The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-22
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Gs Relation to Original Christianity
Gives Freer Life.

people have differed about almost
everything involved in the destiny of
mankind, but there is one point on
which thoughtful men are quite gen
orally agreed. This agreement is up
On the possibility, for each and every
person, Of a larger and freer life.
Those who call themselves Christians,
although they differ widely with re-
spect to the meaning of what he said
and did. unite in believing that Jesus
of Nazareth actually knew and taught
how to gain this true and abundant
life. Among those who believe on
Jesus there is also a growing recog-
milton of the fact that Christianity
has not yet accomplished what he
predicted for it," writes q contributor
in the Christian Science Sentinel.
ITO any thoughtful and observant
ACduCi VI laC AOuI 6OSpOlo, IL oAou1O
be quite evident that the Christian
religion has not yet wrought the
changes in human life which its Found
er declared would follow its accept
ance or practice. There is still a
wide difference between the fruits
which he said it would bring forth and
the results that are to be observed
in the lives of its adherents. He de-
clared, in effect, that the truth which
he taught would give Joy and peace
freedom and life that is not subject
to death. 1t must be admitted, how
ever, that these qualities Of being are
exhibited by protested Christians only
in measure; some Of them are usual
ly sought through other means, while
some Of them are not expected pres
emily at all.
Although immediate and lasting
benefits resulted to the world from
the ministry of Christ Jesus, the alb
solute truth which he taught was soon
adulterated in human belief, SO that
the religion which took his name
failed to bear the very fruits by which
he said his system should be known.
His religion differed from all others
by reason Of it's practical theology;
and by it's fruits it was to be known
or identified. The distinctive feature
of the religion founded by Christ
Jesus was its saving quality; and this
was present salvation from all evil,
from sin, disease, and death. In
fine his Christianity was as broad as
human needs, and the truth of it was
proved by demonstration
I'm the course Of time, however, the
understanding Of true Christianity
became diluted, and demonstration
failed accordingly, until a consistency
between theory and practice was OBJ
tanned by modifying the scope of
Christian salvation. A distinction was
made between moral disorder and
physical and the healing of the lat
ter was left outside the Christian
The Master, as St. Peter
said, went about doing good and
healing all that were oppressed of
the devil but the distinction to
which reference has just been made,
left half of this work to a profession
which does not pretend to have
remedy for evil, and does not deal
with disease on that basis. Conse-
quently, even the nature of evil ceased
to be comprehended; and for fifteen
centuries before the discovery of
Christian Science, Christendom sui
fered disease, death, and certain 9th
er f,rms Of evil as though there were
no divine remedy for them, while
faith looked hence for a better life
which might be gained, it Is hoped
by death, r-.e. ,= 49,.
This was the scene on which
Christian Science entered Some per
sons are not disposed to consider this
Science seriously, because it was moi
by either physical scien
fist or doctor Of divinity. Blu: St
John, for instance, was not graduated
from theological school, and there
is no reason why the vision of spirit
ual reality should come to those
scientists whose researches are con
fined to the elements, properties. and
phenomena q matter. 1t is more rea.
sonable to expect that understanding
will come to those who are gaining
the Mind of Christ.
For these reasons there is nothing
abnormal in the fact that the world
has gained a great accession of spirit
ual understanding through Mrs. Eddy.
She was brought up in the atmosphere
Of piety and devoutness that per-
vaded a New England home Of cen
fury ago. From childhood she was
profound student Of the Scriptures.
She was compassionate. helpful, spir
itual; she was Christian in the true
sense OF that name. She had grown
in the love for God and neighbor IN
tn her desire and aspiration were to
heal and to save. She had turned
away from matter to Spirit with an
unusual degree Of understanding. In
these circumstances, the normal op-
Grafton Of divine law enabled her to,
discern the true nature Of God and
His universe, including man, and to
penetrate the mystery Of evil The
discovery of Christian Science de-
clared the one divine Principle Of the
universe, separated the error from