The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-29
RIDDLE BLOCK.

The two sermons, by Rev. :. W. meek, ct the
Congregational Church, on Christian Science
and Faith Cure, the twolast sabbaths, attracted
considerable attention. and much favorable
comment. The PRESS is fur ished the follow
ing synopsis of these logical and timely d's
courses, based upon JaMes ", IA .15
This is an age of great intellectual activity.
and hence an age of new and startling discov-
cries. We hear of surprising recoveries from
sickness without medicine. The Evidence is
too reliable to believe these reports all false.
While we may doubt the diagnosis, we cannot
that they were sick-some of them dangerously
sick-and d recovered.
Good physicians do not claim to cure disease.
They only claim to assist the recuperative
power of nature This recuperative power of
nature sometimes throws off disease, even in
the hands of ignorant quacks-often when the
treatment hinders rather than assists. On this
account, quacks have patients who are ready
to testify to the great cures they have effected.
One method now attracting attention. is call
ed Christian Science. 1t was originated and
| championed by Mrs Mary B. Eddy of Boston.
The name is attractive: ''Christian,' tails
manic word to some. and :. science'' to others.
This is Christian only In name. 1t denies the
existence of personal God. Simply Panthe
ism. 1t also denies the fundamentals of science.
body; there is no such thing as pain. sickness "
See Townsend's Christian Science Faith ork.
D. Al: 40 Mrs. Eddy's conduct denies her the.
ory. She eats, sleeps, wears clothing just the
same as if she had body. The system is better
fitted to produce insanity than health. The
speaker read the testimony of DIR. Howe ply
sician to the insane asylum at Kankakee. ILL.,,
who had five cases under his care, who were
victims of the so called Christian Science, said
they were the most hopeless of his patients. 1t
belongs to the category of the Spiritualist craze
of forty years ago. and is successful only in one
thing-drawing money from its deluded vic
tim. Faith healing belongs to class of facts
imperfectly understood. The influence of the
mind over the body to produce disease or help
recovery. The 'Proverb. mind can kill as
well as cure, is a physiological TRUTH We
know of this inhueuce, but do not know its
limitations; we do not know how far the mind
can influence the body In this direction. The
effect of the mind over the body is shown. in
the fact, that in reading the symptoms of dis
ease in the patent medicine pamphlets, we at
once conjecture that we have the diseases, and
a bottle of the medicine often cares the mind,
and the disease. too. SO far as we have it.
Cases OF recovery under faith and prayer.
are numerous. In the New Testament, Peter
and Jonn curing the lame N an, who had never
walked; Paul at Lystra; Publius at Melits, SC.
Many claim that the same power still re-
mains in the church. When Philip MelaIcihon
was to all appearances dying, Martin Luther
prayed for his recovery, until he was assured
of his restoration. DR.. Cullis. whose character
and success cannot be called into question; also
Miss Carrie Judd, whom the speaker had met,
were both instrumental in doing great good in
their work of Faith Healing. He related sew
eEonc cofn inoo md nloc
of similar cases iu answer to prayer, The
method used, was first to bring the afflicted
person to a saving knowledge of Christ. then
to pray for his recovery. skeptics may deny
that prayer turned the scale toward recovery.
The Doctor says that he treated the patient
and he recovered The advocates of faith and
prayer use the same logic. 1t is irrational to
deny the cure by prayer as it is the cure by
medicine.
Are the miracles of Christ and the Apostles
repeated nowP No. No one claims to raise the
dead. or open the eyes of one born blind. Faith
cures come in the line of natural causes. Faith
and prayer encourage the patient. and give the
recuperative power of nature the best chance
He gave instances where they often fail
PRAYER ard medicine failed in the case of Gar
field.
1t is unscriptural to ignore medical treat
ment. Our text commands the use of medical
treatment Chat is the amounting oi) as well
as prayer To neglect either is sometimes GRIM
inal. The true plan is to have Christian dec
tor, and use both. Some physicians pray over
their patients and believe they are benefited
thereby.
Let us be wise to use the blessings whicH
God has placed in our hands. Let us seek the
Christ life. which brings health for body and
soul, both now and fol ever.