The Washington herald., 1915-04-26


III course here today
A was of unusual in
Ses ri terest His tex
IS Xl was, Come now
@&l let us reason to-
Il #l gether, saith the
@l Lord; though you'll
~ sS&l sins he as scarlet
~ they shall he as
~ white as snow
isaiah l:lsD Ht
>Sss&zzssEA -AS2@ saidSn part:
RASI0R RUSSELD( What man be
lieVes or dis
believes Is his own business, ana not
subject TO criticism. But When
number Of people associate themselves
publish their doctrines TO the world and
invite members. their doctrines are
properly subject to public criticism
These should be honestly treated. how
ever. not misrepresented and all honest
people should welcome such truthtu'
criticism. We assume that Christian
Scientists. therefore, will fully apprecl-
ate " hat We now have to say We trust
that We always have this attitude to-
ward criticism of our public teachings.
The growth of Christian Science has
astonished the world Its teachings ap-
real to a very intelligent. well-to-do class
of people, of Considera BILE mental indie
pendence. The physical healing Of either
themselves or their friends seems to have
been more or less associated with their
conversion to their cult. Their realIza-
rlon of the cure brought them the con-
- al
CT outside of man. and aroused a reliS-
ious sentiment such as they had never
known before. 1t seems to them that
they have started A new life
The reason for this is that nominal
Christianity is merely a form of Godli-
ness. without power or conviction This
form of goodness has spread until the
hole is styled Christendom-ChrIst's
Kingdom. In countries like Great Brit
ain. Germany, Russia and Scandinavia.
approximately ninety-fiVe n per cent. of
the population are rated a s Christians.
even though some of these are i'll prison,
some in insane asylums. and some too
Young to think In Italy. every body is
rated A ChriStian-although amongst
some OF the Italians who come to our
shores flourish works of the Devil. such
as the Black Hand, the Malta, etc.
Additionally, some sincere Christian
people have, during the last nifty years,
been in great perpeXitY because Of the
stu0endous nonsense interminSled with
Truth which was handed down from the
Dark Ages. Under the increasing light
thinking people could not swallow som"
Of the monstrous statements of the
creeds as readily did their forefathers
gradually the great churches which
formerly prosecuted all others as
heretics, forbiddins any to prea"h EXCEPT
hv their ordinations. found themselves
compelled to deSiSt from making their
tenets too prominent. Thus many PEG
pie have concluded that tn" only differ
Is in church forms, ceremonies. ordina-
lions etc.
The doctrine that God had foreordain-
cd 993 out of every 100 TO an eternity of
too horrible TO believe. The alterne-
tlve doctrine. that God did not foreor-
dain the matter thus, hut had not the
y iSdom or rover TO avoid such CataS-
.trnphe for His creatures. was equally
repugnant Consequently. preachers he
gan to Tell that the destiny Of tho world
was not literal fire. but CnaWng of con
science etC.-eaCh manufacturing a He'll
in accordance With his own wisdom or
ignorance and to suit his congregation.
Under such conditions christian Sci
en"e was horn. and has grown to its
present proportions. Thre" things csrc-
'iallN 1aNoifG u IT, It's acceptance OF
the Bible, u, it's rejection Of everlast-
ing torment. mental or physical: 80 its
teaching respecting Divine healing. Mrs.
Eddy. the Acknowledged head OF thris-
tan Science. had keen mind and con
siderable wisdom in its exercise. She
would hold to the Rible. even though
Uerve-ting its teachings. She would not
make her teachings too anita Eonistic to
with vague. ambiguous statements re the
future life. She laid PRINCIPAL stress on
healing. and settled all dortrinal diff
culties with the dCtUm that there Is no
evil. no sin, no death: that what have
hrAn so-called arc merely errors of the
mind.
The very aLsarditv Of these statements
advertised rhom. People said. What
docs ii mean-Ther" is no death no
sirkn"sS. no pam. no sorrow. no evil of
any kind" Absurd Later they said We
will see how Christian Scientists explain
death. sickness. pain. sin. Thus curl
osity lcd them into the metaphysical
labyrinth which Mrs. Eddy had skilfully
knowIedGe Of the Bible, they fell an easy
prey to Mother Eddys'' errors. If some
Of her definitions were fanciful. far
fetched and unscriptural. they were no
which 3eople had been accustomed from
childhood.
{. =. Readers and Practitioners.
Christian Scientists feel what might
he termed spiritual pride in connection
with their healing practices and with
the public reading of the Scriptures and
Mrs. Fddys cOmments-as much spir-
itual pride as is sometimes felt in other
churches by preachers, elders. deacons. /
Nestrymen, deaconesseE, etc. Once ele-
waited to positions as readers. practition-
ers or healing practitioners. il becomes
their duty Loyalty to support the system
they represent. And SO. just as earnestly |
as with other seCts. the establishment
and defense of Christian Science goes
coura geously onward.
Still another class is intereSted-those
in control of Christian Science litera-
ture 1t sells at good stiff prices: and
questioning the merchandising
OF the truth is given to understand that
he is unappreciatiVe: and with the ma
jority the price regulates the value.
Is Christian Science Logical.
Having We believe, fairly stated the
facts and claims of Christian Scientists. |
we will now endeavor to show why We
consider their teachings Illogical Moth |
or Eddy" striving after truth, declar- |
ed that there is no pain. no sickness no |
sorrow. etc. The truth she was feeling |
after. but did not fully grasp. is that \
Sin. sickness. sorrow. death. are abnor- |
mai conditions resulting from the curse
that came upon our race at the begin |
ming because OF disloyalty TO God We i
gree with Mrs. Eddy TO the extent OF
saving that these unsatisfactory condi- ,
ions are not designed by God TO be ever
II. dnee mot reSngnife them az