The News refused to run the advertisement for the...

The Grand Rapids (Mich.) News

The News refused to run the advertisement for the lecture, "The Case against Christian Science," because it would not lend itself to a secular disturbance at this time. It would rather that its readers go to their own churches and pray for their own souls and the souls of those who will soon commit their fate to the mercy of the Almighty in a struggle that Christianity might live. It would rather encourage them to go to a Red Cross meeting, to a Young Men's Christian Association rally, or discuss within the sanctity of the home ways and means of buying a Liberty bond.

It does seem to us, heathen as we are, or have been accused of being, that the Grand Rapids Ministers' Conference could find a more constructive occupation at this time than to speculate in theological beliefs. We need more "pro" and less "anti." We need more pro-Americanism, pro-charity, pro-benevolence, pro-tolerance, pro-forbearance, and pro-Christianity, and less "anti" this and that. Practically all the religious denominations represented by the ministers' conference have existed during the period leading up to this war. It would seem that their combined influence could not avert it. Christian Science is a comparatively new religious thought. Why condemn it before it has at least had the opportunity of affiliating itself with the ecclesiastical failures of the past?

You wonder, reverend gentlemen, why your benches are empty. It is because there is too much "anti" in your doctrines and not enough of the charity of Christ Jesus. You can't get followers in these days by everlastingly telling them the other fellow is wrong. It is a rule in trade known to shrewd traders, that it doesn't pay to knock the other fellow's goods. And you are dealing with the same brand of human nature on Sunday morning that the employer and the employee deal with six days in the week. You can't go to a working man and abuse his employer and expect him always to believe you. It goes against the human grain.

Don't crowd the mourners, gentlemen. More especially, don't crowd the mourners who cling to the belief that there is more in a smile than there is in a frown. We repeat, we don't know anything about the Christian Science faith, but most of the estimable men and women who we know are followers of its doctrines, meet us with a smile. A smile is a precious thing these days; and it will be more precious in the days to come. Let them believe what they will; we doubt that the good Lord will split hairs when in the final summons we stand before that great tribunal from whose judgment there is no appeal. We doubt we shall lose our place before the throne simply because we did not understand form in worship. If you want to expose, expose the weaknesses in our hearts that make for indolence, ignorance, and intolerance. Help us find the adder of distrust. Help us to be patient and forbearing. Help us to love one another. And don't crowd the mourners.

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