The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-01-18
Vol. XIX.

against Christian Science as well as
those who are strongly prejudiced in
/ its favor and impatient of criticism
There are some things about the
cannot fail to gain our admiration.
There can be no question that it has
become a vital mora! agent in a So
ciety which was becoming more and
more sordid and grossly material
istic 1t is spiritual idealism
which has leavened the thought of
ly changed the lives of the great
majority of these. Never since the
apolistic days has a religious move
ment spread so quickly.
Seventeen years ago there WAS
not Christian Science church build
ing to be found anywhere. Now
there are more than twelve hundred
churches, some of them cathedral in
proportions. and the value of these
buildings in this country alnoe, is es-
timated at more tnan ten million
/ dollars. Its sway has been princi-
pally over men and women who
were formerly connected with var
ious branches of the Protestant
church. and even now its converts
ore almost invariably among church
members. I have no doubt that the
great mac ritv of these converts are
IT first influenced from the physical
and material side, even though Mrs.
Eddy's fundamental position = Co.
NAL Of the physical and n arial. |
have known a great many who have
been attracted to Christian Science
and the larger number of these were
influenced first of al by the stories
of healing. But as they follow the
teaching or the new cult they find
new attraction in the emphasis lail
upon certain truths which orthodox
Christianity has until quite recently
almost entirely neglected. There
can be no question that the church
has suffered immense loss because
of this neglect. And while great
change has come of recent years, ard
the neglected truths are being voiced
from multitudes of pulpits in the old
er denominations. it has been TOO
late to stop the exodus of thousands
of our most intelligent hearers.
The fundamental teachings of
Christian Science is by no means
new. 1t was familiar to the Greeks
even before the day. e Plato and
Socrates. Il was revived by Spinola
two hundred and fifty years ago.
swedenborg based much of his -eacl F.
Ing upon this conception OF ira ID.
and mystics belonging TO all 'E@
churches have taught these trin
though they We're not always unaet-
stood. In mere metaphysical spocu-
arion there is a great deal that is
proftless. but the practical truths cf
Christian Science are those on which
RI. Paul lays emphasis. IN the
pr sence Of an enthrcnel material
istic philosophy like that of Locke
ana HeruerJ Spencer. II asserts the
claim of idealism which is another
name Tor faith. 1t destroys the
dominance of matter by restoring
the kingship of mind. 1t EN-
phasizes the need OF cheertuness
and has given thousands of morbid
~ sensitive people a new and bright
er outlook. It has forced men from
the old mental ruts and has helped
them to think. And above all II
has helped to restore our faith IN
the indwelling Christ who is the
source and secret of all power. we
know better now that we are the
temples of the Holy Ghost and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in us. he
general result, as far as the Christian
Scientists themselves are concerned
has been a tremendous Quickening In
the spiritual life and a new interest
in the spiritual side of life as against
the material side.
have yet to mention the main
obligation of the Christian church to
the new movements of thought with
which Christian Science is associa-
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