The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-12
DAILY
BOOK REVIEW
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

The critics of Christian Science have
two chief claims which with varying
phraseoiogy are constantly advanced
when the subject is up for discussion. In
the first place they insist that Christian
Science is neither Christian nor scien-
tifc: and secondly, they assert that
Il cannot cure organic disease In the
volume entitled christian Science" Mr.
b. O. Flower, who is careful TO state
that he is not a Christian Scientist, con-
siders these criticisms. The volume is
divided into two distinct books; the first
deals with Christian Science as a Re
iiglon." the second with Christian
Science as a Therapeutic Agent"
The first book contains nothing par
ticularly striking. nothing particularly
new. Most OF US are agreed. nowadays.
that there is at least some relation be-
tween the teachings Of Christian Science
as doctrine and the teachings Of Christ
as revealed through the Scriptures. And
that the doctrines Of Christian Science
appeal with vital force 10 the needs Of
people to-day is amply attested by the
enormous growth IN rs membership and
IN the vast number of churches Ii has
built and maintained within the past few
years. II has in a vital way impressed
again the social ideals that were so
boldly proclaimed by Jesus, while its
philosophical concepts not only reflect the
metaphysical ideaiism of the Gospels and
Of 81. Paul, but also strikingly accord
with much OF the thought OF Plato and
the greatest Of the German transeenden-
talists: and its appeal. unlike those of
the Greek and the German philosophers,
has been made in language THAI the peo-
pie can understand.
But Il Is IN Christian Science as a
therapeutic agent that the layman will
be most interested; the more so that this
side OF Christian Science practice and
theory has been so virulently at
attacked at times. not only by the press.
but even in the courts. Mr.. Flower. how
ever. is frightened not at all by what has
been. He has gone carefully. and without
prejudice, over the evidence, much Of
which he presents in this volume. and
which--unless we deliberately reject II as
untrue, and, considering the character of
the author. that is unthinkable-"must
give US pause" Where physicians set
their faces against the facts adduced by
Christian Scientists their usual plea Is
that the claims Of healing are due 70
mistakes or intellectual mistiness." And
yet the Christian Scientists have the
records OF no less than 1i,244 cures
wrought in New York State alone. among
which were cases of cancer. tuberculosis
OF the lungs, Bright's disease. &c. In
this book is adduced the evidence OF DR..
Wilding. a member OF the Royal College
OF Surgeons OF England, OF the British
Medical Association, and other prominent
medical organizations. He testifies tina:
his father was cured OF an internal
trouble by Christian Science. and that
his daughter was cured Of tuberculosis
Of the lungs and In both hip-joints. We
have not space to cite the evidence here
but Il is given TO any one who cares &c
FAD this book Of the numerous cures
reported. Besides the case OF DR.. Wild
ings daughter. cures are reported. and
apparently authenticated, OF traumatiC
disease Of the knee joint; organic disease
OF the valves of the heart; paralysis OF
twenty years standing; broken bone re-
stored to normal condition without aid OF
surgical treatment, and cancer of the
stomach.
The reviewer OF this book confesses
himself not competent 20 pass upon the
subject matter OF this volume: we can
not speak for or against the probability OF
SeiI-oecepliOD OF me precautions against
fraud. We can only say that gathered In
this book is some remarkable testimony
which all who are interested in the sub
iect should read for themselves, and ve
can quote Mr. Flowers summing up,
where he SAYS: IF human testimony is
worth anything, these cases, representa-
tive as they are Of a vast army OF men
and women who have been in the same
manner restored 10 health. prove that
Christian Science Is to-day doing a work
for the restoration Of the sick which med
ical science and other means Of relief
have signally failed to accomplish .
(Boston; The Twentieth Century Pub
fishing Company