The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-01-28
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MOST POTENT
FACTOR IN RELIGIOUS LIFE,
SAYS CLARA BARTON.
Viola Rogers in New York American.

While not an acknowledged Christian
Scientist, Miss Clara Barton today talk
ed with me regarding this wonderful
cult in a manner which left no doubt
that the great woman patriot is greatly
interested in the subject. and in Mrs.
Eddy. it's founder. She said she looked
upon Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, as the
one person. regardless Of sex, living
today, who has done the greatest good
for her fellow creatures. and that
Christian Science itself is the most re-
factor in religious life. Her admiration
for Mrs. Eddy is beyond limitation.
and she is intimately acquainted with
the life history of the founder of the
Christian Science church, for she out-
lined her story from the beginning and
commented ON the magnificent single
handed struggle and sacrifice made by
Mrs. Eddy in her effort TO give Chris
tian Science to the world.
while I have not studied deeply
enough the great religion founded by
Mrs Eddy to consider myself a Chris
tian Scientist said Miss Barton, II
can say that I look upon Christian
Science. as ! understand it, as the
most ideally beautiful yet tho mos
practical and comforting of beliefs. It
is doing more in the world today, and
will continue to as mere people be
come cognizant of the beauty OF its
teachings. than any other one influence
for good Mrs. Eddy hould have the
respect admiration and love of the
whole nation. for she is its greatest
woman. Her teachings spread love and
good will among men. and Christian
Scientist cannot De a Christian Scien.
tist unless he has eliminated greed
and selfishneSs from his nature.
Asked if she had read Science and
Health, Miss Barton said that she had,
and was much comforted by its teach.
ings. Love" she said. "permeates all
the teachings cf this great woman
so great. | believe. that at this per.
spective we can scarcely realize HOY
grcat-and looking into her life his
tory we see nothing but self-sacrifice
and selfishness. Never has Mrs. Eddy
tried to bring her personality before
the public She has. on the other
hand isolated herself from the world
and her only motive in doing so,
firmly believe, has been in order TO
let her teachings, instead of herself
reach the people. She has never eX'
plotted herself, but so profoundly has
she been interested in bringing a great
Joyous. healing and comforting religion
to people, that she made directly
for that object, regardless of what
criticism came to her in so doing. How
beautiful she has managed her own
unfortunate trials. Without malice, al
ways with kindness and charity that
is almost beyond human comprehen-
sion, has this woman fought antagon-
ism, and that only with love. And !!
say no one familiar with her life and
her teachings can help but see the
marvellous consistency and beauty Of
what she has given to- the world in
Christian Science. The Christian
Scientists I have met all impress me
with that same spirit of unselfishness
that is characteristic of Mrs. Eddy
They are an intelligent, thinking peo-
pie, and they impress me that their
belief comes after careful and scientific
investigation and conviction, rather
than from hysterical evangelism.