Evening journal., 1914-03-17
DEFENDS The
SCIENCE FAITH
Mr.. John Says Church Has
Not Departed From Teach
ineS Of Christ

lditor OF THE EVENING JOURNAL
he following letter in reply to tn
Rev. Dr. George Edward Reeds sun
Jay sermon. in Grace Church, o
Christian Science. synopsis O
which appeared in these columns yes
erday:
Dear Sir: 1t would have been
difficult for Dr. Reed to have Sc
iected a more appropriate text
than the 18th verse of the 18th
Psalm. as an introduction to his
discussion on the subject OF
Christian Science yesterday
morning.
The Scriptures inform us that
God is a Spirit" (Revised Yer
sions: God is Spirit0, therefore
the text. "As for me. | shall be-
hold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied. when | awake.
with thy likeness would logical
~ emphasize the verify Of the
teaching of Christian Science:
that map shall be satisfied" when
he awakes in Gods lilEeness-that
is. the likeness of Splrit--and
finds himself 10 be spiritual
The reported extracts OF Dr.
Reeds sermon, as found in your
issue Of this evening, states that
the doctor gave q brief history
OF the development OF Christian
Science, and briefly reviewed its
principles as laid down in the
textbook Science and Health.
With Key 10 the Scriptures" As
this was not given in your report,
we are not at all sure what Dr.
Reed considers the hassic teach
ing Of Christian Science. But.
we certainly take exception to
the deductions which he has
drawn. as given in this evenings
paper.
The good doctor says that the
philosophy. the theology, and
the theory of mind-healing in
Christian Science has been ad-
vanced ages ago. In the brief
wording of the statement we
quite agree with him. The
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even the practice of Christian
Science were fully eXpounded
and emphasized by Christ Jesus
centuries ago, and we make the
broad and unqualified statement
that the teaching Of Christian
Science today does not depart
one iota from the teaching of
Christ Jesus Christian Scien-
fists are very well satisfied that
the philosophy and religion OF
Jesus Christ we're epitOmized
in the Sermon on the Mount "
and the teaching Of Christian
Science and its application coin
cides with the spiritual teaching
therein enunciated.
That the theory and practice
of spiritual healing was advanc-
ed centuries ago, may be verified
by the recorded statements of
Christ Jesus 20 His followers
aud TO His practice and theirs in
accord with them; and the Chris
tan Scientists today are endeav-
oring, up to their highest light
and understanding to obey these
commands and TO follow the cX-
amplcs of tho Master.
II, from the printed report the
good doctor insinuatcs that by
Mrs Eddy's advice Christian
Scientists are 20 shift the re-
sponsimility in contagious dis
eases; and that in cases not
quickly healed, a regular physi-
clan be called. we must conclude.
either, that he does not under
stand the advice and the practice
of Christian Scientists; OF. that
he is presenting an unjust inter
probation thereof Il Is true that
Mrs Eddy has advised. and that
Christian Scientists are adhering
TO, the submission TO vaccination
and the reporting OF contagious
diseases when required by law.
Not that they wish to shift the
responsibility. hut that they sin
cerely respect the rights of their
fellow-citizens in regard to those
requirements And, II is TO be
further stated. that in obeying
these requirements, the Chris
tian Scientist by no means turns
his cases over to materia medica
for healing, for, as a general rule.
the Christian Scientist is allowed
10 continue his work. with the
proper isolation of his patent as
required by quarantine laws, un-
ill the work is finished.
Mrs. Eddy does not advise that
a regular physician be called in
cases which have not yielded
quickly 10 the treatment of Chris
tian Science. She does advise.
however, that the patient shall
always, and at all times, be free
70 exercise his choice as to what
method of treatment he shall re-
ceiye; and likewise left entirely
free to decide when one form OF
treatment shall be given up in
preference to another
From the report it would be in
ferred that Dr. Reed attempted
to disprove the teaching of Chris
tian Science because It's adher-
ents have not fully demonstrated
in all cases the results which
might be expected from its teach
ing. This Inference, it would
seem TO the writer, is wholly H.
logical aud a very poor way to
bolster an argument. II would
be just as logical 10 state that
preaching the gospel and conduct
ing revivals are failures because
all who are converted do not dem
onstrate the fullness of Chris
tian faith. or. to say that the
teaching of mathematics could
not be proven because a large
percentage who profess TO be
mathematicians do not prove all
that could be expected NJ them.
Is Il not strange that 5000 per-
sons should have the desire to
crowd the Metropolitan Opera
House in Philadelphia a week ago
(and 1000 more outside attempt
ed TO gain entrance) TO hear
simple lecture on Christian Sci
ence. if its philosophy were
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