The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-23
(Continued.)
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HUMBUGs.

SOAlEl
The youths or Canterbury had got TO
running wild so fast over the multitudn-
GUS isms that kept crowding In upon us.
the best folks OF the town got together
and organized "The Canterbury Anti
Humbug Society" which was for the
protection of her sons and daughters
against the follies OF modern beliefs.
Fact ont was, there wasn't a boy or
girl In the town that was wuth anything
10 their parents. because they were vast
ing their time and substance on Chi tstian
Science, Spiritualism, Theosophy. Hypno-
tls-i and every other notion that yud
coxld think Of
Nhy. even our own boy, Jonathan. had
got TIE fever, a staid and set I'm his own
wey as he is and Harriet ana Dorothy
Arm. his sisters, got 10 running that way
Until I gave tAem a good tt'kin' to ana
b~oug!,t them back to whore they belong
cd
IL seemed lust as Parson Morrison said
In his sermon last Sunday, "as IL the
devil himself had been let loose more ttan
eyer in our community. and that lac was
capturing the young folks by his smooth
tongued philosophy. which made them out
nt subjects for heaven and society in
general, no matter what their belief
might be, and no matter what they might
do, II II was only within the limits OF the
law"
And declare he told the truth.
Something had 10 he done, and so the
society was formed
federation was made the president. He's
a wonderful hand at being moderator, be-
cause he's got such a mighty voice. When
he calls order" II generally comes
right off and without anybody risin' TO n
question OF privilege.
The society had their first meetin' last
In
and about everybody in the community
was present. There were the Parkers and
the IIibbards, and the Backuses, and tho
Bateses. and the Clevelands, the Hub
bards the Waldos. the Adamses the
Morses and Chesleys. and lot more OF
the leading families, besides a host from
the village that came to hear the debate
on Christian Science which was the fust
topic TO be debated for the purpose of
< showing up whatever folly and humbug-
gerry there might be in it's teachings.
II wasn't the purpose OF the society In
their preamble and resolution TO condemn
anything that was good I'm any kind or
religion or belief that might be brought
up. but whatever there was that was
evil or tended 10 destroy the usefulness
OF any member OF our community IL was
determined 10 set that aside once and
forever.
Wen. federation he called the meetin to
order, and made a few remarks on the
subject and among other things he sale
The one great mistake that the Christ<
ian Scientists are making is this: They are
claiming that there amt no such thing as
matter, and that there amt no such
thing as sickness; that it's all imagina-
ton.
Now | want TO call Christian Scientists
TO order on this one point: II you can
imagine you are sick when you are well.
80
we'll when you are really sick. that is
Just as broad as IL IS long. Any rule
that won't work both ways amt wuth
much You haven't got any license for
claiming that Ii Is all one sided any more
than have, and there's where the whole
thing Is hinged.
Health and vigor can be as imaginary
as sickness can, but YOU won't admit it.
Christian Scientists have forgotten 20
reason that IL is just as sensible 10 take
a well man and make him sick by think
ing So as II Is 10 take n sick man and
make him we'll by thinking so. The ac-
tual condition OF the body remains the
same after you've done the thinking in
both cases If they will only bear this
lid mind they will find that they have run
up against very substantial and a very
hard argument. II they could have IL
all their own way so that nobody could
correct them, and they could go right on
n sayin. that ther amt no such thing as
sickness; that Il is all the mind without
the reverse idea thrown In. why then
they could have n clean sweep; but the
reverse idea exists. and they have got
TO handle that as well, and that is what
we are here for tonight 10 discuss this
question, and show wherein they arc in
error.
1T was but little while ago that l
had clear demonstration OF this idea:
There was a lady In the city OF New
Bedford who came TO the city OF Provi-
dence, and under the influence that was
thrown about her by the Christian Scien-
lists, she believed that she was cured
and well. and under the stimulus OF the
prop that was given to her by this idea.
she did seem 90 be vastly improved, II
not cured. although her face didn't show
that she was any better. She was sur
fering from. consumption. and the poor
woman had been convinced by the Chris
tian Scientists one idea that there is no
such thing as disease; purely imagina-
ton: and so under this belief this poor
woman had como TO realize that she was
we'll when really her body was almost fit
for the grave from the wasting disease;
and, as a proof OF this. she died within
about three months. Tho matter: That
material body. which the Christian Scien-
tst claims does not exist as such, was
laid away I'm the earth from whence II
came. Now. all evidence OF this character
has not been brought before me. but this
was, and IL is one Of the proofs that the
reverse idea that good health Is also
imaginary r. as acceptable as tneir oppo-
site idea TO which they cling TO In season
aud out OF season"
After these few remarks alone with
others. federation throw the meetin
open To the public for discussion. and
Jasper Corning who was always first To
fall In vita every new notion. and TO
stand by every new ism that comes along,
got up into his feet and began tho de-
fence OF the Christian Science movement.
He declared that because there were
thousands upon thousands Of people
throughout the United States who had
fallen I'm with the Idea, IL was pretty good
evidence that IL was fact and the right
Kind Of truth 10 live by.
lie forgot that the majority of people
are worshipipg the devil, and, conse-