The San Francisco call., 1908-12-06
THE REAL Is SPIRITUAL
AND ETERNAL

THE REAL Is SPIRITUAL
AND ETERNAL
1t has been said that the Christian
Scientist is inconsistent because he at
tempts to cure disease after affirm
ing that there is none. and that Chris
tian Scientists differ from those who
are interested in the Emmanuel Move
ment in that they do not believe in the
reality of disease In reply it may be
said that the fundamental teaching of
Christian Science is responsible for its
conclusion concerning the nature of
disease and sin and that this distinc-
ton is OF vital Importance. Upon it
hinges the whole question Of the diff
ference between the teaching and prac-
tice of Christian Science and the teach
ing and practice of those schools which
do not rely exclusively upon the divine
mind. Christian Science attaches the
word reality only to that which is
spiritual and eternal, not to the tenn
poral and material. 1t recognizes that
sin and disease exist in erring mortal
experience, that experience which Sol
omon denominated error of life,' and
that therefore they must be grappled
with and overcome. but the success of
the overcoming will depend upon the
means employed If sin and disease are
indeed error, not true and not real
they can not be overcome bv physical
means. sinte Truth alone is the anti
dote for error. Here is a point that
critics seem to overlook that the
Christian Scientists practice is in per-
feet accord with his theory, that his
exclusive reliance upon God in time of
sickness is due to his firm conviction
that God is the only Power, that He is
the author OF all that exists and that al
sin is no part of the divine economy
1t is simply error, which can be de-
stroyed by truth alone.
Speaking of the Emmanuel Move
ment, Rev. Frank l. Goodspeed OF
Springfield, Mass, has said that at
is not like Christian Science. You do
not have to insult your intellectual
faculties and bIackguard them into
believing what isn't so. as in Christian
Science. We venture the assertion
that every Bible student win readily
indorse the basic statement of Chris
tian Science, namely. God is Spirit.
and he win agree that Spirit is not
matter. but Mind To do this he is
obliged to deny the testimony of ma
terial sense il he does not INSULT and
"blackguard" ii, for material sense
declares 81 do not believe there is anv
spirit for I do not see any spirit."
Now, If it is possible for one TO re-
jeet the testimony OF his material
senses sufficiently to believe that God
is Spirit, there is no reason why he
can not consistently accept the entire
teaching of Christian Science. since
every proposition of Christian Science
is consistently deduced from this as
a premise. Jesus was not afraid of
insulting his human sense of things
He declared that "The flesh Tmatterl
profiteth nothing" ut is the spirit
that quickeneth" [giveth life and ex-
istencel. The Masters denial of
sense testimony was as sweeping as
that of Mrs Eddy Indeed Mrs. Eddy
finds warrant for her denial in our
Lords teachings.
Rev Artemus J. Haynes, Hartford.
Conn, in sermon delivered in that
city said: Il wish to pay a tribute
that 1 feel is deserved. Christian
Science took up a great truth that
had fallen into disuse since the days
of the apostolic church. Christian
Science so emphasized that truth
overemphasized it, if You insist-as
to compel the church, compel the med
icaI fraternity, compel the world TO
listen Let us be fair We should
never have heard of this Emmanuel
clinic had II not been for the Chris
tian Science church,