Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-07-25


God and absolute reliance upon Him
at all times will save men from every
human viclssitude.
Christian Science does not deny the
|at0nement, nor the need OF atonement
for sin, nor does It teach that sin as
human experience is q mere fig
ment. Christian Science recognizes
that in mans earthly experience sin
is a sad fact which needs to be ade-
qnately handled. It values the atone
ment, not as a vicarious means Of res
cue from sinful tendencies but be-
cause Jesus illustrated mans unity
with God and the possibilities of a
spiritual understanding of this atone
ment. Christian Scientists believe
that sin will be abolished in the In
dividual when he no longer loves II or
fears IT, But If he holds 1t to be a
reality, from the standpoint of a per-
feet Creator, he will inevitably either
love it or fear It. The basis Of Chris
ton Science teaching with regard to
sin is found in the text. God Is Of
purer eyes than to behold iniquity."
If Deity. who is the sole Creator, does
not know, cognize or participate In
sin, then this phenomenon cannot be
found In His universe. This Is the
teaching Of the Scriptures and is em-
phaslzed by Christian Science.
may be pardoned If ! suggest that
rebuke to Christian Scientists for
not raising the dead does not come
with good grace from any avowed
disciple of our Master, who left the
universal promise that all who believe
on Him should do the works that He
did.
It is true that the exponents of
Christian Science do not always heal
instantaneously, and that their prac-
tice is far short Of the perfect stand-
ard Of our Lord. but should they be
reproached for their failures when
they are endeavoring earnestly and
honestly to initiate the Master and
obey His commands?
DR.. Cooper would have difficulty In
substantiating his expressed belief
that every one who had been healed
in Christian Science could have been
helped without it. If that is true,
why were they not helped? The ma
jority of those who come to Christian
Science do so reluctantly, without
faith in II and after they have ex-
hausted every possible means Of relief
known to the curative sciences.
have been healed by Christian Science
are those whose ailment has belonged
to the nervous system" Taking up
at random a copy Of the Christian
Science Journal of June for this year,
/ find that the TESTIMONIALS of cures
include the healing of the tobacco
habit, liver and heart disease, pull
monary trouble, acute kidney trouble,
-. n
blindness and ptomaine poisoning. I
do not know whether these ailments
belong to the nervous system, but
some of them at least are considered
serious by the medical profession.
Rev. MIR. Cooper justifies his criti-
cism Of the spiritual healing embodied
in Christian Science by referring to
the case of Hezekiah, who treated a
boil by applying to 1t lump Of figs
which. according to Mr.. Cooper, was
the method in those days of hasten
ing the swelling" II is significant,
however, that Hezekiah also turned
his face to the wall and prayed for
health" That indicates that he did
not have as much confidence in the
figs as a remedy as DR.. Cooper seems
to have. If he really believed that
the figs we're going to heal him, why
did he pray? If he believed that God
had implanted in the figs certain
healing qualities. and that 1t was
Gods will that figs should be employ
ed for the treatment Of boils, why re-
sort to spiritual or mental meansY II
figs were good for boils in the days or
Hezekiah. why are they not prescribe
ed todayg Have figs lost their cura-
tive properties, or has the character
Of boils changed? Christian Science
discards such obvious inconsistencies
and relies solely upon the prayer OF
faith and understanding.
DR.. Cooper says that Christian
Science condemns vaccination
would like to have him cite his au-
thority for this statement.
Mrs. Eddy does not speak OF vacci-
nation in her text book, Science and
Health" but several years ago, when
the question was much mooted, she
made a statement through the press
advising Christian Scienticts to obey
the law and submit to vaccination
whenever II was required, and to trus.
God to deliver them from any evll
| consequences. Nevertheless, Chris
tian Scientists do not believe that vac
cination Is absolutely necessary either
to their own protection or for the
safety Of the community, inasmuch as
they have proved that they have a
better means OF protection from con-
taglan. Yours sincerely,
WILLARD S. MATTOX.