Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15

her students, has been instrumental in
healing many thousands of our fellow
beings of diseases pronounced incura' e
by our medical friends. This marvel
Gus healing work has been in progress
for upwards of forty years, and every
day, in this country and in other coun-
tries, thousands, in the aggregate, are
helped and healed. We submit that in
so far as this work is being done it is
In accord with the teachings and plain
directions of the Founder CO the Chris
tan religion. If this Is not Christian
work and Christian living, pray what is
In conclusion, let me remind your
readers that the question involved is
not merely one of the right of Christian
Scientists to practice their religion. An
even greater right is that of the needy
TO have the benefits of such practice.
In undertaking to restrict Christian
Scientists in their practice, or to pro-
hibit them, our legislators are saying,
in effect. to the people: You have no
right to employ such help as you
please. You have no right to ask your
neighbor to pray for your recovery to
health. You have no right to ask your
neighbor to commune with God in your
behalf. You have no right even to in
yoke the divine grace for yourself. You
must go to the medical man for resto-
ration of your health and a prolonging
oT saving OF your Ire.
That prayer has been efficacious In
healing sickness is shown by the Bible
and by authentic history. The apostles
and early Christians proved the verify
of Jesus teachings, and, as has been
shown. all who believe on Him and His
teachings are enjoined to- do the works
that He did, and greater. Why are
they not being done by all who profess
to follow Hib now? Let Christendom
solemnly answer this question. The
apostle James distinctly said, as there
any among you afflicted? let him pray.
!. And the prayer of faith shall
save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins
they shall be forgiven him. (James.
5:14, 15). Was James talking idly? Have
his words become obsolete? Has the
law of prayer been repealed?
Those who scoff at prayer are con-
temning the very groundwork of the
Christian religion. Those who deny
that God will or can heal the sick to-
day are denying that He is almighty.
No believer in God, in Christ, and in
the Bible, can consistently dispute the
power and efficacy of prayer. Is it not
time for the Christian world to awaken
to a deeper and more sacred sense of
the obligations and duties of the Chris
tian religion? Is it not time this 'lost
element" of Christianity was reinstat-
ed? If so, then surely all good citizens
should lend their aid to the accomplish
ment of this desirable end.
Christian Science Is sending over the
world a literature as pure as thought
and language can make 1t, and its sole
purpose is to arouse people to deeper
thinking along the lines of a redemp
tive and practical Christianity. We ask
all who would be informed of this re-
markable religious movement to read
49, I.
from idle rumor and biased and unin-
telligent criticism, should information
be gathered and judgment made.
We confidently submit that the heal
ing of sickness by spiritual means is
inseparable from Christianity and Is
imperatively demanded by full obedi-
ence to Christ's teachings and precepts.