Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-22

versy, namely, the question of evil. The
teaching Of Christian Science concerning
copied theories because this Science denies
the reality of that which claims existence
apart from God. The understanding OF
the reality and supremacy of good demon
strates the nothingness of evil and 50 es-
tablishes health, harmony and success on
an enduring basis. The problem of evil
has been perplexing one throughout the
centuries and few persons have reached
q CONCLUSION satisfactory even to them
selves. Having accepted evil as reality
men have labored in vain to account for
its origin. The belief that evil is a real
entity implies one of two things: either
evil is self-extstent or God made 1t. To
accept the first proposition Is to declare
that there is more than one creator, and
this is an emphatic denial OF the funda-
mental teaching of Christianity, while to
affirm that God created evil, or made II
Scriptures declare that God saw every
thing that he had made. and. behold. 1t
was very good"
Christian Science teaches that evil IL
neither person, place nor thing, because IL
Is no part of Gods creation. When this
conclusion is reached IL is understood that
evil possesses neither intelligence, power,
nor reality. On this basis IL is possible
to demonstrate the nothingness of evil
ana to deliver humanity from sin, disease
and suffering.
To deny the reality Of evil ia not con-
trary to the teachings of the Scriptures,
as some aver. On the other hand it has
been demonstrated with scientific certainly
that an intelligent rejection of evil gives
dominion over evil not to be gained
in any other way. Jesus said to his dis
ciples, II am the way, the truth and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me-" He taught that the way to the
Father is not through belief in the reality
of evil, but through tho understanding of
God, good, as the only power, cause and
creator. He taught men to think and
do good To the extent that one does
good. he makes nothing of evil. for good
and its supposed opposite can not have
place In the human consciousness at the
same time.
REALITY OF GOOD
KEYNOTE or TEACHING.
The reality Of good was the keynote Of
the Masters teachings. He required Inn
plicit obedience to the law OF good at all
times. His teachings leave no room or
opportunity for the indulgence of evil.
He taught men to love even their enemies.
II one has the abiding consciousness OF
God as Love he win manifest love and he
Will experience none of the I'll effects that
result from sense Of hatred. Jesus
demonstrated that evil Is to be overcome
with good; II IS impossible to gain the
victory over evil in any other way.
The Illusion Of evil always seems real 70
a false sense, but sense testimony regard
ing evil should never be accepted. Is
not all sin a deception? Is II true that
there Is pleas ro IN WEOAEQ9lAk as ma
terial sense would have mortals believe
Did a man ever gain anything really
worth while by resortlng to the methods
Of evil? If nothing that evil can say
cepted as a reality7 Let us go back TO
the first appearance OF evil as recorded
in the third chapter Of Genesis What
was at the bottom OF it7 Was Il not a
lie even the belief that man would gain
something by accepting evil for what II
claims 70 be- Jesus called evil lie and
b.. FnkI aT ha Ia ~ hs
found a better definition Of evil1 Know
ing that all evil Is a lie the Master said 70
his followers. And ye shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you free"
II one gain the vie tory over sin by MAX
ing good real In thought ana deed. and
this can he proved In the daily experiences
the same manner. sin is an error OF
thought in the beginning and so II Is
with sickness Even from medical
point of view, based wholly on material
disease and suffering is never helpful. No
good can possibly result from this prac-
tice and Il IS TO be cor demned. Most per
sons admit that thought affects the body
somewhat, but they question whether the
belief IN sickness and the fear OF II could
produce q sick body. II the effect OF
thought on the body is accepted as an
established fact. whore can one draw the
line and say. Thus far and no farther? 70
Just how much is IL possible 10 think and
talk about sickness and experience no
bad resuits2 Since there Is no satisfactory
answer 10 the question would # not be
we'll to DO on the safe side and eliminate
all thought of disease and inharmonyf
Thinning MAKES
MAN WHAT HE As.
Thinking makes q man what no IL. His
present mental condition is largely the
result OF the thoughts he has entertained
IN the past. His morals too are the out
growth OF his thinking. Some day he viii
realize that his thoughts have had a
greater effect on his physical condition
than he supposed, and then he viii I'M
derstRnd why he should give more atten-
ton to tho trend Of his thoughts and less
consideration TO what he has bean taught
to believe are the laws OF health. The
persistent effort 20 eradicate the thought
Of sickness Will do for him far more than
has been accomplished By matoral meth
ods of healing.
Even though ono may not be prepared
to accept the teaching OF Christian
Science that sickness IS not reality in
the absolute sense Of the word. because
il IS no part OF Gods creation. ne can at
least understand that tho less he thinks
and talks about bodily Ills the better.
The question is asked. How 10 ono 20
apply the teachings OF Christian Science
in overcoming physical and moral eylis
In the first place Il must be understood
that mortal man II unable TO save him
self from either sin or disease. He Ia as
helpless IN the one instance as In the
self do nothing" but "the Father that
dwelieth in me. 10 doeth the works"
Whatever Of good any man has accom-
plished was due to the reflected activity
Of the divine Mind, and not to any ef-
fort he was able to make in his own
strength
writes, For by grace are 20 saved
through faith; and that not OF yourselves
IL Is the gift OF God" 1t Is through faith
that man Is brought into harmony with the
law OF Cod and receives according to his
deserving. Faith IS that quality of
thought which elevateS human existence
above the falsities OF mortal belief. II y
evil, the supposed opposite Of good. which
seems 70 make man q sinner and an In
valid When the evil sense, or sense of
evil. is destroyed. the effects OF evil dis
appear for there Is nothing 70 prolong
the Illusion This Is true OF the evil OF
sickness as well as Of the evil OF sin.
PRAYER OF FAITH
AND GOOD RESULT
The Christianity scientific method OF
treating disease and sin meets the human
need today as surely as it healed the sick
and reformed the sinner in the first CEN
fury of the Christian era The apostle
James left a word OF Instruction which
was intended for all men In all ages and
not merely for those who lived in his
day. In the fifth chapter Of his eptstle
we read: SIS any sick among you? let
him call for the elders OF the church: and
let them pray over him, amounting him
with oil IN the name of the Lords and
the prayer of faith shall save tho sick,
and the Lord shall raiBe MIN upi and
II he have committed sins hey shall be
forgiven HIM"
No distinction Is made between types.
or forms of disease. The method OF prao-
tice here outlined viii suffice in one case
as we'll as another. Jesus did not teach
that some diseases are durable and others
incurable; on the contrary he healed all
manner Of physical and moral infirnities
and taught his followers to do likewise
James instructed the sick TO "cRll for
tho elders of the church" II Is evident
be did not mean that the sick should
znneal only to those who had been elect
al or appointed to some official position
in the church organization, for in the
same epistle he tells them to pray one
for another that they might be healed.