The Washington times., 1901-10-16
IN DEFENCE OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
A General Statement of the sect-
Beliefs

Y
! To THE EDITOR OF THE TINES: In your
issue of September 26 you criticise Mrs.
Eddy's explanation of why prayer failed
to save President Mckinney As one who
has made a thorough study and investiga-
ton of Christian Science. ask You kindly
to allow me TO make some corrections and
| comments
You say the Christian scien-
lists. Dowieites and all such char
| latans- Christian Science and the
! teachings of Dowie have absolute
! ly nothing in common, as they are
polar extremes both in principle and prac-
| tice. and therefore they should not be
! classed together. Neither has Christian
| Science any connection with any of the
various faith-healing sects. nor does it in
volve occultism of any kind. II is simply
the application Of the teachings OF o4lr
| Master. Christ Jesus, on a scientific,
! metaphysical. demonstrable basis as
discovered by Mrs Eddy. and is the foun-
dation Of religious denomination which
| now has over a million believers
| You call Christian Scientists ''charia-
| tans." Because Christian Scientists know
the underlying principle of the work of
Christ Jesus and his disciples. by which
the sick and SHINING were healed and re-
formed. and thereby heal the sick and
| reform the sinner today. are they Char
latans?' Are persons who heal and save
| drunkards, opium fiends, and the slaves
of myriad forms OF sin, leading them
into a life of sobriety, purity, love to
God and man, properly called "charla-
tans?' When Christian Scientists lead
| agnostics and infidels into an understand
Ing of the Bible and a belief in Gci and
Christ and bring to their heretofore
barren hearts the sunshine of divine
truth and love: and when they restore to
happiness. unity, and peace home that
has been wrecked by selfishness, family
quarrels. and dissipation, are they then
''charlatans?" Or are they 'charlatans''
when they take the hopeless invalid. who
has tried every known medical and sur
gical treatment. or the unfortunate suf-
ferer from disease who has been pro-
nounced '.incurable" by reputable men,
bers OF the medical profession, and
through their understanding of the under
lying principle of Christian Science. the
truth about God. man, and the universe.
restore these people 20 health and happi-
ness?
Such are the well-known works OF
Christian Scientists. which anyone can
learn by investigation and which account
nation. Christian Science numbers among
its adherents scores of intelligent, cul-
tured. and prominent people, such as
ministers, physicians, lawyers. authors.
editors. college professors. engineers.
bankers. business men, and men well
known in all of the professional and COM
mercial walks Of life. 1t is only neces-
sary to enquire into the lives of these
people to learn whether Christian Science
is good or bad.
Therefore. such expressions in your
editorial as:
''the capstone upon the mountain of abs1rdty
which makes up the creed of this sect -
''BIt the whole world is interested in the
posure and squeIching of the fraud =.
utter worthlessness OF the claim which is the
foundation of the entire ereed,"
are manifestly inapplicable in any way to
Christian Science and arise from a mis-,
understanding of the subject.
Mrs Eddy gave her explanation at =
the request. of a newspaper man. 1t Is
not an apology fer the failure of Chris
tian Science, because President Mckinley
was not under Christian Science treat
ment- Thought. prayer. fear and causation
all being mental conditions and existing
solely in the realm of mind. are meta
physical problems, and require some
knowledge of the science of mind in order
to be understood.
HERMANN S. Herring.
Baltimore. Oct. Is. 1901