The Newtown bee., 1899-08-11
A Review of Christian Science
$50. called).
REV O. Fl. SMITH OF PLYMOUTH IN THE
RELIGIOUS HERALD.

The Saturday contributor to the Wa.
terbury American, who always writes
such charming comments on men and
things, paid the following compliment to
the Christian Scientists in the recent
heated term:
"During the roast the Contributor hunt
ed around for one of his Christian
Science friends, but some way or other
could not run up against any one of them
He wanted TO ask them if Christian
Science kept them cool. IF a thing
not a thing, but is simply a PERSONS
thought about thing; if Precipitation is
not water exudipg from the face, but
drippings of an Imagination coincident
with an apparent thermometric rise, why
the Contributor would just like to turn
Christian Scientist when trolley cars
are crowded evenings with people who
are not Christian Scientists and who find
certain semblance of air movement of
what is thought to be Car at what
seems to be considerable speed along
what are generally taken to be rails.
But as he was not able to find any of
his Christian Science friends, he passes
this conundrum along to anybody who
can find one of them.''
| With his usual discernment, our friend
hit upon what is one of the fatal weak
nesses Of that whole system. Living, as
we do, in world where we can any day
dash our foot against stone or read OF
death and disaster from cyclones and
railroad accidents and colliding bicycles
1t is veryl difficult to believe any such
doctrine as Mrs Eddy promulgates thai
''matter has no existsnce" and thai
''there is no disease" and "what is term
ed disease does not exist The most Of
us, IL in sound mind, and with aching
tooth, coincide with the view of the den
list, "Show me the tooth of Christian
Scientist and will find her nerve" Fo
we do feel pain and club does hurt wher
it hits as, whatever Mrs Eddy may say
to the contrary.
There are two books which have re
Gently. appeared which treat upon thi
new fad in the religious world In which
the new system is handled from two very
different points Of view. The first bool
of which this article takes notice is by
Anne HARDWOOD and It relates her expert
Ia trying, TO gain help from Christian
Science treatment for severe attack o
nervous prostration. She is teache
in England and not having ample means
she was treated through the kindness o
q wealthy friend who desired to see th,
new teaching tried upon some one. TIL,
result of the treatment was failure, To-
she found that nerves were nerves still
and only change OF environment ant
work restored her again to health. Blu
her observations upon the whole system
are valuable as showing the spirit o
! those who are at the head Of the move
|ment. One OF the noticeable feature
was that these mind physicians were
very particular about seeing the none,
before they treated the patient. From
Miss Harwood's account, it is nantes
that 1t IL business that is very profita
BILE from a worldly standpoint. You
| Christian Science phygcian may babble
long string Of empty and sweet-aound
Ing pIatitndes about the non-exisfence D
Il matters but, when II comes to hard dol
lars and CENTS they believe In getting q
many OF them AZ possiDie, whether mat
Ger Ia the dollars exists or does not az
isf. The other generalization from be
Isxpeflence wag that the Christian 6clen
tlat aaaks 10 practice On Chs wealthy AM