The independent., 1904-01-21


enjoying the best Of health. Their
compilations are clear and their eyes
are bright. In large audience of a
thousand or more, when there was an
epidemic of coughs and colds in New
York, and when a constant coughing
was heard in every other assemblage,
| in this congregation there was but one
person who coughed during the whole
evening. There was no sign of chronic
disease or other illness to be discov-
| cred in that audience. The face or
every one who could be seen from the
point of observation was critically ex-
amined The point of view, however,
| was such that only about one-thlrd OF
the faces could he seen.
Another thing that impressed itself
upon the observer was the look OF
hope, peace, contentment and happi-
ness that was just as apparent as the
evidence of health.
What is the intellectual capacity OF
these people? That is what every pop
ulist will first ask. Populists have
had such contests with the political
mullet heads in the past, men of such
dull intellects that when they were
selling corn, ten bushels for dollar,
at the same time were saying that
they wanted two dollars for ten BUSH
els, but declaring that they did not
want money any cheaper-who could
not see that when one dollar would
buy twice as much corn, that that dol
| lar would be SO per cent cheaper-that
| they will care nothing about another
set of people of the same intellectual
| capacity.
A Christian science mid-week meet
| ing is one in which the congregation
does most Of the talking. So at the
great First Church this writer went
to Judge of the intellectual standing
of the men and women who have be-
come followers of this new cult, by
listening to them speak as we'll as to
study their carriage and personal ap-
pearance There were several distinct
types among the speakers. Two OF
them, one man and the other a
woman, undoubtedly were of high cul-
ture The words they used, the dis
tinctness of their utterance the ele-
gance of their language proved that.
There were others not so highly cul-
tured, but all Of the speakers were
men and women of good attainments.
The only conclusion, and it was ire
sistible, was these people averaged
very high in intellectual ability.
What about the substance of the
addresses that were made? For the
most part they were testimonials con-
cerning how they had been healed by
Christian science methods. Some o1
these tales were most marvellous and
the strangest of all of them were Civ
en- by the speakers who showed that
they were of the highest culture ant
best education
How did all this affect populist
, from the plains of Nebraska? He
: must follow his motto, "The truth
about everything He will only write
what he saw with his own eyes, an(
: heard with his own ears.
: He has never doubted the power
) Of mind over the body. He has seeT
! a man die of fear, when no nlaLeria
, object touched him. He has seen {
: man die in the army hospitals from
very SIlSUI WCuudo- iliSiS SCldlchSto-
! when another, shot ALI to pieces,
I recovered. The one believed that h'
| was going to die and the other wa
| determined to get well. To what ex
tent the mind can mould the body
g break down or build up tissue-ha
. never been ascertained by the metEoo
D Of modern science The testimony o
g thousands of men and women-mel
: and women of good character am
{ sound minds-cannot be set aside a
1 altogether visionary. That method q
: treating this new movement is neithe
: reasonable nor honest.
= The bald statements of the carrie
teachers OF Christian science are al
!. ready being modified and toneo dowr
: IL is impossible for men of sound Min
rs to give much attention to statement
: that are self-contradletory IL Is i'm
!, possible to believe things that ar
: inconsistent with themselvec. Ii
= very apparent that Christian scieni
i ists give different meanings To word
/. from that generally accepted. Thel
4 termindlogy IL not consistent or In
s telIiglble TO the unlnItiated.
- A an examnle oF thIg one 0f th