The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-24
ON FALSE PRINCIPLES
REV. Nj. ID. EDWARDS SAYS CHRIS
TITAN SCIENCE DENIES VITAL
CHRISTIAN TRUTHS
WORKS DISASTER IN THE END

nue. Presbyteriah Church ON the
Theology or Christian Scientists
-Weakness of"Mrs. Eddy's Sys-
tenn Pointed Out.
In the third of series of sermons deal
ing with the theology of Christian science,
Rev. M. d. Edwards. pastor Of the Day
ton Avenue Presbyterian church. yester-
day morning preached to a large congre-
cation upon the 8 subject. Christian
Science and It's Cures He said in part:
I'm the first discourse on Christian
science we considered some of its lead
ing principles. especially it's doctrine that
God is the only real existence. and that
ali that is not God, or an emanation from
God. is unreal, noli-existent and de-
fusion. Out of this fundamental idea
develops tho whole system Of Christian
science.
1.-THE second discourse dealt with Chris
tian science and the Bible. We endeavor-
ed to show that the distinctive ideas of
this system are opposed to the doctrines
Ct the Christian church as embodied in
It's creeds and literature for over 1000
years. t1ss
Beloved, I pray that in all things thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even
as thy soul prospereth.' Health of soul
and health Of body are both very de-
sirable.. We. may not agree with our
Christian science friends as to the relative
Importance of thSse two kinds of health,
but we all want to be well physically. To
pray for such blessing finds abundant
warrant In the Word of God.
Christian science claims to be able to
produce and to maintain health by over
coming disease or by preventing it's rise.
This is practically the main source Of
It's growth and its acceptance. Very few
find entrance to the system through it's
philosophy, fewer, perhaps. through it's
singular exegesist of Scripture If Mrs.
Eddy's writings stood: alone 1t is doubt
full If she would have a score Of fol-
lowers today. 1t Is the cures, or claims
of cures, that have turned the thoughts
of so many to this system, and
which have won for 1t, so many converts.
Therefore 1t becomes necessary to in
quire into these alleged cures and their
relation to the Christian science system.
Are these cures real, and. If SO. to what
extent do they exist? Do these cures
prove the doctrines of Christian science,
or are these doctrines mere differences
drawn from the cures2
Ills Christian science only continual
ton or reproduction: of the healing Of
disease as practiceds by Jesus and His
disciples? Mrs. Eddy claims that 1t is.
There is some FEASIBILITY on the face Of
the claim. There bis no question but that
Jesus and His disciples healed the sick.
This was a very important part of our
Lords work. Whysdid Jesus and His dis
ciples heal. The Scriptures do not leave
US in doubt. 1t was primarily and chiefly
to attest His Messiahship They were
wrought publicly, and in such way
that they would accomplish their design.
They were not done: privately, nor in
corner. There Is no evidence that they
were wrought indiseriminately by all be-
levers -. T1..A i--i Cos ,sgt :
F"Christian scientists claim that IT was
the purpose of our.Lord to establish and
to perpetuate dfspensation Of physical
healing, but. that Christians have learned
to have more faith in medicine than in
God, and 50 the almost essential element
in Christian teaching and practice fell
into neglect until 1T utterly disappeared.
What Scriptural evidence has Christian
science to give for this position? Certainly
not a great DEAL one or two texts which
are stamped in the back Of Mrs. Eddy's
books. If healing disease is such an i'm
portant part Of Christianity as Christian
science teaches, then we should expect
to abound with references to such heal
ing, and that. every letter that the
apostles wrote would bristle with instruc-
tons and eXhortations upon this subject.
Does Christian science effect the same
kind of healing taught by Jesus and His
disciples? What are the resemblances
and what are the differences?
First, the resemblance, admitting the
genuineness of Christian science cures,
Is, I think. found at only two points,
namely: Some diseases are actually
healed; also that these cures are effected
without the use Of material remedies.
The latter Is only partially true as re-
CARDS Jesus and the apostles. Mrs. Eddy
says Jesus used no drugs, yet In one or
two instances He did use what were con-
sidered medicines in His day. When He
anointed the blind mans eyes with spittle
and clay He was using a supposed rema-
dy. So also when He instructed His dis
ciples to anoint with oil. OIL was a
common medicine of those times. Jesus
of course did not need these medicines.
but they were employed to strengthen
the faith of the patient disciples In any
event their USE, from the Christian sci
ence standpoint, is rank heresy or weak
concession. NxO
''In allowing the resemblance between
the cures Of Christian science and those
of Jesus and His apostles we are only
stating resemblances which, to greater
or less extent, belongt to the treatment
of disease by many schools and individ
uals. There Is probably not a physician
in st. Paul who has not at some time
treated disease by a purely mental
process. The main difference here Is that
what physicians do occasionally in ex-
ceptional cases Christian science prac-
tees as it's invariable rule and regards as
a cardinal principle. Let US consider
some of the differences between the cures
in the two cases. Jesus cured all kinds
and forms of disease and physical all
ment or human imperfection. He went
about healing all manner Of disease.
Nothing was too hard for Him; nothing
taxed His strength. even to that most
stupendous miracle of raising the dead.
1.-THE healing of Christian science
shows no such range as this. Its cures
lie entirely within well defined limits.
OF course it is claimed that when thor
oughly understood and applied the sys-
TEN Of Christian science will cure any
and every disease, just as it Is affirmed
by 1t that one could live without eating
or defy every law Of nature. But to sub
stantiate these assertions we want facts,
not claims. The facts are that, making
liberal allowance for cures, it's efficiency
lies within the ranks of diseases which
are either we'll known to be durable, or
which it Is only reasonable to suppose
might be cured. 1t does the work that
every physician does. The only differ
ence is that the physician uses remedies
and Christian science does not Christian
science may succeed where a physician
fails, just as one doctor of a particular
school is successful, where a physician
of another schoolis unsuccessful But,