Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-05
a sclENrlsr REPLIES.

Editor Times epublican-Dear Sir;
In the article entitled The Absurd Par.
adox of Christian Science" quotation,
in your issue of July 10. statements are
made which. in effect, misrepresen,
Christian Science.
The writer of the article mentioned
has written many articles about Chris
tan Science. but never of It, Search.
ing examination" of any subject, from
the standpoint of criticism and antag-
onism. can bring out only biased and
prejudiced views. Such examination, tc
be of real value, should be conducted
from an impartial standpoint, rein
forced by practical working know
ledge of the subject in hand. 1t is evil
dent that this crutic has not such know
ledge; also that he is prejudiced to such
an extent that his views of Christian
Science represent only his own miscon-
ceptions Of its teachings.
This critic can not deny that Chris
uan science as religion is today firm.
ly established with a following of owe,
100000 people. These people have come
from every rank of life; they are known
to be honest. intelligent. industrious
citizens good neighbours, and in every
essential point pre-eminently Christian.
They understand and appreciate the
teachings of Christian Science. To
them it is not an absurd paradox" but
the simple unfolding of the teachings OF
Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Thru
Christian Science most of these people
have been raised from beds of pain
some saved from the effects Of sinful
lives; some reclaimed from drunken
ness and vice. Others. who formerly
called themselves .intidel or 'athe-
ist," now know and love God, and have
learned the reason for the hope that is
within them"
Every critic of Christian Science Is
obliged to seek outside the practical
workings of this religion for his object
of criticism, and usually finds 1t in his
own misconception Of the subject. This
critic has chosen the teachings of Sci
ence and Health. the textbook OF
Christian Science, and other works by
Mary Baker G. Eddy, as the target for
his ammunition. He regulates the
claim that Science and Health agrees
with and interprets the Bible. on the
ground that the Bible in number of
passages recognizes the actual existence
of diseases of various sorts, and the ef-
ficacy of medicines and other material
remedies in curing them.
Mr.. w. d. McCrackan, OF New York,
in answering this phase Of the article,
says:
Surely the writer OF the July article,
IT he interprets the scriptures in mere
material sense. would not take upon
himself the responsibility Of giving the
advice which he quotes from Proverbs:
Give strong drink unto him that is
ready to perish. and wine unto those
that be of heavy heart. Let him drink
and forget his poverty, and remember
his misery no more Many men have
followed this advice materially, with
sad results. But II the word wine be
used in its spiritual sense of 'inspira-
ton the case Is different. Nor can the
fact that Jesus uses the words 'physi-
cian' and sick be taken as either prov
ing that he believed in using drugs, or
that he acknowledged sickness to be
anything more than a false concept of
the human mind. He was called the
Great Physician, and yet he never used
a single drug. On the contrary, his
knowledge that sickness was mental is
amply proved by his treatment Of the
man sick Of the palsy. He said to him,
first: Son. be Of good cheer; thy sins
be forgiven thee. That was the real
healing OF the man; then followed the
after-effect, the material manifestation
of the spiritual regeneration. when Je-
sus said: Arise, take up thy bed, and
go unto thine house.
Jesus Christ is the great teacher. the
leader. whom Christian Scientists fol-
low. He taught the right way, the
Chritian way, the way approved Of God.
In following Jesus example. and heal
Ing the sick thru the power of divine
mind, Christian Scientists fail to see
wherein their religion lie IAN absurd
paradox" They fail to see wherein It
Is "un- Christian" or Eat variance with
the teachings Of Christ" Their whole
desire is to benefit and help humanity,
to show forth that love for God and
man which IL the only evidence Of
Christianity. Yours respectfully,
JOHN L. Kendall.
1Des Moines, Sept. 3.
No. ~