Arizona silver belt., 1903-07-09
Christian Science

The convention of the christian sci entists held in Boston last week has attracted considerable attention. It was, in fact remarkable gathering of some twelve thousand very earnest peo- pie, showing that whatever may be the prevailing opinion of this newest form of mysticism originated by Mrs, Mary Baker Glover Eddy, it has grown stronger and stronger in the face of de- ever, that because belief or opinion has survived opposition that 1t repre-. sents any great truth, for 1t has been abundantly established that error as we'll as truth often prevails, and also that truth crushed Co earth does not always rise again.
 |, has been maintained with some reason that the seed ot insanity is i'm planted in the human mlnd and attains varying degrees of development in diff. ferent individuals All minds are at some time subject to hallucination, and with most persons it takes the form of religious mysticism or fanaticism.
 Christian scientists are probably no crszier than some other people who criticise and ridicule them, but are more dangerous to society because the essential part of their belief IS that matter is non, existent, and that as God is spirit and man, being made in His image, is, therefore, also spiritual and can not suffer disease is not actual but wrong belief and can be cured by discarding such belief Therefore, christian scientists repudiate medical science and refuse such treatment, not only to their own detriment, but there by endangering the lives of others and of the public health in general.
 A remarkable incident of the annual reunion was the pilgrimage of the en- tire body of christian scientists to Con cord, New Hampshire, to pay their re- spects and show their devotion to Mrs. Eddy, the founder of the faith, at her beautiful home, Pleasant View. The vast thrOng was permitted to close in underneath 6 balcony upon which Ms. Eddy presently appeared and spoke few words and quoted a few lines of scripture. About her shoulders was a cape of richest ermine On her head was small bonnet, purple and green and in the latest style Holding it in place were purple ribbons fastened be- heath the chin. Not q sound escaped the great congregation, but all stood as though spellbound before divine being.
 When Mrs. Eddy had finished speak. ing and turned back through the bal. cony window twelve thousand voices broke into the communion hymn. At the conclusion of the singing hundreds were in tears, hardly a person spoke and many stood trausfxed.
 Mrs. Eddy seems to enjoy the adula ton of her followers, and poses as a prophecies of divine appointment. Ar | ter she had rested briefly in her room, | we are told that her carriage came, she was assisted to It, and then drove away . through the long deep lines ol her fol. lowers, many of whom waved handker chief at her carriage window or threw kisses at the woman who beuevolently smiled at them
 Rich and poor, white and black. were represented in the pilgrimage. American and foreign born. Lord Dunmore was there witt his wife and daughters. One heard the tongue of France and Germany as le wandered about, many colored women from the south were seen aud the men repre. sented every branch of industry and professional life. The women in many cases were gorgeously gowned while the men were dressed in the latest fash. ions.
 The world has seen many freak re- ligious movements, in some of which women have been the leaders, most notable of whom was, perhaps. Madam Jeanne Bouyier Guyon, founder of the French school of quietism, to whom the distinguished prelate, FeneIop owed his downfall in the Cburcb of Rome, for his partial adherence to the duyon heresies. Joanna Soutbcott in England, in the seventeenth centurv although herself grossly ignorant person. lead many people of education and responsibility astray.
 Christian science may contain ele-