Evening journal., 1901-12-17
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

of Wilmington listened with some in
terest to a discourse in a public hall
on the principles OF Christian Science.
In venturing to discuss the subject we
are aware that we are likely to en-
counter hostile criticism. but the new
movement is of vast Importance and
its acceptance OF rejection means
much to our people II Christian Sci
ence is all that Il claims, then we all
should hasten to embrace it, since by
doing so We should learn to smile at
the thought Of pain and hasten to
throw overheard all the physicians in
the land. depopulate the medical col
leges. turn the hospitals into mu-
seums. and conhne the drug stores to
selling perfumery and hair brushes.
What a boon to humanity an abso-
lutte proof OF the efficacy of the science
would be- Ever since the dawn of
history man has been engaged in a
constant and discouragng battle with
disease. He has suffered and died, and
accompaniment of human life, and
each generation repeats the tale. We
have grown to regard Il as necessary
have accepted it as an incident Of our
earthly career. Is II any wonder then,
that when a sect arises and proclaims
the absolute certainty of the ability of
men to abolish all pain. we are scepti
cal2 The cardinal principles of the doc
trine cause us to rub our eyes and
stare. We are informed that pain and
disease are mere imaginary com
plants. and that they have no reality.
Nothing Is real but mind, and the ma
terlal body exists only in our imaglna-
tion. Il follows. then II we think we
have a toothache.or Bright's disease or
a broken arm. we have only imagined
a certain condition. and the idea Of
pain Is merely a halluclnation Now
If this doctrine be true. how important
Il is that suffering humanity should
know H.
But Is It true? II not, Il is equally
important that the fallacy should be
exposed In order that innocent people
shall not be duped In the first place.
those who disbelieve Il have back OF
their opinion all human history. Not
only this, but all recognized philoso-
ply and scientific research assure them
of the soundness Of their conclusions.
Before they can believe Christian Sci
ence their whole mental nature, and
the authorities upon which they have
been taught to rely. must undergo a
complete transformation.
The claims of Christian Science are
difficult to disprove. since when per-
sons subjected to the treatment i'm
prove in health. il is attributed to the
new science. hut when they die lack
OF faith is held to be responsible Il
takes an elastic and comprehensive
faith. however. to believe that children
who are unable to form any opinion as
10 the exercise Of those powers neces-
sary in the new theory can be healed
by the mental or spiritual state of an
other. AS a matter OF fact we read
daily Of little ones who have died
while undergoing the treatment Is
this because of lack Of faith on tn,
part Of the faith cure physician? II Sc
such a person should not be allowed L
practice until he is more proficient il
the science.
But the new doctrine does not ex
tend simply to a belief in the abilit,
10 regulate ordinary bodily disorders
it claims to be efficient in surgery.
leg is broken. faith heals IT, II tn
theory is sound the leg has never il
reality been broken. but the patien
and ali observers only think so. Logic
ally to accept the theory we shoull
have to expect an instant cure, so tha
the broken Lex could Immediately b
used in walking. This. il seems. is no
beyond the possibilities of the science
as expounded by certain believers. w
know Of an instance where a youn
woman related an incident which goe
far TO prove this She told OF
brother having fall and of having hi
neck broken. Immediately she close
her eyes in prayer. and while so Ell
gaged neard a snap. and opened he
ewes to find that his Imagined
broken neck had been healed. Ther
Is nothing to be said in answer to sue
claims. except that we fall back upo
our inalienable right of disbelief
Then some argue that man is an an
NAL. and as such has all the pains an
distempers incident to that form
life We know. or at any rate. we b
lieve. that the brnies suifer as we d
They nope. express pain in mar