Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-28
3 Christian Science Defended.

! oS0cScScococScS
Chicago. July 25.-Editor of THE
ARGUS: In THE ARGUS of the goth
| inst. is an article in which you report
that Mr.. Schweinfurth "now advises
all of his followers to take up Chris
tian Science"
AS this statement may convey the
impression to those Of your readers
who are uninformed on the subject
that the practices heretofore imputed
TO Mr.. Schweinfurth and his followers
are in line with Christian Science.
ask the privilege of making the fol-
lowing statement through your col
umns: Christian Science is satisfied
with and demands nothing short of
the highest morality, and each person
applying for membership in any
church of the Christian Science de-
nomination must be believer in the
doctrines of Christian Science accord
Jog to the platform and teaching con-
tanned in the Christian Science text
book. 'Scienc. and Health with Key to
the Scriptures by Rev. Mary Baker
G. Eddy" manual of the Mother
Church. page 29); must give evidence
of an honest desire to live a christian
life; must be, at the time of making
application, conforming to the &C
cepted rules of morality; and must
give written assent to the following
tenets of the denomination. which are
to be found on page 493 of the Chris
| tian Science text book, Science and
Health with Key to the scriptures"
by Mary Baker G. Eddy:
CHURCH TENETs AND RULES.
l. AS adherents of truth, we take
the scriptures for our guide to eternal
life.
2. We acknowledge and adore one
supreme infinite God. We &C.
knowledge one Christ, the Holy Ghost.
and man as the divine image and
likeness.
3. Gods forgiveness of sin, in the
destruction of sin, and the under
standing that sin and suffering are not
eternal.
4. The atonement as the efficacy,
and evidence of divine love, of mans
unity with God, and the great merits
of Jesus, the way-shower.
>. Universal salvation as demon
strated by Jesus, the Galilean prophet,
in the power of truth over all error,
sim sickness and death. and the res
direction of human faith and under
standing to seize the great possibili-
ties and living energies of the divine
life.
6. We solemnly promise to strive.
watch and pray for the mind to be in
us which was also in Christ Jesus, to
love one another and to be meek, mer-
ciful, just and pure.
MARY BAKER G. EDDY.
In view of the many things which
have been printed in the past con-
corning Mr.. Schweinfurth and his fol-
lowers-the truth or falsity of which
is unknown to mean authoritative
statement of the teachings of Chris
tian Science in reference to the mar
riage relation should be made, and
therefore submit the following ex-
tracts from Science and Health"
and the Manual of the Mother Church
of Christian Science:
BE not in haste to take the vow
until death do us part Consider
well it's obligations, it's responsible |
ties, and its relations to your, own |
growth and your influence on other |
lives; but when your vows are taken, |
preserve them stainless" (Science |
and Health, page 279.)
'Inidelity to the marriage cove |
nant is the social scourge of all races,
the pestilence that walketh in dark
ness-the destruction that wasteth |
at MONDAY The commandment.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
is no less imperative than the other.
Thou shalt not kill" (Science and |
Health, page 1861
"No person shall be made mem Der
of this church, or remain a member,
who claims a spiritually adopted
child. or spiritually adopted hus-
band, or wife; except they have been
legally adopted, or legally married,
according to the laws of our land.
Any member who is found living
with a child improperly, or claiming
a child not legally adopted. or claim
ing or living with a husband or
wife to whom they have not been le-
gally married. shall Immediately be
accommodated, on the grounds of
moral unfitness to be a teacher of
Christian Science, or a member of
this church" (Sec. 4, Art. XVI of
church bylaws. manual of the mother
church,
Christian Scientists recognize the
fact that humanity's greatest need is
from bondage to it's beliefs
of sin ard sickness and their attend
ing miseries, also that it can be saved
only through the understanding of
the teachings of Jesus Christ;
through the desire to obey His COM
through the present
demonstration of the truth of His
promises and by faithfully endeavor-
ing to follow in His footsteps; and
Just to the extent that individuals are
desire for right living
sincere repentance and re-
form are they manifesting a fitness
for mbership in the churches of