Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-20
Christian Science.
[Dr. Parker's Views

Rev. DR.. p. p. Parker expressed his
views on Christian Science at the
chapel of the South church. There was
large attendance. He said that he
did not propose tospeak against Christ
| ian Science from a religious point of
view. No doubt he said there were a
great many things, and good things.
that the Christian Scientists held in
common with other Christians. No
doubt many had found in their services
and belief special comfort and he was
! glad of it.
But there was another side, and DR..
Parker read from the New York
Times" of October the decision of
Judge Arnold, the presiding judge of
the court of common pleas of Philadel-
phia, in denying the application of the
Christian Scientists for a charter. He
refused to grant the charter on the
ground that 1t was intended for BUSH
ness, as well as religious purposes; 1t
was money making concern and he
could not recognize the union of those
two things. He was afterwards criti-
cised for his decision and in a supple
mental opinion, while adhering TO his
previous opinion, said that If the court
had the power it ought not to grant the
charter and should refuse to legalize
such a body protesting to treat disease
and heal disease which was contradic-
tory to its doctrine, for the church said
that there was no disease. and II none
there could be none to heal. If a char
ter could legally be granted it should
not be granted, because 1T would be
against public policy
Dir. Parker read Judge Arnold's de-
cision and the reasons therefor as given
by the judge and then said that the
gospel Of the scientists took on mer-
cenary phase according to Mrs. Eddy's
signed statement in the Christian Sci
ence Journal" of March, 1897. She said
that the Bible. her book, Science and
Health; the Key to the Scriptures and
her other published works were the only
books needed in that hour She urged
Christian Scientists to sell the books
and said tina. If any member refused
to sell them, his membership was liable
to be terminated DR.. Parker said that
he read Mrs. Eddy's book three or four
years ago and that 1t had no honor as a
literary work, for 1T was below medi-
ocrity. 1t was sold for So and such a
not over $1.25 at a book store. The
monthly publication of the sect was
much dearer than other religious publ
cations. Then there was hymn book
ALSO which was sold to the faithful.
Judge Arnold, in his very exhaustive
opinion, said that a part of the Christ
ian Science doctrine consisted in heal
ing the sick by inaudible prayer.A fun
damental principle of the scientists was
that disease had no real existence. DR..
Parker quoted from Mrs. Eddy's book
to show the absurdity of many express
sions, such as "The so-called laws of
health are laws of mortal belief" which
doesn't mean anything. Truth makes
no laws to regulate sickness, sin and
death, for the sickness, sin and death
are unknown to truth and should not
be recognized by man." DR.. Parker
said he thought there We're many things
in the Bible to regulate sin and was
there anything more real than truth?
Its no use to talk about these things
he said, "if you do, you come to point
where you must part and go to the
right or the left. No more utter alb
sur1ity than that statement about sick
ness, sin and death could be uttered;
it was bottomless nonsense. The doc
trine taught is that man is never sick;
the belief that he is is all there is to it.
After saying that Christian Science
professed to heal organic disease as
we'll as functional ones, but that there
was no real disease DR.. Parker told of
bicycle accident he witnessed yester-
day morning, when a man was Knocked
unconscious by trolley car, and asked
whether accidents were realities. Did
the poor fellow who was hurt only be-
lieve himself hurt? In referring to
Mrs. Eddy's recent statement regarding
contagious diseases, DR.. Parker read
from her book that Christian Science
handles the most malignant contagion
and the faithful need not fear 1t. She
now protested to abandon the treat
ment of contagious diseases by inaud1-
BILE prayer or absent treatment owing to
the prevalent ignorance on the subject.
Dr. Parker said that all the feeling
he had in the matter of Christian Sci
ence conferred in its professions of heal
ing. He could not look at 1T without
horror. 1t was barbarism, like that OF
some OF the tribes in South Africa.
Judge Arnold said that the professions
of healing Were palpable fallacies; when
put into practice they are pernicious.
Such practices resulted in frequent