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^ MAR Zd 1900 • ^
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Division. .iL.,.
Section,
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
EXAMINED
HENRY VARLEY
Prove all things^'' ^
New York Chicago Toronto
Fleming H. Revell Company
Publishers of Evangelical Literature
Copyright, 1898
BY
Fleming H. Revell Company
Introduction
We do not think it necessary to make any
apology for this criticism of Christian Science.
We are aware that the statements are vigorous,
but it must be remembered that they are writ-
ten in defence of righteousness and truth. The
authoress of '' Science and Health " certainly can-
not affect surprise that when she writes ''Chris-
tian Science is demonstrably the Logos," and that
''outside Christian Science all is error," the posi-
tion she assumes necessarily invites serious atten-
tion. We have therefore subjected a number of
Mrs. Eddy's propositions to careful examination,
and are content to leave the results of our work
to the ordinary intelligence of our readers. It is
a singular fact that a lady whose personal amia-
bility is so pronounced should have committed
herself to such a large number of illogical and
grotesque propositions as those contained in this
volume of 700 pages. It is a remarkable com-
ment upon the vaunted intelligence of the last dec-
ade of the ninteenth century that such a weak
and puerile volume should be regarded as of
Introduction
equal, if not of higher authority to the followers
of Christian Science than the Scriptures them-
selves. We presume that Mrs. Eddy chose to
make the *'hub" Boston the chief residence of
Christian Science because it is the centre where,
as in Athens of old, every new thing under
heaven, true or false, is welcomed. With a
great temple devoted to Spiritism that has cost
$500,000, it is not astonishing that $300,000
should be forthcoming and devoted to the erec-
tion of the mother Church of a system which is
neither Christian nor Scientific.
The tendency to go after what are known as
"the occult sciences" is not producing good nor
advancing the cause of truth. To attempt to
uncover that which God intended to remain hid-
den has in it the element of the worst form of
presumption. It is written, ''Secret things be-
long unto God, but those that are revealed, be-
long to us and to our children."
Henry Varley.
New York, Nov. i<.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE EXAMINED
''PROVE ALL THINGS, HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS
GOOD."
We have been repeatedly asked as to the truth-
or otherwise of the cult which has recently come
to the front known as Christian Science.
Its author, or possibly we should say its dis-
coverer, is a Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy. It was in
the year 1866 that this extraordinary Science so
called was discovered. The prefix " Christian "
does not appear to be consistent. The term
Science means, "truth ascertained," or ''knowl-
edge arranged under general principles."
Now that which strikes the student of Chris-
tianity is the statement and arrangement of
clearly defined truths made known by the Lord
Jesus Christ and contained in the Scriptures. That
which strikes the reader of Mrs. Eddy's ponder-
ous volume is its repeated contradictions, denials,
and grotesque misrepresentations of the person,
teaching, and work of the great founder of
Christianity.
As of Christianity it may be said it is Christ
and His teachings, so this recent theory repre-
sents Mrs. Eddy and her teachings. To call the
strange and illogical statements scientific in the
Christian Science Examined
sense of ascertained truth, is simply false. To
identify the word Christian with the crude and
contradictory statements made by Mrs. Eddy is
neither just nor honorable.
The teachings of the Scriptures are directly
contrary as we shall see, to those put forth. If
Science be what we have just defined, then there
is no science in this pretentious volume. We
are not surprised at the statement of one of her
critics that " Christian Science is neither Chris-
tian nor Scientific."
Mrs. Eddy does not appear to be conscious of the
fact that if her theory discovered in 1866 be true,
then the centuries which are past were centuries
of the grossest darkness. These are her own
words, "outside of this Science all is error."
That the Bible and Christianity have been wholly
misunderstood and hopelessly confused, until
what Mrs. Eddy calls ''Christian Science" was
discovered by her in 1866 is the assertion of a
disordered brain, rather than that of a sober-
minded thinker. She declares that neither hu-
man tongue nor pen taught her this science.
MRS. eddy's remarkable EXPERIENCES
Furthur, she believes that she had remarkable
preparation for her work. She writes, ''Even
Christian Science Examined
when I was a child my life was different, there
were many strange things in it." For all this,
Mrs. Eddy's life does not appear to have been
cast in the prophetic mould. In her youth she
was a member of an orthodox Congregational
Church, but has since departed from her first
faith. Three times led as a bride to the altar, the
current of her life shows her fairly abreast of the
desire for marital affinities as also for social and
large monetary successes.
