May I offer amendments to some statements concerning...

Louis A. Gregory—Omaha, Neb.

The Bee

May I offer amendments to some statements concerning Christian Science in the article on "Spiritualism" from the Baltimore American, reprinted in The Bee. Of course, The Bee is responsible only for the further circulation of the article, but it reaches so many people that the other side of the question should be stated.

"Christian Science is virtually interwoven with spiritism by the nature of its teaching," is a statement in the article that is simply preposterous. The two systems are entirely antagonistic, as Mary Baker Eddy maintains throughout her writings, and no one is better qualified than she to pass on this question. She carefully investigated spiritism before her discovery of Christian Science, at a time when spiritualism was more prevalent probably than it is to-day. One chapter of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is devoted to this topic. It is entitled, "Christian Science versus Spiritualism," and it logically proves that the further one goes in the investigation and practice of either of these subjects the further he is from the other.

The nature of any teaching is conclusively shown by its practices and results, and in all these Christian Science and spiritualism are as far apart as the poles. The article provides an apt illustration. It refers to well-known spiritualists as those "who have become exponents of the truth of immortality as derived from table tipping and like exercises, along with levitation, direct voice, and varied forms of alleged communication with the other world." Christian Science emphatically repudiates table tipping, levitation, communication, and all such avowed activities of alleged spirits, and questions their asserted proof of immortality. This science maintains that the teachings and works of Christ Jesus fully prove immortality, and that they are logical and demonstrable. The destruction of sin and the healing of disease through the power of God, Spirit, as Jesus did this work, leads ultimately to the conquest of death as taught by the Master and shown in his resurrection and ascension. Thus he fully and unmistakably demonstrated immortality. Christian Scientists do not claim to have reached that point, but they are obediently taking the steps of healing the sick and reforming sinners through spiritual power alone. This practice and its remarkable results stand out in clear contrast with the rappings, voices, and other manifestations of seances and mediums.

The basis of Christian Science is the Bible doctrine of one, infinite God, who also is Spirit; therefore Science deduces logically that Spirit is one and infinite. In Science and Health (p. 466) Mrs. Eddy says, "The term souls or spirits is as improper as the term gods."

Most English translators of the Bible have used the term spirit loosely, and thus lend slight color of verity to spiritistic theorizing that spirits are mystic beings or parts of beings. Most of the Scriptural uses of the word spirit in a finite and good sense are applied in Christian Science to mean right ideas or thoughts, while evil spirits, devils, and so forth are considered evil beliefs or false convictions. Thus Christian Science rejects any supposed mysticism about spirituality and reveals it as a practical, intelligible, and provable fact of daily experience, and always as a power for good.

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