Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-02

No more serious question can claim
the attention of Christian Scientists
than that which is here proposed.
In spite of. the healing work. the nc
generating effects, and the growth of
the churches, the fact remains that
much Is being openly promulgated in
the name of Christian Science which Is
grievous error, and which Is harmful
3 to the health, morals. happiness. and
progress of mankind.
One error of very stupendous magni-
tude, and Of rather general currency, is
the teaching that marriage Is funda-
mentally wrong. that the reproduction
of the human race should cease. and
that sincere Christian mon and women
who love each other should not marry
and rear children.
# Wherever this un-Christian heresy
has been taught and believed it has
produced nothing but discord, msun-
derstanding. suffering, barren lives,
sself-righteous dispositions, a spirit Of
self-suftlclency and aloofness. pes
ssimistic view OF human life. condemns
ton of mothers and children, fear of
Child hearing, strained relations be-
tween lovers and married partners, and
in many instances 1t has developed
cases of perverted sexual instinct.
Similar waves of anti-marriage phil
oSophy in past centuries have been re-
corded In some of the blacklist pages
of history-perhaps natures effort to
restore the normal continuation of the
race.
The Buddhistic origin of religious
celibacy and the theories Of the sex
less soul, pre-existence. the non-sanc-4
tity of the body, asceticism, pessimism.
abstraction, and the hermit life, may be
readily known by any casual student of
religious history.
No christianity logical apology can
ha off fhi. iinn rP PI1iIbiStir
thought. and any effort to bolster 1t up
by proof texts, tortuous reasonings, and
strained Interpretations of obscure pas
sages, must be classed as the seductive
spirit OF the anti Christ. which was to
come, tforbidding to marry" and oth-
ierWiset poisoning the mind against
a normal view of life.
No matter what may be considered
the ultimate relation Of the two sexes
on the spiritual planes of life. the fact
remains that our present duty is to
bring about a better state of human
society here and now, and no other
factor can compare with the Influences
OF a Christian home in uplifting the
present conditions OF mankind What
ever strengthens and renders more sa-
cred the tie between husband and wife,
or causes motherhood and child-cuturc
to be more sacredly considered, must
receive the blessing and support of all
right minded people.
The present deplora bic condition of
many members of the Christian Sci
ence denomination on the question Of
marriage and progeny is not due to any
teaching of Christ. On the spiritual
origin of sex, and the sanctity of mar
rage Jesus said:
Have ye not read that He which
made them at the beginning. made
them male and female, and said, for
this cause shall a man leave father and
mother. and shall cleaya to his wife.
and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more tawin. but
one flesh. What therefore God hath
Joined together, let not man put asun-
der Matt. 49, to 81
The simplest, plainest. most obvious,
most natural, and most common sense
Interpretation OF this utterance suggests
the un-Christian nature of any abnor-
nal and fanatical teaching about mar
riag,e and home life.
II the plain truth must be told, 1t
appears that this present lamentable
condition has grown out of the popular
Interpretation of certain passages in
Mrs. Eddy's writings, which. II they
We're Intended to mean what they are
generally understood to mean. must be
considered contrary to the teachings Of
Christ. and also contrary to that other
portion Of Mrs. Eddy's teachings which
indicate that the best ideal for present
life is the practical. and that Union of
masculine and feminine qualities con-
stitutes completeness. The masculine
mind reaches higher tone through
certain elements of the feminine, while
the feminine mind gains courage and
strength through masculine qualities.
These different elements conjoin nat
urailY with each other. and their true
harmony Is in spiritual oEenesS." g..
e H.. page 80