The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-06


few in far-off lands. will approximate
the understanding of Christian Science
sufficiently to heal the sick in His
name" pulpit and Press, page 81
Within the past two years movements
relying more or less upon mental
methods Of treating the sick have been
instituted. On this subject the March
number Of Current Literature" de-
clares: The significance of this new
propaganda can hardly be appreciated
apart from its relation to Christian
Science. 1t is the product of the time
spirit that has given birth to Christian
Science; and it has grown up side by
side with the latter faith. II is
distinctly an effort TO appropriate, in
the interests of historic Christianity.
whatever is good il the doctrines pro-
mulgated by Mrs. Eddy" Concerning
the Emmanuel Movement in Boston 1t
is said: 1T rests on the theory that re-
igion is the greatest therapeutic agent
known to man
1t IS just announced that DIR. Jas. j.,
| Putnam of Harvard Medical School
has given notice that the Emmanuel
Movement is a mistake" DIR. Nc
! Comb and DR.. Worcester have ex-
pressed their interest" in DR.. Put
| MANS statement" but have not pub
| Icly stated whether they will discon-
| tinue. Since a number of promine mt
neurologists have concluded 10 disap-
prove the movement, We assume that
our brethren of the movement will
ha d.
from their next edition else prefix ths
word sometimes.
| DR. Robert Mcdonald of Brooklyn.
\. Y. declares: There is a demand
on the pulpit that 1t not only seek to
save souls. but that il also seek to
cure the ills of the body. This de-
mand has been ignored by the church,
and disappointed church people have
turned away to help build up cult
that claims millions of adherents and
has its foundation laid on the fact that
certain cures may be worked through
| faith
Thus we note that one avowed pur-
pose of the Emmanuel Movement,
with which many if not all other
movements relating to the healing
of the sick psychologically" seem to
agree, is that the older churches shall
supply a growing demand for mental
| healing, and yet, so far as We know,
nearly all Of those prominent in this
movement deplore the fact that many
members of the older churches have
been attracted to Christian Science
because of it's healings!"
If, as it is claimed, Christian Sci.
is employed by other movements deal
ing with mental treatment, there is nc
excuse for attacking it. Neither is
there any reason why other move
ments should not hold their own by
honest competition and without feel
| ing called upon to speak disparaging
| ly of those who are seeking the same
end by differen mt means. In the spirit
of competition they point with pride
| to the fact that they welcome the
assistance and cooperation of the
medical fraternity" declaring Chris
| tian Scientists are uncompromisingly
| hostile to medicine in all it's aspects
This is scarcely fair statement. for
while the Christian Scientist, in the
practice of absolute Christian Science
relies exclusively upon the divine
power. he recognizes that the physi
clan has his particular field of oper
alton and that in the present stage oil
development he is an important factor
in human affairs. His work, in sc
for &c 40 &c ,,1lx
acknowledged by Christian Scientists
nevertheless in his treatment of the
sick the Christian Scientist undaunt
eddy declares that material and spirit
ual remedies do not operate together
that the one acts against the other
and that therefore it is not only in
consistent but impractical to admins
ter to a patient spiritually and at the
same time employ material means
To take advantage of these conditions
and seize the opportunity to generate
an unpleasant feeling between Chris
tian Scientists and physicians is GER
tainly questionable procedure. The
Christian Scientist should be com
mended, not criticised, for his consis
tency with the Scriptural Ammunition
to trust God only. There is surely
less justification in the act of holding
out the inducement to the public that
one may have new and unusual bene
fits without sacrificing any old be
liefs or methods. 1t is reasonable TIC
expect and seek new and better ways
and means il We would have new and
better results. The situation justifies
| an endorsement of our Saviour's
warning that no man can successfully
put new wine" in "old bottles mol
make an old garment as good as new
by using patches of new cloth. We
might add that in the matter of poss
essing new means of healing sin and
sickness it costs no more to have ar
entirely new and spiritual method
than to seek to improve the old way
by a few spiritual patches. Besides
| those who have had experience frs
with the material and then with the
spiritual have proved the spiritual tc
be better. In the effort to minimize
the importance of an undivided faith
in God, critics should proceed with ex
treme caution, especially when they
undertake to justify their position by
affirming that the newest method ii
in 81 ~ NTH