Lest we should do Mrs. Eddy an injustice we
quote the words of one of her disciples who has
recently visited London. This lady says, "When
I was cured I became a student under Mrs. Eddy
in the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, the
great nursery of Christian Science Healers. The
course of training at the college was somewhat
expensive. Three hundred dollars was the price
for each pupil, and Mrs. Eddy admits that this
was 'a startling sum for tuition lasting barely
three weeks.' We students, who have since
been privileged to become healers, consider, how-
ever, that $300 was a small sum indeed to be paid
for the imipartation of this divine knowledge."
Now if Christian Science has rediscovered
Christ's method in healing disease whence comes
the heavy charge of $300 ? We cannot help ask-
7
Christian Science Examined
ing, Is this money or mercy, which ? Three hun-
dred dollars payment is a principal factor in
the Christian Science College programme. This
was not the case with the Apostle Peter. He
did not hesitate to say to Simon Magus, ''Thy
money perish with thee because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased
with money" (Acts viii. i8).
It certainly was not in the back side of Horeb
that Mrs. Eddy spent forty years in preparation
for the "role" of the modern prophetess. She
granted some time since an interview to one of
the New York writers. This was published in
the New York World. According to this state-
ment ''Mrs. Eddy lives in a large and sumptu-
ously furnished mansion, and in addition to this
home in Concord, N. H., she also owns a house
in Boston, and a fine country residence in Ros-
lindale. She appeared before the interviewer in
elegant dress, and with noticeable display of dia-
monds."
Of course we do not judge Mrs. Eddy, never-
theless we cannot see in her manner of life and
experience, warrant for her assumed divine
preparation. We are not ascetics but we are
bound to take some stock in common sense,
and think soberly concerning what is written.
Christian Science Examined
We admit that there is a difference between
Mrs. Eddy and the great majority of men and
women. The difference however cannot be said
to be found in her superior intelHgence or per-
sonal spirituality, but in directions from which
every instinct of true manhood and womanhood
must shrink, viz, in the extraordinary claims
which she puts forth, as having been called as a
chosen instrument in the hands of Divine provi-
dence to formulate a scientific system which,
when examined, reveals itself as one of the most
fanatical and illogical ever ventilated in a volume
of 700 pages.
''CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST" ASSUMPTIONS
One of the astounding assumptions of those
who are called Christian Scientists is, that directly
the system is examined or criticised, you are po-
litely informed that ''you do not understand
Mrs. Eddy." The position is so admirably stated
by a well-known writer that we quote his strik-
ing words:
"I think, too, that I have a right to complain
that Mrs. Eddy does not give me a fair chance
in the attempt to understand her Science. For
heretofore 1 have been in the habit of using my
eyes, and ears, and other senses, in the study of
Christian Science Examined
the world and its contents, but the founder of
Christian Science will not allow that I have any
eyes or ears. She even strips me of my mortal
mind, and being a common mortal, and not
deity, 1 feel my loss keenly.
In fact, she so denudes, strips and empties me
of all my ordinary belongings as a human being,
that I feel like the thinnest spook or ghost that
ever "came down the pike."
If she would only permit me to put on my
glasses, and use my eyes, in a word to be clothed
and in my right mind, I think I could understand
her in part. For nobody, neither the adherents,
nor the founder of Christian Science understands
all that Mrs. Eddy has written. She has dumb-
founded the dictionary itself. No wonder Mrs.
Eddy writes, "he that decries this Science does
it presumptuously." This assumption of supe-
riority on her part and either ignorance or in-
ability to understand her on the part of others is
characteristic of the authoress of "Science and
Health."
No one could come in contact with Mrs. Eddy,
read her sermons, or listen to her addresses
without being attracted by what may fairly be
regarded as a striking personality.
Her spirit in one sense is admirable. Though
10
Christian Science Examined
we freely admit this, we are bound to ask, does
truth belong to and lie within this attractive
mannerism ?" That is the question. We may
not forget that honey was distinctly forbidden
by God to be mixed with any of the sacrifices
offered under the Mosaic law. Salt on the con-
trary was to be constantly used.
