Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-26
REV. HUGH A. COOPER
DEFENDS HIS
VIEWS
Replies to Letter of Christian
Scientist CriticiSing His Re-
cent Notable Sermon DeIiv-
livered in Albuquerque.
Editor Morning journal.

Editor Morning Journal.
Dear Sir:-I believe the discussion
of Christian Science to be important.
and therefore would be very glad IL
you will give space to this letter i'm re-
spouse to that of Mr.. Mattox of Boston
in criticism of my recent sermon
Mr.. Mattox begins by saying: II
will not answer the sermon In detail"
This | regret as in this instance it is
the details upon which some of us
would like light from headquarters.
The article was perhaps a good Chris
tian Science sermon, but like most
Christian Science literature it was not
very plain. / am told that am ig-
norant of Christian Science literature
and will admit il. | rave tried to read
it but must admit that | find 1t con-
siderable of a tumble. Perhaps the
fault is in my mind. Mr.. Mattox says:
There is only one mind In the uni
verse I thought | had a mind of my
own. but may be mistaken. Now here
are some of the things that bother my
mind cir | have one): Mr.. Mattox
says: "Sin is a sad fact" m i'm the
next paragraph he says, 'Since God
does not know sin this phenomenon
tsln), cannot be found in His uni
verse" In Science and Health. page
1872, Mrs. Eddy SAYS. Man is never
sick for mine is not sick" but almost
in the same breath she says, ut is well
to be calm in sickness" She says
there is no such thing as consumption, |
but on page 422 she gives Instructions
Tor its cure. She says, page 1872. that
sin. sickness and death are without
origin or existence, yet on page Ia she
tells how disease is caused. Thus /
could go on giving page after page of
such contradictions, n ask you Is ii
any wonder that | am not Versed i'm
Christian Science? | would like to know
who is?
But here is Mr.. Mattox' most un-
kindest cut of all. He says that it IL
unbecoming for any one claiming to
be a disciple OF the Master to rebukc
any for not raising the dead in the
face of Jesus promise that greater
WORK" should others do thar those
which he was doing. Let me say the
greater works" Of which Christ spoke
(John 14:12) were not in connection
with any of His miracles of healing.
While there may be difference of opin-
ion as to what he meant most eNDosi-
tors believe that he was referring to
the spiritual work of His, Kingdom.
We know his followers through all
the ages have had better success, SO
far as the conversion Of souls is ON
cerned than He had. Whether this
criticism was unbecoming IN my part
depends on how / regard the truth.
Jesus Christ has given me no promise
that | can raise the dead, and | don't
think 1t unbecoming to say so. 1t
would be unbecoming for me to claim
that an. 1t would be unbecoming
If | were to coniure with the sick and
make them believe that / car heal
them when / can't. Especially If
were to accept a fee. (See Mrs. Eddy
On the Better Chances of Recovery to ;
Those Who Pay, p 5000. {
Mr.. Mattox says, Christ said, we
must love God supremelY and our !
.neighbOrs as ourselves" Yes, and He y
gave us a definite example of what he +
meant by love to our neighbor in His
parable Of the Good Samaritan. Let !
me suggest the Samaritan did not min j
lister by means merely of IAN atten- /
uatiOn of truth He bent his back 1
and poured medicine upon the wound. a
According TO Mr.. Mattox' idea ofneigh- :
Dor. prayer would be the only remedy.
j believe in prayer for the sick, but
like faith, prayer without works Is :
;
Mr.. Mattox says they do not deny ;
the atOnement only as il related to vi :
carious suffering. In this all unbeliev- o
ers will agree with him. What is there 4
left of the Bible doctrine of atone G
ment when you take the vicarious ele- II
ment out2 The Bible is full OF hundreds n
Of texts such as the following. what /,
they mean? on Him was laid the n
inquiry of US all" ''Who loved US and
gave himselffor US" He was wound n
ID for our transgressions. He was
for our inquities:" zoe COM
mendeth his love to us in that while
were yet weak Christ died for us
Why have Christian Scientists climi-
mated the hymns of grace and of
blood from their hymnals ~ .
hey do not repudiate the atOnement" -
The fact Is that they have no use for cl
he grand old hymns which have in u
'pired the church and convicted sin
lers through the centuries such as In ID
he Cross of Christ | Glory" n Just
is I am Without one Plea" H.
Referring to the incident of Heze-
supuration, Mr.. MattpX
.harges me with having more faith in y.
lgs than in prayer and declares that )"
christian Science discards such 'obvi- ..
,us Inconsistencies" and relies upon r
atone. Let me say in reply that
is the incident referred TO was taken -
rom the word of God the charge Of
inconsistency IS upon it and not upon "
I nave no disposition to wound the ID
OF Christian Scientists, many
n whom are sincere. hut all the more ii
his leads me TO dcspise "A system
which I believe to be false and which on
chosen the liver Of heaven
With which 10 deceive men n 4,
urn them from the faith as revealed "
n the word OF God. r,
Yours truly. 7"
HUGH 4. COOPER.