The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-23
A Christian Science ReJolnder.

TO THE EDITOR OF The SuN--Sr! The
Rev. Henry van Dyke Is reported in THE sun
as saying in his baccalaurate sermon TO the
graduating class of Princeton
You will nnd monstrous falschood disguised In
sentimental costume In the very modern comedy
of Christian Scincc which dresses the denial OF evil
In pastoral garb Of white frock and pink ribbons
like an Innocent shepherdcss among lambs EVIL
is nothing. says this wonderful science IL docs
not exist" most persistent nothing. most pain
full nothing. Evil Is as real the ARE that burns
you. the hood that browns you EVll IS negative.
as real as death.
II appears to us that Dr. van Dyke went out
OF his way to influence the minds OF his audi
ence against Christian Science Many OF US.
who have enjoyed his books and sermons
and have drawn inspiration therefrom, regret
exceedingly that this is his idea OF the Chris
tian Science Church. We do not follow in
the same denomination tina Justly claims DR..
van Dyke as one of its leading preachers. nor
do We condemn his faith in any way but We
think his criticism of our faith unjust and I'M
called for.
In the ninth chapter OF st. Luke. 4eth and
50th verses. it is written: John said. Master.
we saw one casting out devils In Thy name; and
We forbade him, because he followed not with
US, and Jesus said, unto him.. Forbid him not,
for he that is not against us is for US
This does not ef
Church as a monstrous fasehood and modern
comedy. Each mans conception OF the
what is real and what Is unreal In life This
conception Of Truth is the only thing he dares
not deny. His faith. in fact he cannot deny
The Christian Science Church teaches evil
to be unreal Through the reality OF Cod Evli
does not exist in the domain of spirit. we
through Christ, Is the God OF Gods-the God
Of Good. All good is our God: in Him We live
and move and have our, being Evil Is an
enigmatical condition of the mortal M ind. NO
one has any understanding Of it. for all under
standing is OF God. Snce God is ALL there is
no room for s oppoitsb s alone sy GFs 6en
the opposite OF goodnes Is unreal and cannot
be the product OF God. The ev-doer cannot
receive any IRON the ia ,h 'm n
| reality of existence. for the sinner Is making
reality Of sin; making that real that Is unreal
az ad w 1has heapns IS o"ns n eo s
against himself. against his awakening to the
awful unreality by which he has been deceived
evil t can , fully Understand the unreaty Of evil
The intensest light causes the blacklist sh adow.
but the shadow is not Of the light and forms no
God Is Light. and Evil shadow is the absence
Of Good, our God-the opposite OF All. which
Christ Is our Reality and in Him there Is no
evil Christ is the Way, not the painless
wilderness evil Christ is the North star that
turneth night into day :, Christ is the fes s,r
In the name OF Christ we are comm anded
! to go preach the Gospel, to heal the sick,
even unto n the the enc end Of the World other
words we are commanded to make evil unreal
chfs nina si e esna reaSh G live
miracle OF miracles that demonstrates the
unreality OF, evil. that raises the dead.the
s ssce all life rmas MrnRAs GanD SaF'
NEW YORK. June 20.