The teaching clearly is, beware of natural
sweetness in dealing with truth. Christ did not
say to His disciples, ''Ye are the honey of the
earth," but He did say, " Ye are the salt." Salt
is not honey. Truth is never more likely to be
mingled with error than when ministered by
those who, as Satan, can transform and present
themselves in the garb of an angel of light. The
woman who introduced the corrupting leaven
into the pure meal in the Gospel and leavened
the whole lump has many descendants. Truth
however stands before sweetness.
We have no manner of doubt that if Satan
himself were to become incarnate and visit
Boston or New York he would affect the high-
est type of culture, polish and gentlemanly bear-
ing. A deformed presence does not represent
the present day methods of the "god of this
world." His are the tactics of a dazzling fasci-
nation.
11
Christian Science Examined
MRS. eddy's ''self-evident" PROPOSITIONS
But we proceed to define so far as we can Mrs.
Eddy's position. She denies the existence of
matter and says " God is all." Here is her main
postulate. Let us examine the foundation. Mrs.
Eddy writes, ** The fundamental propositions of
Christian Science are summarized in the four
following, to me self-evident propositions:
"I. God is all. 2. God is good. Good is
mind. 3. God, Spirit, Being, all, nothing is
matter. 4. Life, God, Ouuiipotent, Good, deny
Death, Evil, sin, disease, . . . Disease, Sin, Evil,
Death, deny Omnipotent, Good, God, Life. . . .
There is no pain in truth and no truth in pain!
no matter in mind and no mind in matter! no
nerves in intelligence and no intelligence in
nerves. No matter in Life and no Life in matter.
No matter in Good and no Good in matter." —
Science and Health, p. 7.
How to take seriously this remarkable jargon
of words is the difficulty. A more hopeless
mixing up of terms surely never had presenta-
tion. How to extract any intelligible meaning
is almost impossible.
Take the first proposition, " God is all." This
is said to be self-evident. This is not self-evi-
12
Christian Science Examined
dent. Space is not God. The air is not God.
The ocean is not God. Continents, lands, rocks,
whales, elephants, etc., evidently are not God.
These are all God's Creation, but Mrs. Eddy must
not confound the Creator with the work of His
hands.
When logic ignores self-evident facts it be-
comes folly. The passages in the Scriptures
over which Mrs. Eddy has stumbled, in which
the words are written, '^One God and Father of
all, who is above all and through all, and in you
all," and again that "God may be all in all," as
the contexts clearly show have no such meaning
as this postulate suggests. Clearly God is not
all but is to be distinguished from matter. Mrs.
Eddy's self-evident truth is evidently false.
Take postulate No. 2, ''God is good, God is
mind, Good is mind." The two former mem-
bers of this statement are as real and true as the
existence of God. To make the truth contained
in these words a discovery, as Mrs. Eddy does
and a fundamental proposition belonging to
Christian Science is simply nonsense.
To add that ''Mind is Good," is Mrs. Eddy's
way of reaching a logical conclusion which is
necessary to sustain her third proposition. God's
mind is good. Man's mind may bring forth
13
Christian Science Examined
good, or it may be and is the birthplace of terrible
sin and fearful evil. This has been and is com-
mon experience, self-evident in human history
and in the domain of hard fact which Mrs.
Eddy's logic cannot overthrow. Proposition
two, therefore, is partly true and partly false.
Again Mrs. Eddy's self-evident proposition is
proved to be evidently unsound.
MRS. eddy's assertions EXAMINED
The third proposition comes next. *'God,
Spirit, Being, all, Nothing is matter." We are
here simply dealing with absurd assertion. It is
Mrs. Eddy who says, ''God being all, nothing is
matter." We have seen that matter is not God,
but His creation. His material production, always
to be carefully distinguished from the spiritual
personality set forth in the words of Christ Jesus,
'' God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must
worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John iv. 24).
Mrs. Eddy must not throw dust into the eyes of
her hearers and readers by these absurd postu-
lates. Once more we see that the third funda-
mental proposition of Christian Science is false.
The fourth proposition shows clearly the
branching out of error in all directions. " Life,
God, Omnipotent, Good, deny Death, Evil, Sin,
14
Christian Science Examined
Disease." Wonderful logical deduction certainly.
