The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-23
REV. DR. I. ". SHEATH
SCORES THE CHRISTIAN SCIEN
 FIST CHURCH

Says It Stands Convicted of Two CIar.
 ing Charges-Do Christian Scientist,
 Think There Are Greater Fools in tn,
 Protestant Fold Than in the Catholic
 Says Dr. sheath and They Leave the
 Latter Alone.
 Rev. Dr. Isaiah W. Sheath, pastor of the Grand Avenue Congregational church. addressed his people yesterday morning on the topic, Christian Sci ence and Roman Catholics; Protest by a Protestant" He spoke as fol- lows:
 The spirit of our age in the religious world is the ironic spirit, and love to have it so. I like to be friendly with all who have faith in God, But there is a proper place for the polemic spirit, and especially where injustice appears to be evident. As in all religious move- ments, so in Christian Science--the hi- erarchical tendency makes itself mani fest. A cursory glance at the manual of the church will reveal the truthful ness of this statement. A recent arti- cle declares that parents are forbidden attending Scientist Sunday schools with their children, which to many will ap- pear as nothing less than tyranny
 ''The last published law of this sect is as follows:
 Church membership, article 2S, sec tion IA: Neither the pastor emeritus of the mother church nor Christian Scien- lists shall teach or treat Roman Catho- lies. except with the written consent of the authorities of their church, Teach ing and healing are separate depart ments. If you cannot heal without teaching said patients, abstain from do- ing either
 "The Roman Catholic church has clearly gained a point. The Congrega- tionalist says: Evidently Roman Cath ollie officials have been bringing pres sure to bear on the Christian Science hiearchy.' From this time forth Roman Catholics are not to be troubled by Christian Scientists. The latter's truth Mill not comfort their souls or bodies. Catholics can suffer so far as we are concerned, is the dictum
 Their work is not so much among the heather, the poor, the slum element, the agnostics, the large non-church-go- ing class or the Jews, but it is among the members of Christian churches. It is strongly probable that the large per- centage of the members of the Scientist church were former members of other churches. The history of the move ment from this standpoint would be q pathetic one. How families have been disturbed as to their peace and happi- ness; how individuals have been turned against their pastors and churches; how good churches have been weakened numerically and financially, and how all this has been done with no con- science as to the matter, but with a spirit Of rejoicing over the victory. But suppose this is all a part of the nlove- ment. The question to ba answered, however, is thiG: Why shousd lhere be a distinction between Roman Catholics and Protestants? Is it Q better thing for Protestants to be heaie6 ir body and mind2 Why s.s2Nld the written consent of the priest bo nlose necessary than that of a minister fa tae Protes- tant faith? Why should not yON Con gregationalists, EpisoopahapS, Metho dists, Baptists, etc, refuse % be dis crimtnated against in such q manner and only go over to the church that only has the truth on a written con sent of your pastors? Does Mrs. Eddy think the Roman Catholics so deluded that they cannot comprehend Christian Science and therefore this is a bluff method to get rid of their coming for healing? Or is it bluff method to fool A. few anti-Catholics with the impress ,sion that Christian Science is very en- .thusiastic over their views? Or is 1t actually true that, after all, there are ,greater fools in the Protestant fold than in that of our Catholic neighbors and the Scientists know 1t and have de- cided not 10 waste their time on any nersons than Protestant church mem- bers? Whatever may be the reason, the Christian Scientist church stands convicted of two glaring charges which if cannot refute: First, of a conscience less proselytisn, and, second, of an eg- regious inconsistency in making dis tinction between Roman Catholics and Protestants in connection with their op- erations. Whatever else may be said about it. there is no spirit of love or justice in it. The Protestant ministry are not ambitious for hiearchical privi- 1eges, but they are jealous for the rights of their churches and for the true Chris