The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-09-01
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HEALING |

[From The Christian Science Monitor.1
The only way to learn how Christian
Science heals the sick and reforms the
sinner is to possess that understanding
which will enable one to grasp the spir-
itual meaning of the Masters life and
teachings, and see how these are meta
physically explained by Mrs. Eddy in
the Christian Science textbook, "Sci-
ence and Health, with Key to the
Scriptures" To those not so enlighten-
ed, the first approach to Christian Sci
ence is sometimes attended with doubt
and fear. Question after question arises,
and gives occasion for much concern.
How is it possible to cure a disease
without a material remedy of some
kind? Have not men always used ma
terial remedies, and is it possible that
the world can be wrong after thou
sands of years of systems which have
resort to matter?
He who is thus perplexed is not so
much concerned about moral regenera-
tion, for apart from the consideration
that he primarily wants to be physi-
cally healed, he is willing to admit that
if Christian Science is a religion based
upon the Bible, then there is no reason
why it should not be quite as successful
in saving men from their sins as any
other church that expOunds the Gospel
Of Jesus. But with regard to healing
disease, he is inclined TO ask: Is it
credible that the world has been all
these centuries cropping in the dark, be-
lieving that it was light; stumbling 'at
monday as in the night" to quote one
of the prophets; misled and misleading,
while all the time the truth lay before
it in the example of the Wayshower of
humanity?
The reply is that it is creditable and
is provable. He who comes to know
what Christian Science is, and the
mighty work it is doing for humanity,
sees that instead of lightly setting
aside or misinterpreting the healing
works Of Jesus and his immediate fol-
lowers, Christian Science perpetuates
those works and is therefore doing
what Christianity comedies is impera-
tive-that is, being obedient to Christ's
commands. Now, of course, if one is
going to protest that the phenomena
of physical healing recorded in the
New Testament were intended only for
a limited time, and formed prelude,
and a prelude only, to the higher pur-
pose of preparing men for heaven, one
has either very little regard for what
the Master said, or misunderstands his
plaineSt utteraEceS. Much of what he
said being in figurative or metaphysic-
al language, is not always easily grasp
ed; but is there anything abstruse or
beyond the simplest mind to apprehend
In his promise that if you believe in
him you may become capable of doing
the works that he did? Christian Sci
ence accepts this promise fully, and
in putting it into practice is helping to
redeem men from physical and mental
ills. 1t thus sustains what should be
evident to all who study the life Of
Christ Jesus-that no utterance of his
can be construed into a direct or indi-
rect declaration that as time went on
the power to heal by spiritual law
that is to say, by relying wholly upon
God-should cease.
Now to heal by spiritual law is to
learn that the basis upon which ma
terra medica works, and which scholas-
tic theologians accept-that is, the be-
lief in the reality Of matter-is merely
the basic belief of the carnal or mortal
mind. To admit the reality of matter
is to accept as legitimate all discordant
conditions. That is one of the earliest
facts that came to Mrs. Eddy in her
search for the law of healing. Work
ing logically from the standpoint Of
God as infinite good, you can reach no
other conclusion. 1t takes some time,
of course, for the inquirer to learn the
metaphysical distinction drawn by
Christian Science between the real and
the unreal But his task will be SIM
plifed if he remembers that all that is
real is the creation of God, as the one
Mind, the one Spirit. The real, there
fore, can only include that which is
perfect, pure, holy and good. That
which is unreal consists of those flesh
ly lusts which ultimate in sin, sickness
and death.
How, it may be asked, does this JUS
tify Christian Science setting itself up
to oppose what has been the method of
the religious and medical world for
centuries? Christian Science does not
oppose; it declares the truth, and it
knows that the application of the truth
will destroy all the error there is in
mortal belief Christian Science is
metaphysical, not physical, in nature
and in operation. 1t aff1rms that the
greatest metaphysician that the world
knows was Christ Jesus; and it wants
the world to follow him, not in part,
but in everything. 1t refuses to be-
lieve that God healed the sick nineteen
centuries ago and will not heal today
But this must be understood Alright
If one is making a reality Of sickness
one must learn that it is unreal, and
this can be done only as we learn the
truth and call upon truth to heal. The