It is to be noticed that Mrs. Eddy regards this
position as invulnerable, for she adds, ''Disease,
Sin, Evil, Death, deny Omnipotent, Good, God,
Life." Surely no greater folly was ever com-
mitted than the attempt at placing one set of
terms over against another set, in order to the
exclusion of whichever you favor or dislike.
We are reminded of the school game of French
and English, with this difference. Mrs. Eddy
makes her terms to engage in a game of ex-
clusion which, despite her logical conclusions,
will not and cannot be excluded. What is the
use of denying and excluding disease, sin, evil,
and death. They all exist and are sadly familiar
facts in human experience everywhere. Mrs.
Eddy's logic neither diminishes their power, nor
destroys their real presence. Whatever may be
the best way of dealing with these evils which
we all deplore, it cannot certainly be found in
ignoring their existence and presence.
To utter falsehood cannot serve the interests
of truth, even though the untruth be a logical
deduction and a fundamental proposition of Chris-
tian Science. But we proceed with the examina-
tion of Mrs. Eddy's words, ''Disease, Sin, Evil,
Death, deny Omnipotent, Good, God, Life."
15
Christian Science Examined
What is meant by the word deny in this state-
ment? It appears to be used here in the sense
of excluding, which is not its meaning. One of
the difficulties in dealing with Mrs. Eddy is that
she constantly uses words in a sense that is not
contained in their philology. She reveals great
want of knowledge in this respect.
Now a good practical definition of Omnipo-
tence is given by our glorious Lord when He
said, ** All power is given to me in heaven and
on earth," but who would dream of making
these words to exclude the freedom of the hu-
man will, or that the power which exists in the
Niagara current and cataract is not separate from
and to be carefully distinguished from the mean-
ing which belongs to our Lord's words.
Take another example. Our Lord says, " I am
the resurrection and the life. He that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and
he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Did the fact of the Lord's welcome words that He
is the resurrection and the life, and that the be-
liever in Him shall never die, exclude the fact
that sin is, or that death is } Surely not.
Once more the Lord says, "I beheld Satan as
lightning fall from heaven." Mrs. Eddy says
there is no such being as the devil. Whose testi-
16
Christian Science Examined
mony is to be received ? If the statement of
Mrs. Eddy be true then the moral integrity, that
is, the truthfulness of the Lord Jesus no longer
exists,
SELF-EVIDENT FALLACIES
The attempt to exclude existence of dis-
ease, sin, evil, or death, by Christian Science
logic is untrue. This is self-evident. Mrs. Eddy
says ''there is no pain in truth and no truth in
pain." Here is another conclusion reached by
logic, but we ask. Is there no truth in pain ?
What! have all the afflicted and suffering people
of the earth been cheating us ? Have the testi-
monies given of excruciating pain and agony be-
ing felt, been false ? Has the sick chamber been
the birthplace of lies ? Mrs. Eddy in substance
answers, "Pain is feeling, and to the Christian
Scientist the sense of feeling does not exist.
Feeling belongs to matter and cannot exist where
all is mind." What can be to me more irrational
than such a rejoinder ?
Feeling belongs to the mind. Feeling the sense
of physical pain as distinguished from the mind
belongs to the body, that is to matter, to the ma-
terial. To say that "there is no mind in matter
and no matter in mind," is to deny the existence
17
Christian Science Examined
of the connection and community of condition
which does exist between mind and matter.
Mrs. Eddy's postulate is again proved untrue and
her conclusion false.
Once more she affirms, ''there are no nerves in
intelligence, and no intelligence in nerves." Now
science teaches that the nerve centres are all con-
nected with the brain. The brain being the seat
of the intelligence communicates through the
nerves to all parts of the body, the nerves on
their side maintaining connection with and send-
ing messages to the brain.
Whether the nerves are as intelligent as Mrs.
Eddy is, we will not determine, but that the in-
telligence of the brain and the nerves of the body
are connected and united is as certain as the fixed
stars. And yet in the face of ten thousand con-
clusive proofs and in direct opposition to the
great metaphysical thinkers and writers, Mrs.
Eddy had the temerity to write the foolish words
which we have quoted.
It may be asked to what end did Mrs. Eddy
essay these propositions ? To formulate and
give currency to what the Apostle describes as
a 'Matter day delusion." It is remarkable that
the title given to this system, "Christian Sci-
ence " should have been indicated and actually
18
Christian Science Examined
warned against. These are the words the "op-
positions of Science falsely so called."
