness of life" in Christ; and Christian Science has rescued thousands. Jesus defined the work of his followers when he said: "Preach the gospel," "Heal the sick," "Feed my sheep."

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