The Portland daily press., 1898-08-30
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.

To the Editor Of the Press:
beg leave, in justice to those VINO pear
the name of Christian Scientists, TO cor
rect q mistake which was heraideo
through the columns of the PRESS Oh
the 25th inst, under the title OF "Cnrls-
tian Scientists" clipping from the New
York Times. The article begins with the
following: doubtless in the large assem-
blages at Old Orchard Beach, on sun
day, there were many normally lntei'i-
gent men and women" AS to the truth
of the above statement there is no DOUBT,
but this gathering was not one or Chrls-
tian Scientists. To my knowledge tana
1 am in position to be acquainted Win
the facts regarding the matter) chris
tian scientists have never met en- masse
at Old Orchard. Their place OF tonsre.
eating from all parts of the Unl5eu
States, Canada and other countries, IS at
the Mother Church in Boston, an edlnce
erected partly for this purpose. Inc SO.
ciety which did assemble at Old Gerhard
was that CALEB Christian Alliance. PROD
ably the writer's abnormal enthusiasm
(9) for Christian Scientists caused MIN
to overlook the last word, hence making
the error. The writer further states,
"There is nothing, as the world goes, to
repreh end, or be ashamed of in Christian
Sciencs." This Is certainly noble state
ment, and If 1t were not for the text I'M
mediately following, we would infer that
he had studied, somewhat, the subject
/ Hf,o Nj dan n
But when he says in conclusion OF the
sente nee, "when it is not put into prac-
tice in disease in place of the science of
m edicine and surgery" we depreciate his
blindness to the life, words and works Of
our great Master and Teacher, the Naza-
rene, who healed the sick, cleansed lepers
and raised the dead. contrary to the
teachings and practices OF the people OF
ry." Moreover He said, "The works l
do shall ye do also (John l-12). Then
| luke 10, SOY He also said" Into what
soever city We enter and they receive you,
eat such things as are set before .yon =
"And heal the sick that are therein and
oome nigh unto you Also MARK
| 1919: "They shall take up serpents;
and II they drink any deadly thing it
shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands
on the sick and they shall recover
| We who are Christian scientists, &C
cspt all Of Jesus teachings, even IN
the face Of all ridicule. prejudice and
| words Of the great Exemplar, IF they
have persecuted me- they will also perse-
cute you..' John i: 30.
Can the writer of thai article produce
any instance in the life of Jesus to prove
that he used medicine, drugs or hygiene
/ to - 90 ruoll onc
| tito of Divine Power? Or that he used
or recommended to others the operating
| table or dissecting knife9 Rather, does
he say, Ye shall know the Truth and
| the Truth shall make you free. - NOR
| does he specify that sin Is the only i'll
| from which we shall be freed.
Further our writer states, land with
the memory still fresh Of the death OF
little girl whose legal guardian vainly
tried to combat the gem of typhoid fever
with prayer and the expression of faith
in the power over things physical, OF
that he has such largeness of heart--sinoe
| he considers it an error for this case to he
| LOST as to overlook the many cases OF
| the same disease which for example, have
| been lost during, or at close of the late
war, under medical attendance, to say
nothing OF the thousands of other cases
which are daily lost, all over our country
through practising the "scienco OF msdi-
cine and surgery"
In conclusion permit me to say that
| honest Christian scientists true to The
cause they love, never condemn individ-
| uals, scots or societies whose ideas, creeds,
and teachings differ from theirs. We only
say kindly, as Abraham did to Lot:
Let there be no strife. l pray thee, be-
tween thee and me = 3 = for we
arc brethren" But this we do suggest II
those who are so jealous in their opposit-
| ion would only hesitate sufficiently to
/ not merely read, but study the only text
book of Christian Science. "Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures" by
Mary Baker Eddy; they would mani
fest more appreciative thought Of Chris
titan Science which today is bringing
health, prosperity and peace to mankind.