The word of God could have no words of
warning against or opposition to true science,
/. e., ''ascertained truth." True science and the
truth of God must agree, though imperfect per-
ception may hide the fact from our present
knowledge or view.
Mrs. Eddy, as we have seen, denies the existence
of matter and rejects physical phenomena, and
yet in the face of her own premiss, asks that the
basis of the Christian Science platform should
be rested upon and accepted, because of certain
physical results which may be seen at their meet-
ings, and in the experience of some of their
members.
MRS. EDDY AND THE FIVE SENSES
That we should do Mrs. Eddy no injustice we
quote her words, "The five senses are the phys-
ical avenues and instruments of human error."
Also, "mortal mind judges the evidence from the
material senses until science obliterates this false
testimony." Surely we may ask what was the
condition of Mrs. Eddy's mortal mind when she
wrote these words:
''Here we are at the seaside. We hear the
19
Christian Science Examined
sound of the waters, we feel the strength of the
wind, we imbibe the air and ozone of the ocean,
we look out upon a bright and welcome scene of
varied beauty." Nearly all our senses are sharing
in the beneficent functions common to their use,
and yet Mrs. Eddy says these senses are the
physical avenues of human error, and that science
is to obliterate their false testimony.
Frankly we do not want science to do this, and
as for desiring to obliterate the power of the
senses, we should regard such desire as a proof
of insanity, and the subject of such desires as
crazy. Hearken once more to this extraordinary
teacher, ''What is termed disease does not ex-
ist."
What have the soldiers suffering from yellow,
typhoid, and malarial fevers, to say to this ? Is
it that they were all deceived, subjected to Cuban
hallucinations which misled them through their
physical senses. All the reports sent by General
Shatter in regard to the thousands of soldiers in-
capacitated by disease, all was delusion of the
senses. Mrs. Eddy says so. These are her
words, '^ What is termed disease does not exist."
The hopeless inconsistency of Mrs. Eddy is
brought out at this point very strongly. After
the denials as to matter, the senses, and non-ex-
20
Christian Science Examined
istent disease, she writes, ''Christian Science
changes the secretions, expels humors, dissolves
tumors, relaxes rigid muscles, and restores dis-
eased bones to soundness." Surely these are
physical effects and belong to matter. In the
face of these proofs which she gives in order to
sustain Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy says that
''matter has no being, that all is mind," and
"what is termed disease does not exist." No
wonder that another of her critics says, "1 sub-
mit therefore that she rules her own testimony
out of court, and leaves herself without a demon-
stration. And surely I am not to be blamed for
failing to be convinced by the proof which she
herself has made impossible."
We may ask how is it possible for Christian
Science to heal disease which does not exist ? and
restore to health matter which has no being ? If
our readers feel that we are pressing Mrs. Eddy
strongly, it must be borne in mind that she ac-
tually believes that her strong position is logical
inference and conclusion.
Our criticism is not made in any spirit of un-
kindness or for other interests than those of
truth. We know that criticism may be unjust
and eminently unkind. This we deprecate and
shrink from, but in order to soundness of state-
21
Christian Science Examined
ment and the uprightness of the walls of the
temple of truth, we use criticism as the builder
uses his plumb line and his spirit level. Criticism
of this character is as essential as uprightness
itself.
Mrs. Eddy's metaphysics are as hazy and void
of real proof of clear thinking as her theological
definitions are. Known as "the science which
investigates the first principles of nature and
thought," the authoress of Science and Health
writes an incoherent mass of words and sentences
which suggests a mere tyro after Aristotle. As-
serting an impersonal nature on the one hand, and
her own fanciful conceptions of ''the science of
mind " on the other Mrs. Eddy's book leads into a
mental quagmire. It certainly is not matter for
surprise that her large circle of friends seek
refuge in what they call "the deep and profound
thinking of the new apostle of Christian Science."
It is impossible to discern what she does mean.
Words are used by Mrs. Eddy and construed to
mean what they never implied, meant or con-
tained. A volume needs to be written entitled
"Christian Science Philology, a Dictionary set-
ting forth Mrs. Eddy's meaning of the phrases
used in Science and Health:' At the present time
it means floundering in a morass of misap-
22
Christian Science Examined
plied and unmeaning words, sentences and para-
graphs. We are reminded of the clever hand-
writing of a recent expert of whom it was said,
" He could write two hands, one he could not
read himself, the other no one else could." One
thing is evident Mrs. Eddy's claim to the making
known of anything really new or original in her
entire volume is a statement as destitute of truth
as that in which she writes "that the Bible has
been her only guide and text-book in the straight
and narrow way of Christian Science."
