Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1897-06-16
"Prove All ThInEs.

Ma EDIToR--l have frequently been asked by many of your thoughtIul citizens, various ques- lions relating to the Mental Chris tian Science. Some of the questions are: Does thIs science hold to God, Christ, the Bible, aud heaven in manner that differs from ortho- dox'" Do you believe in a day of judgmentl' "If we study and adopt this science, where will it lead usf' These aud other questions are asked in honesty of soul. If you have space shall be pleased to lay be- fore your readers some of the views held by these scientists.
 1t is claimed by good judges that there are six or seven million people iu the United States who are ln direct sympathy with the line of this thought, and many of them highly educated. Many clergymen and physicians are in it hence it is worthy the candid investigation of all.
 This system professes to state God anew and to interpret the Bible according to views of its own rather than to be in a general accord with theology
 We do hold to God, but we mean no personality that ever was or ever will be visible to literal sight. God means the life or spirit of the universe, the sum total of love, in- telligence, soul and force, whether shared by man or natural objects. Being spirit and not matter God is as invisible as air.
 The tenn Christ was the title or distincs siun that came through Jesus. Christ meant and still m cans Chris tianity or the gospel, the Christian religion. It, not He. was the divin- ity of Jesus. jesus was the personal man, tle Christ WAS the invisible principle of life or Christian truth. That is sill the meaning.
 We hold to the spiritual import or interpretations of the Bible, and do not see the judgment it names l. a literal material seuse, nor does heaven mean ci;y, literal, visible place.
 We are today in the general judg- ment. SeIence is iadging religion, tabor is judging capital and intelli- gence is judging ignorance.
 Science means exact knowledge, that which can be demonstrated. I presume the term Christian Science came to show it religious system and with that view it is plausible, but considering the fact that a new era, 6 new ciyilism or religion is rapidly forming as the successor of Christianity, 1t may prove a diff culty to unite two distinct civilisms, but the evolution of systems must regulate that. l think the name as Divine Mental Science IS general and we'll chosen.
 1t is entirely consistent to claim that mind or spirit eau guide us in ethics also can cure disease, for mind Is the greatest force known in nature. Salvation by faith means salvation by mind for who eau show faith to be anything but mind in exercise2 Christians who hold that the soul is saved by faith are hold ing that it is saved by mind, hence if mind in exercise as faith saves the soul, may it not save, i. @. heal the body as well.
 Jesus the Christ hesled by mind only, i. e. by a divine mental force by undertaking and he commanded his followers to "go into all the world and preach the gospel" and he gave certain signs that would follow those who are his true dis ciples and among the signs they were to heal disease, to open the eyes of the blind, unstop deaf ears 1 etc.
 When We say Christian Science We mean the life, methods and doctrines as lived and taught by Jesus the Christ and we no not claim that it means the theology or Christian powers or life of today, for the church has not lived up to the principles and commands of Jesus, hence it has lost the favor with which it was invested. This power is being revived by the mil lions whom we include as the spiritually minded" the Mental or Christian Scientists and I know God is with them and is their leader. A. J. SwARTs.