The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-22


philosopher. some years ago gave to the
world his views Of Christian Science. He
has followed the development Of this
movement since then with deep interest,
and, judging from his recently published
volume, christian Science seems to en-
counter difficulty in understanding Mrs.
Eddy's book. Science and Health, with
key 10 the Scriptures" He expresses his
opinion on the subject-matter and literary
style of Mrs Eddy's book in unsparing
manner.
Replying TO Mark Twains criticism OF
the science. Edward A. kimba3, in the
Cosmopolitan. gives his analysis OF the
famous humorists attitude. Mr. Klmbal
SAYS:
BY way of justification, in part, OF
the Christian Science propaganda, the
reader of this article Is asked 10 con-
slider for moment the startling state
ment OF fact Afforded us hy lneulcdt
authority, to the effect that OF the 90
ooo 900 people VINO die every year, one
half die prenlatureiy- Before they died
many OF them We're taught that sick
ness is ordained of God as concomltant
of His divine purpose. Many others We're
taught that disease Is natural ana m
eVitable and is procured through the
enforcement of natural laws All Of them
were taught that sickness per Sc cannot
DE eXterminated, and that humanity
must reconcile itself TO an ifresistib!e
doom.
Mrs. Eddy's Position.
1t may be presumed that before dying
nearly an these people tried TO set well,
and that in this effort they had recourse
10 some form Of material means the
chief instance OF which is the drugging
system. Finally, it may be concluded
that at least 3, G00000 people die annually
because OF the insufticlency of material
means TO cope with disease.
Nearly forty years ago MIS- Eddy pro-
claimed 10 the world certain poStuldJes
of religiO-scientlfc nature and declared
that the verify thereof can be demon
Etrated with scientific accuracy. IL IS not
my purpose herein TO attempt complete
presentation OF the message that she mas
given through Christian Science, but there
are certain statements which have an Inn
mediate bearing on the subject of disease
and kindred forms of human Wretched-
ness which are entitled 10 the respectful
attention of mankind.
She insisted that God. the sole Creator
of all that has actual, legitimate exist
cnce has not created OF procured disease
and does not make use of It or co-operats
with il for any purpose.
sickness Unnecessary and Unlawful.
She declared that sickness is an abnor-
nifty. wholly illegitimate, unlawful, and
unnecessary; that il is not a natural, in
dispensable. or irresistible incident of
mans normal existence; and finally that
sickness, being at most but a disorder Of
human procurement can be and viii he
exterminated- In this particular she was
absolutely IN accord with the prophecy of
Benjamin Franklin in 17SS, to the effect
that the science OF healing would DE dis
covered and practiced, and when prac-
Jiced would. by sure means, either pre-
vent or cure ali manner or diseases
through the power Of Mind.
She declared that the demonstrations Of
Jesus, instead OF being works of mystery.
were IN attestation of the divinely scien-
tiftc verify that the nature power. and
law OF God are adequately available &c
SICK man and are spontaneously re-
sponsiVe 90 his need.
To scientists. philosophers and meta
physicians she declared that the chief
mischiefmaker Of the world and the pri-
mary cause or essence OF disease IS what
Paul designated the "carnal mind. rep
resented by the sum or aggregation OF
human fear, ignorance, superstition, sin,
and erroneous and perverted beliefs and
Illusions.
The supreme Potentially.
She declared that the one supreme DO
tentality OF the universe is the divine
Mind or Spirit. which correctly has been
termed Omniscieuce. and furthermore
that this Sind which was also in Christ
is equal 20, and IS all that VIII ever effect
the redemption Of mortals from sin and
sickness.
II these things be true. then it follows
that the verify thereof sanctions the an
limited hope and favorable expectation
of every one whose earthly soiourn Is
beset by disaster. A million people who
have tested the truth Of this science iu-
sistently bear witness that by its means
they have been delivered from every form
OF disease sin, vice. fear, and misery.
It almost seemed as though every one
H.
Science or was willing to wound the lead
or had already put his hand 10 such en-
deaVOr, when To-, there appeared a new
and unexpected participant TO reinforce /
the efforts of those who are intent upon
detraction and rum
Calls TyYafn's Course UnEracfous,
A man whose wit has been the object
of a nations admiration; a man who
actually Won his way to the generous az /
lection OF his countrymeu by reason Of
his genial and unmaliciOus humOr and
good cheer-this man, whose mission Ia
life was 10 tinge with gentle glow the rug !
ged peaks of human existence and, per
chance, even TO dry the tears of some
who were being stung by the bitterness
of mans inhumanity 10 man" comes
with deliberate Cffensiveness TO denomi- |
nate Mrs. Eddy a liar and a fraud
In entering the lists with those who are /
thus inclined, Mark Twain seeks iustifi- I
plea that he is using AIRS. Eddy's own 1
utteranCes WnereWith to support his con-
tention. ThereUpon he avaiis himself of 1
The bad habit. usually stunned by fair +
minded men. of separating text from con-
text; OF diSiHtegrating the utterances OF /
ms subject. of using certain Isolated sec
tons instead of presenting the Wilderness /
of the authors statement. and finally 1
of importing into the text his own con
ceptiOn thereof and of the authors pur-
pose. In order that his concept may be I
projected upon the thought of his readers !
and control their Judgment.
AIR of Venerable StaEeuass.
Mark Twain's entrance upon this scene
of industry was rather belated, and in 4
consequence he found that the possibiIi- I
ties OF attack had been somewhat ex- /
hausted. Much that he says was said
Ions years ago by the pioneers in this /
crusade There is an air of venerable /
staleness about the time-fixed platitudes
and the sinuous innaendos There Is no /
novelty in his statements that Christian
Scientists do not think; that they have
no discriminating faculty which enables !
them 10 be other than the dupes OF folly
or 0upilclt@, that they have no mental I
integrity whereby TO rise above the plane
OF rank paFtisRuship, that Christian
Science literature is sold AT a profit, that /
It's followers are IN uniply pursuit of I
money All these and many other of his
statements have been found in the stock
in-trade Of the system for years. They
are hoery with age and worn with much 1
use, and, moreover. they are insufferably
cheap. Men strive in vain who hone by /
such pueTile means 10 Tepress an earnest
respectable people and 10 thrust back into
the tomb the thousands who have lust
escaped its desperate embrace This
critic. nevertheless. with the incidental
enterprise OF the raw recruit has pre-
scented one novelty which has been adj
vertised extensively as his proof that Mrs
Eddy is not the author Of her textbook.
'ScIence and Iealth. with Kew "a lie