The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-10-04

OF the multitude of men and women
who are indebtedsto Christian Science,
the great majority were driven to it
under the lash of disease or bodily de-
ficiency. Fer many it was their last
resort, all else having proven empty,
fruiIless, disappointing. Others there
are WHO, witnessing in their own fam
lilies and among their own friends the
pitiful failure of drugs, and the pitt
less trail of the knife preferred to
trust their restoration 10 God rather
than to the mindless drug or the cruel
steel. The sanitarium, the operating
table, aye, the very Craze itself have
been robbed of their destined sub
jects in such numbers as to force even
from unfriendly lips the reluctant ad-
mission that "Christian Science does
heal the sick.''
The basis of Christian Science heal
ing is the infinitude and omnipotence
of Mind, Spirit, God.
If personal evidence of the efficacy
OF Christian Science in healing every
class Of disease should be desired, let
me call your attention to this fact.
Since 1883 there have been published
in each issue of the Christian Science
official periodicals detailed personal
accounts of the healing of all manner
of diseases through Mind alone. In
this long list may be found cases of
every form of functional and organic
disorder that materia medica claims
20 have diagnosed. Many of these peo-
pie at one time held Christian Science
in disdain and tried it only after the
healing systems of their choice had ut
terly failed to give them permanent
relief. Their names and addresses
can be had for the asking, as each
particular case has been examined for
authenticity and accuracy before pub
lication. They are from reputable cit
liens, your neighbors and mine, and
such an array of credible testimony is
not to be swept aside by professional
sheer.
The Two Books.
Christian Science has but one text
hook, Science and Health With Key
TO the Scriptures" by Mary Baker
Eddy. 1t is not book to be quickly
absorbed or hastily thumbed over as
one would shallow novel. Nor is it
to be approached with bias or preju-
dice ii one would appropriate it's rich
es; but its truths may be proved and
in turn impaired by the child or sage
who turn its leaves with an open
mind. Only the open flower it is that
catches the dew and yields it's honey
to the bee.
Saint and sinner meet on common
ground in the pages of this remark
able book and though it starts all alike
at the bottom of the ladder it always
lifts up and never drags down. Time
and again its covers have been rudely
torn open by unfriendly hands in
search Of phrases to wrench from their
context and with which to smite their
men of straw, yet neither force nor
deceit, the laundering of the bear or
the cunning of the fox can avail to
divert or suppress its tidings of COM
fort and JOY,
It has been asserted that Christian
Scientists place their textbook above
the Bible as the guide to righteous
ness. No one can honestly make this
allegation who has read the book care
fully, for on page 497 of Science and
Health are printed these words, the
first of a series of tenets of our re-
ligion:
"As adherents of truth we take the
inspired word of the Bible as our suffi-
cient guide to eternal life
What more emphatic and explicit
negation of such a charge could be
demanded?
The truths of Christian Science dc
not originate in the book Science and
Health. They find expression there
but their origin is in God. They have
always existed and will forever exist
What effect, then, it may be asked,
does the study of this book have upon
those who have previously been Bible
students? Does it supplant the Bible
in their reverence and admiration? Is
the Book of books less precious to
them than before? The answer is,
NO" On the other hand Science and
Health harrnonizes many seeming in
congruities in the Bible which have
long perpleXed laymen and theologian;
it explains apparent contradictions
it discloses unexpected riches; it |
gives new significance to favorite pass
ages, and brings neglected ones into
favor.
The study and application of its
by those who have had little