The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-08
ABOUT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
DISCUSSED A 4 THE EPISCOPAL CON-
VOCATION YESTERDAY.

Mrs Eddy's Book Condemned as Bias
session-Attendcd by u Large Number
of Clcrgymen.
The New Haven county convocation
of Episcopal ministers was held yester-
day, morning and afternoon, in st.
PauPs church. The convocation opened
at 1890 o'clock with service in the
church, the sermon being preached by
the Rev. H. Wickley, rector of Trinity
church, Branford.
The regular business meeting of the
oonvocation was called to order in the
guild room of the parish house by the
Rev. G. e. Woodcock of Ansonia, dean
of the convocation. An address of well
come to the visiting clergy was deliv-
cred by the Rev. e. S. Lines, d. D., rec
tor of st. Pauls.
paper on 1.-THE Present Position of
the Higher Criticism" was then read by
the Rev. Frank G.. Porter, in which he
dwelt upon the methods of modern crit
les in searching for light upon the SUBJ
ject. The paper was listened to atten-
lively by those present, and upon its
conclusion an open discussion was in
dulged in, which lasted until the recess
for luncheon.
The session was resumed again in the
afternoon at 2:30, when an exegetical
paper upon Romans x, 6, Z, was read
by the Rev F. r.. Sanford rector of
Grace church. On its conclusion a third
paper, having for it's subject christian
Science" and one of the most interest
ing essays of the session, was read by
Rev. A. J. Gammack, curate of Christ
church. The gist of the paper was as
follows.
1.-THE growth Of this cult in the last
few years has been increasing with each
succeeding year until now it has nu-
merous following. Their three great
laws are these: First, the state of the
mind influences the condition of the
body, the extent of the influence being
determined by the intensity of the mind
action and limited by the susceptible
ness of the body to that action; second,
the fact of telepathy or the communi-
cation between persons by other than
Lie OIulIdIy CHdHllGlS VI ScllSC, ouCll 90
mind-reading. The power has been rec
ognized in such a sense that in France
the use of it has been limited to duly
authorized persons. The whole study
of this matter is in it's infancy, and,
along with wireless biography and the
X-rays, seems to depend upon the vi
brations of the ether and rests upon
deeper cosmic law than has been thor
oughly defined.
1.-THE third law is that there is within
the soul of man that which claims aft
finity with the representative This in
stinct is developed by the Jews, and
finds Its satisfaction in the exercise of
a healthier religion If perverted 1t be-
comes superstitious. There are three
forms Of healing-fath healing, mind
cure and Christian science"
The essay went on much further in
Its treatment of the principles of Chris
tian science and the doctrines preached
by the cult, finally taking up criti-
cism of the book of the faith having
for it's author Mrs. Eddy. In the re-
view of this the essayist was most de-
cided in his views, and spoke of the
book as being the authors branding of
the scripture for her own purpose, and
denounced the same as being blasphe-
NOUS trifing with the word of God,
quoting the saying, 1.-The devil can
quote scripture for his own purpose"
He said: "She claims that she has
made organic cures, but there is no rec
ord of organic cures being effected, and
men whose word Is worth much more
than Mrs. Eddy's have openly denied
these claims and have challenged her
to prove them. The challenge has not
been accepted and will not be accepted.
And if it Is granted that certain cures
have been effected what shall be said
of the great number of failures Of sick
ones from whom medical aid has been
withheld In obedience to the teachings
of Christian science, and had paid for
their folly with their lives?
''In summing up, all we have to say
Is this: Its presentation in Mrs. Eddy's
book Is repugnant to an intelligent
mind; the system as it is taught is
conglomeration of contradictions, and
its practice Is dangerous"
On the conclusion of the essay, which
was a mastery one in every respect,
dealing as it did with the subject In
finished manner, an open discussion
was held, in which the views of the cler-
gy present were presented with all the
force of their personal convictions. One
speaker after another arose and told Of
his experiences with the believers of
this faith, and while there seemed to
be a we'll defined feeling that their
teachings were condemnable and the
statements contained In Mrs. Eddy's
book so contradictory as to be nonsen
steal, there was also the feeling present
with many that it was worth while in
forming themselves more fully before
speaking against 1t. 1t was the opinion .
of many that the cult could not be so
wrong in It's teachings when it had OBJ
tained so many believers and had
brought peace and satisfaction to such $
q number.
The Rev. Clarence Bispham of Trim '
ity parish met this argument in con- Z
manner when he said: eff the !
of the church were taught q
to send for their rector when taken i'll, {
even as they send for the doctor, the
rector himself responding at once to
ioin hands with the doctor around the
bedside of the patient, there would not t
be so many people ready to turn in I
their illness to Christian science for t