The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-21


Christian Science is forcing itself upon
public attention. During the past few
weeks the pastors of various Northern
churches have denounced the new religion
from their pulpits. Thus they recognize
the fact that the new cult has become
a menace to the orthodox churches them
selves, in greater or less degree. And at
the rate of growth shown by the follow
ing of Mrs. Eddy, it will not be a great
many years before the Christian Science
church will be an extremely power
full organization, and possibly dangerous
to some of the older churches.
What is the history Of Christian
Science? 1t had its origin in 1866. in the
mind of Mrs. Mary Baker C. Eddy After
a number of years of illness and religious
thought she produced a book called
Science and Health, with Key to the
Scriptures" In it she advanced new re-
hgious theories. Upon that book is built
the organization Of which she is the
head. 1t is not the purpose of this ar
ticle to discuss the theology propounded
and expounded by Mrs. Eddy. Her theory
in short. according to a summing UP by
Mr.. II. ]. W. Dam, in a recent article is
that there is only one force in the world;
that this force is what we call thought,
which is really the God thought" that
what we call evil is unknown to God, is
not of divine creation, but a purely hui
man creation, or mortal thought" that
matter does not exist. as matter, or as
v appears to our five senses; that the
entrance of disease into the body and its
obtaining a foothold there is due entirely
to false mental or spiritual conditions OF
the consciousness, and that If these false
or untrue conditions are replaced by the
right and true and natural conditions
disease will be prevented from entering
the body. or will be forced to leave it il
it has already entered.
From a membership OF one the founder
in 1S66-ss date well within the memory
Of persons not yet old-Christian Science
has prospered amazingly. until it now
outnumbers in membership some of the
older religious denomina lions. It is es-
timated that the Congregational churches
of 62S 2S4. and that the members of the
Protestant Episcopal Church number 70S.-
S25 while the Christian Scientists number
100000. That is only a few thousands
less than the total Jewish population Of
the country, and is two-thirds as large
as the membership of the Presbyterian
denomination. The great Baptist denom-
ination is less than Ave times as big as
the Christian Science following, notwith-
standing the latter's founder is still alive
and is not vet what could be called an old
woman. The Christian Scientists now
have 62S churches in the United States,
70 educational institutions, and church
property valued at approximately $1,000
Co., A quarter of a million Of copies Of
Mrs. Eddy's book are in circulation. and
the demand for It is stlll large. Two
OF the churches situated in New York
were erected at cost OF more than half
a million dollars each.
VIII the new religion continue to pros
per? Mrs. Eddy asserts that In nifty
years Christian Science will be the DOM
inant religion of the world. The minis
tiers OF the gospel who so severely criti-
else It say that 1t will soon wither and
die, as other fallacies OF a religious ma
tuCe have done before II. Which is right
remains 20 be seen. One OF the read
ers" OF the Second Church. in New York
a woman. declares that Mrs. Eddy is d.
vine; IN short. ~ second incarnation Of
Christ Or. Parkhurst declares that Mrs
Eddy IL a "consclcnceless woman who
lles, and who knows she lies" and char
actcrizes her doctrine as an Astounding
congl0meraiion Of plety and punlity." II
ls noticeable that large per centage OF
The readers" % tue Christian science
congregations are women. The Rev. Dr.
liOught0H, of the Atfle Church Around
hs corner, New YORK. says 'It 10 A.
fraciiYo - ne eneminsts only" The Rev.
Dr Buckley. editor ~ tho chnanah a.
fooats, the ofEan ~ fhe Mefh0aisg rhIreh.
horfH ssss "chrHian felcnee deniss
anl raleliss oey Chrrfan oeulnr.
rfen fe tho pnnripia ~ morally"
rHnrf sn Science BE no onIy fhf co.
sFoD'sw ~ ihc uinatfft NJ o. faaps.
Daf tasf ~ fhs medical pofeafae0 sf