New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-18
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AND DIVORCE

10 thc Edftor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Much to my regret my name has been used
In connection with affair aGltating the minds OF
socallcd Christian scientists throughout the country
In regard to their doctrine of marriage and divorce
Permit mo TO say a few words who, for the
last two years, while teaching and speaking upon
the practical application Of holiness Of life, as ex
empled I'm the teachings OF the Christ and its effect
upon physical condition, has yet been eager TO
find, not only a remedy for bodily Ills, but something
that should tend TO cure the body social repre-
scntod in the marriage relation and the home lhe
l believe that while little said by the Master
himself upon these special points, nevertheless the
doctrine OF love for God and our fellow man, per
fectly lived by Him, when taken by HIS followers
and practically applied 10 daily conduct, must bring
about such a change Of motive and decd as should
make these questions easy to solve and that naturally
In the unfolding OF along the trucst side Of his
nature union of heart and its consequent expression In
true home life would be realized As It's legitimate
outcome. And We have claimed that Christian
Science Is reasonable, practical, vital statement
meeting the physical, moral and mental requirements
of man, all earnest Christian Scientists must bavo
known that It would finally graphic with the subject Of
the true relation OF the sexes In what known as the
bond OF marriage and deal with 1t la the same manner
and after tho rule with
sick body or, worse still, diseased moral
condition. All those who have studied
have discovered that 1t demands holiness of life to
thought. word and act and that with the understand
lug OF the existence Of but GOG-onc Power-thc
excuse for recognizing the influence OF some OthCr
power called evil, and thereby shirk!ng the RESPONSE.
bility of their own acts, is utterly done away with,
and they made to realize that their personal devil
or power OF evil lies simply within their belief
of scltshness and the demands OF self and that to
deny this self in tho interest of others Is 10 take UP
tho daily Cross aud follow Me
II they be those who with their lips say there
Is no evil" and II cloak to con, cal their
moral dcformtcs and Indulgence in what they them.
selves believe 10 be selfish and evil. then they show
by their lives that the fatntcst conception OF the
meaning OF this statement has never entered their
hearts and instead OF believing In that OnnprcScnce
called by Matthew Arnold The Powcr-nOt ourselves
that worketh for righteousness they deem evil to
powcrless 10 unmaSk their hypocrisy using liberty
for an occasion 10 the acsh." II there be tho;c
who do this Christian Science Is no more res pCnsiblc
for their acts than is H." Church f"l the cvll things
that have been done in It's name and under the Susc
l Will not cncrUach upon your valuable space
enough to attempt TO explain In detail the position
marriage and divorce but Will say briefly that In
false marital relation, well As false physical con
GSH' and an S %nT we Of rPCl" ne necessity
Ing young men and women the sacrNl'Ns OF the mo
into which they enter man and WIFE, that h'y ma!
understan that 1t Is union Of heart and mind that
constitutes true marriage, and not sOclaI position,
money or hSany mat GAYS i' nre IN" there must 10 so
long there Is aught OF sickness I" cure Sun'e u
to say that recognize thai Christ taught The iuI-
filling OF the law and not the d"struciion or en"r-
Ing Of IT, and in that statement Of Render unto .aSH
ths, ar" co.'s lie deo'.red once for all due
ohserv should be given To the claims OF me lsWs
and Gus toms upon whenever they are established IN
the cause OF righteousness and for the public good
And the laws OF the land are rot yet IN accuIahrr
with our hGGCs, SonrsGTo n OF ~4si oGy sT aAn
ourselves with The law. and working Win M 700