The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-06-09
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Es Relation to Original Christianity
oive~ Fresr LIE.

everything involved In the destiny o
mankind. but there 10 one point OF
which thoughtful men are quite gen
orally agreed. This agreement IL up
on the possibility. for each and ever.
person. Of q larger and freer life
Those who call themselves Christians
although they differ widely with re
spect to the meaning OF what he sale
and did. unite In believing that Jesus
Of Nazareth actually knew and taugh
how to gain this true and abundant
life. Among those who believe or
Jesus there is also q growing recos
milton OF the fact that Christianity
has not yet accomplished what he
predicted for It," writes a contributor
in the Christian Science Sentinel.
ITO any thoughtful and observani
reader OF the four gospels. 1t should
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 q
wide difference between tho 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
and power over evil. with health and
freedom and life that 10 not subject
to teath. II must be admitted. how
ever, that these qualities OF being are
exhibited by professed Christians only
In q measure; some OF them are usual
ly sought through other means. while
some OF them arc not expected pres
emily at all.
although immediate and lasting
dement's resulted to the world from
the ministry OF Christ Jesus, the alb
solute truth which he taught was soor
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 II was to be known
or identified. The distinctive feature
Of the religion founded by Christ
Jesus was It's saving quality; and this
was . present salvation from all evil
from sin, disease, and death. In
fne, his Christianity was as broad az
human needs. and the truth OF 1t was
proved by demonstration.
TN the course Of time. however. the
understanding OF true Christianity
became diluted. and demonstration
failed accordingly, until 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
ministry. The Master. as st. Peter
said, went about doing good. and
healing all that were oppressed OF
tho 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 q
remedy for evil. and does not deal
with disease on that basis. Conse'
quently, even tho nature Of evil ceased
to be comprehended: and for fifteen
centuries before the discovery OF
Christian Science, Christendom suf
fered disease. death. and certain 9th.
or forms of evil as though there we're
no divine remedy for them. while
faith looked hence for a better life
which might be gained. II Is hoped
by death.
This was the scene on which
Christian Science entered. Some per
sons are not disposed to consider this
Science seriously. because II was no,
by either q physical scien
tist or q doctor Of divinity. But st
John, for instance, was not graduated
from q theological school. and there
Is no reason why the vision Of spirit
ual reality should come to those
scientists whose researches are con
dned to the elements, properties. and
Of matter. II Is more rea
sonabls to expect that understanding
will como 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
uai understanding through Mrs. Dddy
she was brought up In the atmosphere
Of pisty and devoutness that per
vsded q New England home Of >csn
tury ago. From childhood she was
profound student Of the Scriptures
She was compassionate. helpful. spir
ituai; she was O Christian In the true
sense Of that name. She had grown
IN the love for God and neighbor un
I'll her desire and aspiration were &c
heal and 70 save. She had turned
away from matter to Spirit with ar
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 te
penetrate the mystery OF evil. The
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