The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-15

lusion.
In the First Presbyterian church
last night Rev. James Mcleod, u. D.,
preached a very forceful sermon on
christian Science; Not Christianity"
He said:
Judge Ewing's lecture on ''Christian
Science" which has been so widely pub
lished, is Il remarkable production.
In his autobiography he says that no
was trained UP rcligiously, by "a Scotch
Irish Presbyterian mother "For more
than IL quarter of a century" he was IN
communion with the Presbyterian church.
For years after he had been in Mrs. Ed
dys school, he found it hard to "givc
up the early lessons he had learned
about "GCd, life, death, hell and heaven"
From his lecture It would seem that he
has not yet given up all those early les
sons.
Judge Ewing is, apparently. Il very
modest man. He disclaims all knowledge
of the art of oratory, and as for flowers
of speech" he has no use for them.
These disclaimers remind one of "a GER
tain speaker of the olden time, who said:
IL am no orator. have neither wit, nor
words, ror worth, action, nor utterance,
nor the power of speech TO stir mems
blood" But, Notwithstanding this dis
claimer. that old heather could make Il
tolerably fair speech
1t is to be hoped that Judge Ewing will
not be Offended if he is told that his
lecture on christian Science" is in
marked contrast with his modest dis
claimer. His Grafton furnishes abundant
evidence that he has wit and words and
the power of Speech and in preparing
his speech, he probably felt that his
subject would not be injured IL he should
take pains to present 1t in the most
pleasing and attractive style.
Judge Ewing seems to be thoroughly
sincere in respect both Of his belief and
his declarations. He says: II simply
want to talk to you as man to man. as
friend to friend. brother to brother; my
only art will be the simplicity and cour-
age of conviction: my only argument a
statement of facts. The sole purpose of
inquiry in every court of justice in Chris
tendon is, and ever has been, to invoke
facts; the world is weary of theories it
longs for facts; it is surfeited with dog
mas, arguments, and platitudes, and cries
out for facts
EVADED THE POINT.
That seems quite fair, and one is ready
to listen to a man who talks in that
fashion. Facts-Facts about "Christian
science -tndt Is what Judge T-Wllss
promised to give his audience, and that is
precisely the point that he carefully and
adroitly evaded. Judge Ewing did state
some facts, but it is doing him no inius-
iice to say that he suppressed the "iactS'
that "cEristian Science teaches, and
that difercntiate it from Christianity,and
that make it obnoxious to every right
minded Christian. Judge Ewing has TAX
Ell IL brief to defend "Christian Science"
and his enthusiasm as an advocate has
utterly disqualified him to act as Il right
eous judge. Pledging his word of honor
that he would state the "facts" about
"Christian Science he ought to have
redeemed that pledge. If he knew the
facts or the doctrines Of 'Thristian Sci
ence'' he ought to have stated them; II
he does not know them he ought hot to
have made such IL pledge.
There is a ground for suspicion that
the eloquent lecturer deliberately and de-
signedly suppressed the peculiar facts
which distinguish christian. Science"
These peculiar doctrines are contained in
| Il book entitled "Science and Health-with
Key to the Scriptures Its author is
Mrs. Eddy. the founder of ''Christian Sci
| encc." If anybody knows what "Chris.
tian Science" is, she ought to know. IL
Judge Ewing's lecture is an honest cx-
preston of his conviction. he is not Il
=
The God of the Bible and the God Of
Christians, is an unknown God to "Chris-
| tian Science" Judge Ewing says that
"Christian Science urges its votaries ia
| believe in and to worship lone God and
| Father of all" who is "infinite in wisdom,
| justice, goodness, mercy, truth, and love.
| Undoubtedly some "Christian Scientists
do believe in and worship this God. But
| "Christian Science" positively forbids
such belief and worship.
| For proof of this assertion note this
| fact: christian Science denies the per-
sonality of God. 1t teaches that "the
| personality of God and man are UNI
known" and 1t says specifically that God
is mot a person." (Sciencc and Health
page 37O 1t teaches that man reiiects
the impersonal God' CP. 2oN. 1t teach.
| es that "the divine principle, not person
is the father and mother OF man and
the universe" CP. 1901 This teaching
runs through the whole text book OF
| "Christan Science"
NOT THE BIBLE IDEA.
| Now it is plain that this idea of God
is not the Bible idea. The Bible teaches
us to call God our Father, it represents
| Him as a personals our Creator Preser-
Yer and Redecmer; it tells us that He
has spoken to us, and that we may spe Ii,
| to Him; it urges us to love Him, and
trust Him, and pray unto Him. But il
God be not u person, but only "a princi'
pie. then this Bible idea Of God is untrue
Nothing could be more absurd than te
see or hear a man praying to princi'
| pie. 1t would be absurd to pray to chem
istry, or to astronomy, or to electricity
or to the atmosphere. Has gravitation
or chemistry. or the laws of nature eyes
| to see or ears to hear q sinner when hC
cries? Yet this is Mrs. Eddy's Gods
principle, but not a Derson-and this Is
the only god of "Christian Science"
If Judge Ewing knows this fact" OF
"Christian Science" he ought to have
manliness enough to state it. But in
stead of this he deceived his audience by
, stating that the Christians God. and the
god Of "Christian Science" are identical
! Being n skillful advocate. the judge triec
| to cover up the facts by specious reason
ing, and by IA liberal Use of flowers o
| rhctCric."
"Chrlstian Science" rejects the Bibl,
doctrine of the Trinity.
"Christian Science" says: "The theory
of three persons in one God suggests {
heather god' (p. 12D. Yet Judge Ewing
apparently, recognizes the Divinity of Je
sus Christ. He says that he believes ''ir
| Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son o.
God" In this, as in manN other things
he differs widely from the doctrines %
| "Chrstian Science His textbook
which he praises SO highly says thl
| "Jcsus by His demonstration of the d;
vine principle mot person. is "entitled'
| to "Sonslip In Science" and that th'
Holy Ghost is "Divne Science Up. lS2,
Again, on page 53S, the Holy Ghost Il
| defined as "Divine Science" In boil
places 1t is christian Science" that Il
meaht. This doctrine is taught on pag,
CO1. where it Is said: 1.-THE Holy Ghost
| or Divine Science, overshadowed IN