The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-20
BY MRS. FAC. SMITH.

We take pleasure in quoting fully from
his article as being an unbiased express
sion of opinion from one of our highest
representatives of modern journalism.
After reviewing the alleged expose
which was made in the New York World
against Mrs. Eddy and the refutation of
these charges and statements of facts by
number of the most prominent citizens
OF Massachusetts and New Hampshire,
Mr.. Flower defines his own position IN
making this protest. He says;
I'm thus protesting against reckless,
false and brutal attack on an old lady,
a woman who is loved honored and re-
vered by hundreds of thousands of IN
telligent people and one whose life "A
her home city has won for her the love
and respect of the community, and IN
protesting against this and other attacks
made on the religious convictions OF d
large and intelligent body of our citizens,
I wish to clearly state my own position.
l am not writing a Christian Seleh-
list.
But / do know that it has achieved
and is achieving a great work in heallns
the sick of Affections of body mind and
soul; that it is giving hope and courage
to tens of thousands of sorrow darkened
lives; that it is transmitting hate into
love and bitterness into spiritual eXalta-
ton In the cases of thousands of lives.
And [ know furthermore that its teach
ing are exerting a positive influence on
the religious lives of its believers that is
not apparent in the lives of the church
members of other denominations where
the religious truths seem to be held in
perfunetory manner; and knowing these
things, I demand for it, as its right, tho
same fair, just and Intellectually hos
pitable treatment that I ask for my own
religious views or that ] demand for
those of other faiths.
so l do not pretend to hold any brief
whatsoever for Christian Science, nor to
speak authoritatively for the followers of
that faith, but only as an outsider who
loves justice and fair play, who regards
with Indignation and disgust the morally
criminal and brutal attacks that have
been proved to be false and mendacious
in character and that have not regarded
the sanctity of age, sex or religious be-
lief.
LAS one who for many years has fought
against all attempts to retard free anu
honest investigation or the struggle for
the enjoyment of a broader and fuller
life; as one who has fought all the at
tempted aggressons of class interests,
monopoly rights and special privilege
whenever they have striven to fetter
thought, to check the worlds advance.
Mr.. Flower then writes of some facts
which should be taken into consideration
and says
This new religious belief already claims
a large body of highly intelligent COM
municants. 1t has $50 churches and PSI
societies. 1t has a large number of mag
nificent church edifces, all built since
1896. The value of their church property
in the United States is estimated at be-
tween eight and ten million dollars. Many
of these churches are among the nobleat
specimens of religious architecture that
we have in the land as will be seen by
the illustrations accompanying this paper
The great temple in Boston is one of the
most imposing religious structures in the
new world, with a seating capacity of
SOP. This church was built at cost OF
TWO million dollars, every dollar of which
was paid in before the church was dedl-
Gated Indeed, it is popularity of the
churches of this denomination that they
are not allowed to be dedicated so long
as there is any debt.
1.-The day has passed when those who
would be fair and just can afford to take
up the shallow cry of the sensational
press in sneering at this religious belief
as a combination of conscious or uncon-
scous fraud and superstition that might
attract the ignorant and credlous but
could hold no charm or helpful redemp-
tive power for thoughtful people. 1t is
Christian science congregations in vari-
Gus churches, that they are at least quite
equal to other American religious con-
gregations in intelligence, culture and re-
finement. That they are sincere and filled
with that moral enthusiasm that is d
potent motor power in all great religious
or ethical movements in their early days
is clearly apparent to all who impartially
investigate this latest religious fellow
ship. Moreover, the church numbers
among its leading opponents many names
of men and women of ripe culture and
fine scholarship. Thus, for example, we
find the present First Reader of the
First Christian Science church of Boston
to be the eminent historian and essay
list, William D. McCrackan, A. NJ, the
author of The Rise of the Swiss Re-
public" a work recognized as the ablest
history of Switzerland printed in the
English language. Mr.. McCrackan, after
graduating from Trinity college, Hart
ford, spent several years in Europe con-
tinuing his education and broadening his
culture. He is the author of a number
of popular and scholarly works besides
mis- great history.
Among other well known names we
mention the following: Mr.. C. B. File
brown, one of the leaders of the Single
Tax movement of this country; Prof. j.
r. Moseley, Phi. D., one of the valued
cOntllDulOTS TO the Arena, PrOf. herman
S. Herring, who formey occupied an Inn
portant chair in Johns Hopkins univer-
slty; Mr.. Hayne Davis, the well known
writer; the Rev. William P. McKehzie
formerly of the faculty of Rochester
university; Judges and ex-Judges John
D. Works of California, William G..
Ewing of Illinois, Clarence A. Buskirk o.
Indiana, L. H. Jones of Kentucky, Cliff
ford P. Smith, of Iowa and Septinus J.
Hanna.
I'm England Christian Science has made
a great number of converts among people
prominent in educational and social cir
Giles. Among these are Lord and Vicom-
tess Dunmore, Lady Alice Archer Hou-
blon Lady Frances Ashbourne, Mrs Ag-
natha Butler, wife of the master of Trim
ity college; Lady Louise King, the
Marchloness of Bath; Hon. Lady Brom-
ley; Hon. Eleanor North, the poetess:
Hon. Mrs. Cecil Howard, Admiral Dun
don, Maj Hon. w. E. Rowley. Fleet
Surgeon Rogers, Lieut.. Col. w. E. Fell,
Capt. Douglas Byanes; DR.. Frank l..
Riley, DR.. Walter Wilding and Lady Vic
toria Murray, daughter of Lord and
Vicomtess Dunmore
''The case OF Lady Victoria Murray Is
so interesting that it calls for more than
passing mention. She according to her
testimony and that Of her father and the
victomtess, was raised UP from an ad
vanced stage of tuberculosis, after hope
of her life had been given up, by Chris
tan Science. When entirely healed she
settled among the workingn1en of Man
chester, determined to consecrate her life
to the healing of the sick and the spirit
ual awakening of the poor in that great
N n 4 1~fFa aff a.ta.