MRS. EDDY AND THE BIBLE
We pass now to notice Mrs. Eddy's position in
relation to the Word of God. These are her own
words, "The Bible has been my only text-book,
I have had no other guide in the straight and nar-
row way of this Science." Let us hear what she
writes concerning the Almighty Creator, remem-
bering especially the account which is given
in Genesis, Chaps, i., ii.
Our readers would do well to refer to them,
and then compare with Mrs. Eddy's written
words. She writes, "To regard God as the
Creator of matter, is not only to make Him re-
sponsible for all the disasters, physical and moral,
but to announce Him as the source! and so make
23
Christian Science Examined
Him guilty of maintaining perpetual misrule in
the form and under the name of natural law."
— Science and Health, p. 13.
Now let us hear the testimony of the Bible,
"Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and
His maker — I have made the earth and created
man upon it; I, even my hands, have stretched
out the heavens and all their host have I com-
manded" (Isa. xlv. II, 12). Again, "For thus
saith the Lord that created the heavens, God
Himself that formed the earth, and made it. He
hath established it. He created it not in vain. He
formed it to be inhabited" (v. 18).
Again, "In six days the Lord made heaven
and earth, the sea and all that in them is " (Ex. xx.
11). " The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator
of the ends of the earth " (Isa. xl. 28).
So also the New Testament. "In the begin-
ning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God— All things were
made by Him, and without Him was not any-
thing made that is made" (John i. 1-3). "By
whom also He made the worlds" (Heb. i. 2).
So also the Lord answering the Pharisees con-
cerning the unlawful putting away of the wife
in the days of Moses. "And he said. Have
ye not read that he which made them at the
24
Christian Science ExaminecjL
beginning made them male and female " (Matt.
xix. 4).
Now seeing that the earth, the seas, and the
creatures that are in them are formed of matter,
of substance, of material, and can be handled,
and seen, it is obvious that Mrs. Eddy's state-
ment is false. To say that the Bible has been
her text-book and guide is untrue. Her asser-
tions directly contradict the teachings of the
Bible.
It is appalling how Mrs. Eddy can write such
words. To speak of the Creator's beneficent
working as "the cause and source of all physical
and moral disaster" is blasphemy. To represent
the Blessed God as responsible for maintaining
perpetual misrule because He is the Creator of
matter, and has formed it into thousands of living
creatures both with and without mind and intel-
ligence is monstrous.
But to proceed. Mrs. Eddy gives another
definition of God, "God is infinite, He is neither
a limited mind nor a limited body. God is love,
and love is principle, not person." (No and Yes,
page 28.) What confusion of thought is found
here. " God is infinite," " God is love." This is
not a discovery dating from 1866. These defi-
nitions are not Mrs. Eddy's nor are they the
25
Christian Science Examined
property of Christian Science. The Church of
Christ has always held these truths.
The following words are Mrs. Eddy's, **God
is neither a limited mind nor a limited body."
Here is a strangely expressed truism which no
one would think of denying, and yet it is paraded
as a proposition of Christian Science.
"LOVE IS PRINCIPLE NOT PERSON"
But what shall we say to the expression "love
is principle, not person".? What! Love not
personal! How can love be separated from per-
sonality ? To say that God is love only, is to
deny His power, His infinity. That is limit and
contraction. Again, Is love principle.?* Does
Mrs. Eddy love in principle.? If so, how is it
exhibited ?
Love must have objects to rest and expend it-
self upon. Love must be personal. It is a per-
son who loves. The husband's love for his wife
is personal. The wife is a person. She is not a
principle. The mother's love is a personal pos-
session. It is not intelligent to call love principle.
Love is governed by and should be subject to
right. Love must in the nature of things, exist in
the person and cannot be defined as "principle
opposed to and excluding the term person."
Christian Science Examined
This is Mrs. Eddy's position, and it is absurdly
false.
Principle means a beginning, or origin, a fun-
damental truth. It is this hopeless mixing up of
terms and words without thought, or knowl-
edge of their meaning which marks Mrs. