While doubtless intending to be fair, you reported in a...

Hugh Stuart Campbell, Committee on Publication for the State of Illinois

In the Tri-County Scribe, Plymouth

While doubtless intending to be fair, you reported in a recent issue, under the announcement, "Plymouth Baptist Church," that an "appreciative audience listened to an exposure of Christian Science." Thus a misleading statement reached your readers which might be construed by them to imply that the person thus "exposing" our religion was one qualified by study and practice of Christian Science to speak understandingly on the subject. Now, it is obvious to any one familiar with the teachings of Christian Science that such is not the case. The mention that passages from the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, were read from the pulpit in an attempt to substantiate certain untrue and unjust allusions made by the critic in question, signifies nothing when it is considered that he read only sentences detached from their context, a proceeding acknowledged by most thinking persons to be unjust and unwise.

Mrs. Eddy is the author of the statement quoted in the foregoing report, namely, "One sacrifice, however great, is insufficient to pay the debt of sin" (Science and Health, p. 23). But this line is preceded and followed by sentences which, conjoined, clearly state in part her pertinent explanation of the atonement, wherein is set forth the correct status of God's justice and mercy as necessary qualifications to be employed in one's individual work of salvation.

The fact that the term "one sacrifice" was used by the writer to the Hebrews when he discussed Jesus' human sacrifice in his epistle, does not indicate that Mrs. Eddy's use of the term contradicts the Bible. Mrs. Eddy's followers are grateful to be delivered from sickness and redeemed from sin through the study and practice of Christian Science. Therefore, they do not consider that her writings were "inspired by Satan," as alleged by the preacher of the sermon under consideration.

In order to correct any misapprehension that might arise among your readers, kindly allow me to quote more completely the passage referred to in the preceding paragraph, as follows: "Wisdom and Love may require many sacrifices of self to save us from sin. One sacrifice, however great, is insufficient to pay the debt of sin. The atonement requires constant self-immolation on the sinner's part. That God's wrath should be vented upon His beloved Son, is divinely unnatural. Such a theory is man-made. The atonement is a hard problem in theology, but its scientific explanation is, that suffering is an error of sinful sense which Truth destroys, and that eventually both sin and suffering will fall at the feet of everlasting Love."

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