Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-08-03
AGAINST cnms1rAN SCIENCE.
Bishop Newman Declares IL Void of
sense. science or salvation.

Bishop Newman Declares IL Void of
sense. science or salvation.
Bishop John +. Newman on Friday
morning at his pleasant study in the
with a correspondent freely relative to GER
tain articles going the rounds Of the press
TO the effect that he had recently declared
himself n supporter of the doctrines of
''Christian Science" The bishop said:
" Sometime ago l was at Des Moines,
Iowa, and in missionary sermon spoke
of the bencfccnce of science under Chris-
usnity, and the larger results to follow
which results would have been esteemed
miraculous hundred years ago III
speaking against the prevalent matcrialism
Of our day, I used the expression Christian
science, when II flashed upon me tna. lhe
exprossion might be abused, and added
Science touched by the genius OF Chris-
tianity.' The phrase was reported as used,
without the explanatory qualification, ana
the so-called Christian scientists have made
the most of the remark, and declared me as
preaching an advanced Christianity
1--WE are compelled" the bishop con-
tinucd "to forcgo the hse of legitimate
words because OF their illegitimate use by
those who peryert the Gospel of Christ. i
esteem modern Christian Science pervcr-
sion of n fact in nature and OF a Gospel
truth. The fact in nature is mind acting on
mind, spirit on matter, and powerful ner-
vous organism operating upon one that Is
weaker. and the pretended effects produced
can he explained largely by natural causes.
IL Is also perversion OF the privileges
of Christian prayer and faith. The only
Healer in the universe Is Christ. His rule
is to work through means. When these
fail He can work without them; and has
reserved to Himself the right TO work
without them whenever He pleases. When
I am i'll send for learned physician,
trained nurse, and take all remedies pre-
scribed with rational faith and Christian
PRAYER. ] believe in st. James three-fold
prescription.
~ have given some attention 10 the liter
ature of these modern Christian scientists
and am free to say that words are therein
used which have no definition in any stand
ard authorities. Asa whole the literature
is a literary pemmican of sense and non
sense and the lectures given by the so
called Christian scientists as they have been
reported 10 me by those who have heard
them arc q series of vagaries which have
little OF sense, science or salvation. Ihey
are a commingling of legend, perverted
theology, and scriptural history. These
Christian scientists substitute one
set of physicians for another and
always with fees as large. The absur
dity involved is that they invite the suffer
ing to come for treatment when they assert
that there is no suffering, but only an inn
agination. Ny advice is, let us advance
the bcnchcient science of medicine tn its
utmost limit, by which under the inspira-
ton of Christianity, human ills may be les
sened, sickness diminished, and life pro-
longod beyond the dream of divine mission
of Christ TO the afflicted ones of earth. My
theory is this: The miracles wrought by
Jesus were the expression of His intimate
knowledge of nature, as well as his power
over nature, and lie thereby gave the
world the promise of what science would
do under His enlightening and cleyating
teachings. Finally have never given this
class of Christian scientists. either by word
OF reference, permission to use my name
in their advertisements"