The Washington herald., 1912-04-29
ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
At THE NEW NATIONAL THEATER

which Tor the times was oisunctly COM
prehensive,. both religious and secular.
This education was supplemented by
lessons from her brother, graduate
Of Dartmouth College and a promis-
ing young lawyer. who studied in the
Office of Franklin Pierce, afterward
President of the United States.
1t was in 1866 that her discovery of
Christian Science took place as the re-
suit of her sudden recovery from an
accident. For twenty years before that
she had been studying the question Of
mental causation for all physical effects,
but it was this sudden recovery which
acted as sign, showing her the way to
the ''true healing as spiritual-as both
Christian and scientific She searched
the Scriptures, taking the Bible as her
only textbook, and finally. in 1875;
published the Christian Science text
book. Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures" She founded. one by
one, all the various means by which
Christian Science has been brought be-
fore the public, displaying in this be-
nefcent work a wisdom and loving
kindness which stamp her not only as
great discoverer, but also as large
hearted and broad-minded' woman.
Under her wise care, periodicals
were established which illustrate the
teaching of Christian Science in human
affairs: The Christian Science Journal,
appearing monthly; also, Der Herold
der Christian Science, published month
ly in German; the Christian Science
Sentinel, appearing weekly, and The
Christian Science Monitor, a daily
newspaper, which lays special emphasis
upon the good in human endeavor and
achievement, upon that which is whole
some and helpful These periodicals
go to all portions of the globe. en-
phasizing the teachings of Christian
Science and carrying with them the
glad tidings of spiritual healing and
regeneration.
SPIRITUAL HEALING.
A further question now presents it.
self for our consideration. What are
the means adopted in Christian Sci
ence for the conquest of sin, sickness,
and death? What is the Christian Sci
ence treatment?
Let it be understood at once that it
is not possible to reform the sinner or
heal the sick in Christian Science by
what is termed mental suggestion. The
practitioner who tries to influence, ca
jole, or force his subject to believe any,
thing which he himself does not be-
lieve, is deceiving both himself and his
subject, and is using some kind of will
power, whether it be styled mental sug-
gestion. mesmerism, animal magnetism,
or hypnotism. The practitioner who
suggests to his subject some state Of
mind which the practitioner imagines
to be desirable, but docs not believe
to be true, is not practicing Christian
Science. The practice of Christian Sci
ence admits of no questionable or
equivocal situations. 1t means the re-
Election of Truth TO the sufferer, the
recognition and realization OF the only
true God, and of mans true nature as
made in the image and likeness of God.
Nothing short of the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, will
satisfy the demands of Christian Sci
ence. Not truth TO which the physical
senses need subscribe, but the truth
which must be spiritually discerned,
which is established now, as it always
has been and always will be. Against
this truth nothing can prevail.
The answer to the question, What is
the Christian Science treatment? is a
very simple one; so simple that those
who are looking for some strange new
invention, for some sort of mysterious,
mystic, or occult influence of one hu-
man mind over another, for some en-
hibition OF human will power, will be
disappointed. The modus operandi of
Christian Science in reforming the sin
ner and healing the sick may be de-
scribed in one word, and that word an
old-fashioned one which is familiar to
mankind the world over. Christian
Science conquers sin, sickness, and
death by prayer. By prayer scientif-
cally understood and applied, mankind
can possess itself of all Gods blessings
of health, happiness, and an increas-
ing measure of sinlessness, but only
when mankind complies with Gods
laws.
This prayer must not be addressed to
false god or a man-made god, must
not be colored by the assumption that
God is like a human being; that He
is dispenser of evil as well as good,
given to sudden reversals and to re-
pentance, melting out rewards and pun
ishments like a human sovereign.
Prayer which attempts to change God
from His purpose, to give Him infor-
nation about His own creation, to in
duce Him to do what He has not al