The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-07

Christian Science entered. Some per-
sons are not disposed to consider
i this Science seriously because It was
\ not discovered by either a physical
1 scientist or a doctor Of divinity. But
ST. John, for instance, was not gradu-
ated from a theological school, and
! there is no reason why the vision OF
spiritual reality should come to those
scientists whose researches are con-
fined to the elements. properties, and
phenomena OF matter. 1t is more
reasonable to expect that understand
! ing will come to those who are gain
| ing the Mind Of Christ
For these reasons there is nothing
abnormal in the fact that the world
has gained great accession of actual
knowledge through Mary Baker Eddy.
Mrs. Eddy was brought up in the at
mosphsre of piety and devoutness
that peryaded New England home OF
nearly century ago. From childhood
she was profound student of the
Scriptures. She was compassionate.
helpful, spiritual; she was a Christian
| in the true sense Of that name. She
had become accustomed to ponder the
larger problems of human affairs. She
had grown in the love for God and
neighbor until her desire and aspira-
ton were to heal and to save. She
| had turned away from matter to Spirit
| with an unusual degree of understand
! ing. In these circumstances, the nor
NAL opera ton of divine law enabled
Mrs. Eddy to discern the true nature
! of God and His universe, including
man, and to penetrate the mystery OF
evil. The discovery of Christian
Science declared the one divine Prin-
ciple of the universe, separated the
error from the truth in human thought,
and furnished the scientific method by
which the belief In evil can be over
come and abolished.
The attitude OF existing churches
toward her message made 1t necessary
| for Mrs. Eddy to found a new church:
but the Church of Christ, Scientist,
has gained members only as those
who have come to Christian Science
have gained better life. Surely there
| Is no cause for offense in this. 1t Is
the object Of all churches. and none
of them need feel loss when man
finds In Christian Science what he
could not, Or even did not, find else
where.
Never Sought Following.
Mrs. Eddy never sought personal
following. Throughout her work as
the leader OF great religious move
ment she consistently turned the at
tention of Christian Scientists away
from herself to the message from God
to men which was spoken through her.
Her aim and hope, as she often said,
were to quicken and increase the
beneficial effects of Christianity
tScience and Health, page 367. Mis-
cellaneous Writings, page 2o7). The
spiritual vitality Of her message is
proved by what it has already accom-
plished; but this is only foretaste Of
the benefits that will accure to human
lity as this Science is more widely
understood and practised.
For ages humanity has accepted evil
as fearful reality, never doubling
/ that the wretched havoc following as
/ the consequence of this belief was In
some manner ordained by an actua
power. Intelligent truth-seekers have
sometimes perceived more or less
clearly that the government of the uni
verse could not possibly be divided
between two opposite and antagonistit
powers; and sometimes they have in
quired how evil can exist in spite Of
divine and infinite Love; but no ex
PLANTATION consistent with the omnipol
ence and goodness of God has evel
been furnished by scholastic theology
/ So Christendom has taken its choice
between evil as an independent ano
actual power and a concept of Goo
which includes evil as His agent Ir
either view the resistance to evil has
been vitiated by the admission of its
4 reality; for no effort which comedies
the truth Of evil can ever overcome
4 it; it can be abolished only with The
understanding which dispels it al
illusion or error. Therefore although
4 Christ Jesus plainly taught the uttel
omnipotence and the absolute good
ness OF God and the consequent un
reality and nothingness OF evil ths
adulteration or dilution of his instruc
ton has postponed for centuries The
iruition of his work.
Christ and the Devil,
Jesus often spoke of healing a,
casting out devils; and once he said
"If I with the finger of God cast ou
devils. no doubt the kingdom OF Go,
lis come upon you (Luke 11:14-22)
Also when he sent forth the sevent,
disciples, he told them when the,
4 were received in any city to heal thu
sick that are therein, and say unit,
them. The kingdom of God is com,
nigh l1rlto yOiIJ IT l1ka 1o.11ol Tb