The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-25
RHEUMATISM ISA
LIE, A FALSE CLAIM"
1t is Not a Bodily Disease
But it is Sin.
ME0ICIMF CAN,T0ECTR0V
MEDICINE CAN'T DESTROY
Why Not Let Medicine or Nature Des-
troy Sin? Asks Christian Science.
A SCIENTIST REPLIES TO DR.. MARSHALL
Advocates That if All Men Believed and Prac
tised Christian Science, Diseases and
Death Would Perish From
the Earth.

The following letter, which we publish
by request of Miss Harrison, of Newbern,
is somewhat delayed, but did not reach
us until last week:
Boston, Mass. Nov. G. 1900.
| To the Editor-In your issue of the sec
| ond you report a sermon on the subject
of Christian Science and Faith Cures, by
Rev. DR.. Marshall He begins by giving
some quotations from Mrs. Eddys book
which are very good indeed, and that
much of the sermon l heartily endorse.
He adds: Mrs. Eddy's book, Science
and Health, is not very readable book,
nor one easily understood" No science
can be understood without earnest study
| and application. Even our Master said:
] ''Strive to enter in at the strait gate;
| for many, l say unto you, will seek to
| enter in, and shall not be able" This
| statement implies that it is not easy to
| understand and live the truth; and yet
| ease and harmony always follow such
| practice. An apprentice often chooses
| hard way of doing a thing, which is cas-
| lily done by master. Jesus said: Take
| my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
| for l am meek and lowIy in heart; and
We shall find rest unto your souls, for
my yoke is easy and my burden is light"
| The Master had served his apprentice
| ship well and was able to accomplish
| with perfect ease that which his disciples
failed to do, and concerning which they
| said: "Why could not we cast him out?"
Multitudes of those who are comparing
spiritual things with spiritual" have
found Science and Health" the Chris
tian Science textbook, easy of compre
| tho nf 6pnOmi-
nation better educated than DR.. Mar
shall, and so more equal to the under
standing of this volume? This l do not
assert but would rather attribute the
| difference between those who so easily
take hold of the science of Christ-and
| one who evidences his misrepresentation
| openly to the fact that some Christians
| are more ready to accept the premise of
| Christian Science-that God is spirit love,
life truth and for this reason are bet
| ter capable of comprehending conclusions
| drawn from these definitions of God. 1t
might be wise for our clergymen to re-
| fraln from the effort to express an opin-
| ion as to the teachings of Christian
| Science until they too have used the
ideas taught in this school With healing
| results. Only the practical mathemati-
clan can properly teach mathematics.
Only the practical Christian Scientist can
intelligently teach this science. The eff
fort to apostrophize about any science, or
any subject concerning which knowledge
is not gained from actual experience, is
likely to prove failure.
In answer to the question how It is pos
sible for a system like this to grow as
it has done into one of the most remarka-
BILE movements of modern times, DR.. Mar
shall says: "By practicing a system Of
mental healing whereby it is claimed
that many who have tried other curative
agencies in vain, have under this sys
tenn been restored to health" So far,
this answer is correct, but is not COM
plete. While it is true that people have
been healed of physical troubles through
Christian Science after having exhausted
their faith in other remedies, it is also
true that they have been healed spiritu-
ally as well. Sinners have been regener-
ated; drunkards have been reformed; /;
sorrow. disappointment, and dssatisfac-
ton have been replaced with joy, happi-
ness and satisfaction, through the con-
scious ever-presence of God, as Christian
Scientists are taught to realize. l speak
from personal experience on this point.
Previous to my study of Christian
Science l had become very unhappy-f1ll
of doubts and fears, and sceptical even
| of the truths of the Bible. In fact l was
dissatisfied with things in. general; but
through Christian Science ! have learned
to anchor my hope beyond the veil of
matter in Cod whom / recognize as the
only power and the only influence, and
this has dissolved my doubts and fears
to a very great extent.
My respect is profound for the orthodox
church in which l was reared, and l yet
love that church; but base indeed would
be my ingratitude if I failed to recognize
what God has given me through Christian
Science hv the faithful, untiring efforts
of its noble founder, Rev. Mary Baker G.
Eddy.
Dr. Marshall asserts: ''For the better
understanding of the question l will at
the same time discuss kindred phenome-
na." If he had said we will discuss kin
dred phenomena by contrast II nrder "
J better understand Christian Science, we
might give our approval; for the mani
festation of health as produced by Chris
tian Science has no kindred phenomena
There is no system of healing the sick
which is in any degree akin to Christian
5 Science.
1t is amusing to the Christian Scientist
to note the effort that is being made by
2 some people to establish the claim thai
! the cause of cures in Christian Science