The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-22
REPLIES TO Mr.. EDDY
c. B. Stevens Seeks to Refute Pas
tors Attack on Christian
Science.
70 The SAID Lake Herald:

10 Inc Salt Lake Herald:
In a sermon reported in your col
umns of the nth inst, Christian Science
is singled out as being the embodiment
of that tendency towards metaphysical
speculation which it's author feels called
upon to condemn. 1t is because of this
special mention that ] ask the privilege
OF few words of comment, which ]
shall present. without Observation-Disclosures,
and in no spirit of contention.
Our critic is TO be congratulated on
the acumen which recognizes the pres
ence of that religious awakening which
has been so long predicted He says
truly that il is here, now,
1T is very apparent, however. that he
has given the beliefs and doctrines IF
Christian Science but superficial exam
ination. and not the careful c0nsidera-
ton which they merit in view of the i'm
portance which he admits for them
If not what it is assumed to be. then
the reasoning as applied is of no avail
he sets up but an imaginary target
against which to direct the arrows of
his logic.
Christian Science is everyday prac-
teal common sense. and the Christian
Scientist does not deny, as implied by
our critic. either the rain. or the
the snow or thunder. lie viii deny, how
ever, that while progressing with feet
upon earth. resulting wet feet need
necessarily be followed by disease. 1t is
man-made laws which have so long held
the race i'm bondage.
THE sum of his reasoning is that man
should still consider himself bound by
his relation and nearness to the ma
terial: in reference to such doctrine. the
saying of ST Paul seems most apt. But
the natural man receiveth not the things
of the spirit of God; for they are fool
ishness unto him; neither can he know
them because they are not spiritually dis
cerned.
If. as I quote from the sermon. this
mode n revival of cid teaching comes to
us laden with good why should there
be any warning against itI is il that We
should accept only a little of the good
offered us, and not strive for all? The
advice to partake sparingly of a re-
gion laden with good cannot be fol-
owed. As well enjoin the bird to re-
main in its cage with the door wide
openI
The reference to the magical promise
of unlimited power is obscure. If by
this phrase is meant the power to heal
sickness and sin. we can answer that
such promise is being daily fulfilled.
when the reverend gentleman speaks
disparagingly of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy,
he certainly speaks without knowledge,
ard not in agreement with those who
have the privilege of her acquaintance.
In the Evening Standard. of New Bed
ford Mass, of the 10th insti there is Il
sermon by the Rev +. l.. Phalen pas
tor of the Unitarian Memorial church i'll
FairhaVen- His subject is the same as
the one under discussion, but the con-
illusions reached are far different. He
says: I Know Mrs Eddy, and | do not
know one single fact against her ! have
read d lot of rumors a bushel of lies, d
ton of nonsense; but | will be just to
her-I do not know one solitary thing
against her womanhood. or her evidently
serious and noble purpose to do good to
humanity. | have never met. or seen, or
heard of anybody who could prove in a
court of law. anything against her pur-
ity. her honesty, her spirituality. Under
the lash of tongue and pen she main
tains Christian womanliness. She prac-
tees what she breaches. 1t is our bust
ness. as honest. fair men. Christians
as Unitarians. to see that our Christian
Science friends have justice have their
rights, are upheld in the religion they
prefer.
Mr.. PhaleH disclaims any purpose in
the utterance of the above quotations, to
speak as a disciple. but desires TO be
fair only.
Let me conclude with his conclusion.
which is entirely aDrOpoS to our subject
Now let me conclude by saying that
when we all become as devoted as gen.
tie. as earnest. as successful in our diff
ferent churches as our Christian Science
friends in their churches. it will then be
time to say their religion is a dream. +"
&. 3. STEVENS