Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-11-24
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS
REPLY TO DIR. VAN ALIENS AS
SERTION THAT THEIRS Is a
GIGANTIC BUNCo SCHEME"

The Christian science publications
committee issued a reply at New
York yesterday TO the address of Rev.
DR.. William Hartman Van Allen. of
Boston, on Thursday last at Bald
more. DR.. Van Allen attacked Chris
tian science as Gigantic bunco
scheme" The reply follows: THE
Rev. William II. Van Allen. of Bos-
ton, has reiterated his assertion that
Christian science is anti-Christian.
When he utters himself again on the
subject, we trust he will mention the
fact that Christian science is based
on the scriptural definition of God
as a spirit, and that he will show
wherein any portion OF the Christian
science textbook is out of harmony
with this definition.
THE gentleman asserts over and
over again that she (Mrs. Eddy)
places her writings on an equality
with the Bible To be accurate. he
should hay stated that the Christian
science text book, Science and
Health, with a Key to the Script
ures,' by Rev Mary C. Eddy. con
sists entirely OF scriptural quotations
and consistent deduction therefrom
1t is not a supplement to the Bible.
In other words, it is Bible common
tary, work the sole purpose Of
which is to emphasize the pure spir-
itual teacvnlngs or the Master, re-
deem biblical teachings from the mu-
tilation of skepticism, save it from
the destruction of infidelity and rem
der it more practical. Our critic de-
clares that christian science is a
bunco scheme wherein the victim
thinks he has the treasure but in
stead holds only the worthless i'm
itation.' This leads us to inquire
what he believes to be the treasure
of Christianity. Our Master said:
"A tree is known by it's fruits Ger
tainly Christian science brings forth
good fruits. Those who have ac-
cepted it, and are putting its teach
ings into practice are thereby made
cepted it, and are putting it's teach
ings into practice are thereby made
better and as a consequence of spir-
itual regeneration are improved bod
lily.
I'VE dare say that if by means of
Christian science a given individual
is improved spiritually, cannot be
intelligently affirmed that he has
been the loser in the sight OF God
even though his creed may be some
what effected by the experience, for
We are clearly taught in the script
ures that the blissful and desirable
state called heaven is to be attained
by working out ones salvation from
sin, by overcoming all that is unlike
God, and attaining to the full stature
OF Christian manhood. Which is Of
greater importance-on ones conduct or
ones creed? If ones department is
right he has superseded the necessity
of creed
"Our critic declares: Christian
science denies that things do exist at
all-denies that God made them
and says that they are pigments Of
mortal mind. This critic has been
repeatedly corrected in this misap-
prehension, and we are exceedingly
sorry that he has not learned his
lesson. Christian science does not
declare that anything is Pigment Of
mortal mind except that which is i'm
reality Pigment of mortal mind.
Chrictian science recognizes that an
creation is the manifestation OF God.
and that everything in creation. from
the least to the greatest is real 1t
denies real existence only to the
darkness which hides creation from
view and which offers itself as the
creation. It is the distorted, false
view Of God and creation which is
denied in Christian scicncc-not the
creation itself"