The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-01-22
VIEWS OF OTHERS.

Il vAEW0 OF lHEkS. 8
aoeaesecescesaoe,s66
MAKES ANSWER
Christian Science Positive, Definite
Religion, Declares a Writer.
The following reply to the article on
Christian Science by Rev. Father
vaughan Of England published in last
weeks issue, is inserted in a spirit Of
fair play, without note or comment:
Editor Of the Irish Standards:
| I have read with interest in your is
sue of Jan. 18th the reprint of Fatha,,
Vaughan's paper on Christian Science,
and confess that it is with difficulty
that resist. the temptation to answer
his statements from the standpoint of
purely controversial argument and
logic, with arguments which l believe
| would convince any unprejudiced mind
that the position of Christian Science
| from a purely logical standpoint is
sounder and clearer than the position
advanced by Father Vaughan.
| However, as Christian Scientists, we
are not DESTROYS Of engaging in contro-
versies or mere debates Of Words That
| might be interesting as an intellectual
pastime. and perhaps entertain and
amuse, but for that purpose there are
many other avenues into which the
| world may run and be entertained
without resorting to the necessity of
degenerating religion to such level
F.! For nineteen hundred years, at least.
and for many centuries before the be-
| ginning of the Christian Era, we have
had discussions and controversies be-
yond number, seeking to elueidate the
diverse theories of the thousands Of
minds. each of whom presumed to have
! copyright upon his own particular
Interpretation or conception of true re-
! ligion, and yet, notwithstanding, to-
day the great majority Of the civilized
world are hanging on by the tenuous
LHA Cdu VI ~ A0ISiA, SAh6AA6 ~
/ religion which they do not UNDER
stand, hoping against hope for a SAL
walton in a future, which they do not
know, and in the meantime ekeing OUT
a poor existence, with a heart hun
ger for, and a wonderfully it is not
| given to them to be able to reap the
fulfillment of the Masters promise
"Come unto Me all We that labor and
| are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest."-Matthew, 1928.
Father Vaughan is candid enough to
admit the fact (Which of course he
cannot dispute) that Christian Science
is affording to people that, which for
some reason-whatever it may be-
they have not been able to find in any
| other direction in which they have
sought; that it is healing the sick and
that it is lifting to the contemplation
of things spiritual and religious. thosa
who have been sunk in the slough Of
despond of atheism and agnosticism.
He might go further, if he were will
ing, and find thousands who have ex-
hausted every other means to recover
found it in Christian Science, and IN
that search have not neglected the use
of suggestion, hypnotism and allied
agencies, which Father Vaughan says
are the foundation of cures in Christian
Science. The fact that Christian Sci
ence has cured, and does cure, a large
number Of cases where those last men,
toned agencies have proven ineffec-
| tual is a sufficient answer and ire
futable proof that his theory is wrong
as to the means by which Christian
Science cures.
| notwithstanding that it is apparen.
! from the tone Of his article that no
| considers his religion the only pure re-
| ligion, nevertheless, he is compelled to
admit not only that there are thou
lieion or a creed they believe better
| than his, but, above and beyond that,
he can find the proof of cases in large
numbers where Christian Science has
| brought to a. man or a woman the So
lace and comfort and the knowledge Of
God that heretofore had been sadly
anting in their Hves-all their prev
Gus creeds and religions to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
1t is not a. difficult matter 10 build
up an argument on any subject that
one may choose, and one deserves no
credit for being able to make plausi-
lie statement on religious subjects. be-
cause i, no rea:n Of human knowledge
is it so easy to indulge il, discussion
than on the subject of religion. That