Putnam patriot., 1909-12-17
Christian science Teachings


 The Mother Church of the Chris
 tian Scientists at Boston have excom-
 municated Mrs. Stetson, who had the
 charge Of the church of that ofganiza- tion in New York. She was getting salary Of 5000, which sine loses. She is now contrite and very humble, and expresses her unfaltering loyalty to Mother Eddy. 1t is but just to give the reasons for Mrs. Stetson's excom- munication as the Mother Church de- sire them understood. It was not be- cause she misused the power of Chris tisn Science teaching, hut that she had given up that teaching and indulged in something quiet the opposite, still calling 1t Christian Science. Just as in the case of Christian who back slides, and teaches and indulges in
 acts that are deemed by his church
 As sinful: he has to be excommuni- cated, because he Is no longer regard
 ed as Christian and worthy of it's fel- lowship. To understand how the de- cision of communication was reach ed in Mrs. Stetson's case, one must know something about the principles of Christian Science teaching. With out that knowledge, IL Is proper to ac- cept the statement given. We do this
 by request, as the members of the Christian Science church are jealous of the good name of their church and It's
 teachings, which is to their credit.
 Since preparing the above We have
 received the following communication from one of the church officials, which will enable the reader to better under
 stand the subject discussed.
 DEAR MR. EpiroR:-We note with
 pleasure the kindly attitude ot the
 "Patiiot" toward Christian Science
 and also the appreciation of the worth
 of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy. the Leader
 of the movement, us expressed by the
 beautiful tribute given her in your is-
 sue of Nov. a6th. The assurance of
 such friendly spirit is indeed refresh- ing.
 In regard to a few statements in the same issue which may lead to misap-
 prehension we feel required 10 ask your kind permission to say few words. The principle of Christian Science cannot be employed for other than good. The principle of Christian Science is God and the practice of Christian Science requires one to uu- ,ixe thls power of God by applying il to the needs of man. God is not the source of evil but of good only. If then an individual induiges in the practice of evil he Is not only not in ac- cord with God but he Is not using the
 principle of Christian Science, God.
 good.
 Therefore the instant one becomes possessed with an evil motive that in- stant does that one cease to practice Christian Science and though he might be open 10 censue, Christian Science could in no way he held responsible. IL Is through the understanding of Christian Science that the Christian Scientist learns to combat evil and mol cooperate with il and on every page of s.Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy, it's author, teaches this.
 In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" page ioa. We read: "Mankind must learn that evil Is noI power. It's so-called despoiism is
 bul phase of nothingness. Christian
 Science despoils the kingdom of evil.
 and pre-elninently promotes affection and virtue in families and therefore in the community On page los; "fhe dsstruclion of the claims of mortal