May I have space in your valuable columns to comment...

H. Ernest Vincent, Committee on Publication for Natal, South Africa,—Pietermaritzburg

Natal Witness

May I have space in your valuable columns to comment on the letter written by "J. H.," appearing in your issue of September 8?

An unbiased study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, will reveal the fact that Christian Science has no connection with any mystical system of religion, either ancient or modern.

Christian Science is founded on the Bible, and upon the teachings of Christ Jesus, who came into the world, as he declared, to bear witness to the truth of being. The foundation upon which Jesus built and which governed his teachings and demonstration was that God, Spirit, is the only cause and creator of the universe and man. Creation, then, must be spiritual and eternal, for Spirit could not create that which is opposite to Himself. He did not create matter. Matter is unknown in the universe of Spirit, and is no part of God's creation. Jesus declared that "it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing."

Christian Science affirms the allness of Spirit and the consequent unreality of matter; therefore, there is nothing in its teachings which could possibly be termed pantheistic or that savors of pantheism.

Mrs. Eddy states that her discovery of Christian Science was the result of her consecrated study of the Bible, and that Bible was her only textbook, guide, and authority. She further states, "I have demonstrated through Mind the effects of Truth on the health, longevity, and morals of men, and I have found nothing in ancient or modern systems on which to found my own, except the teachings and demonstrations of our great Master and the lives of prophets and apostles" (Science and Health, p. 126).

The first and second Tenets of Christian Science, as stated by Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health (p. 497), read as follows: "1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life. 2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's image and likeness."

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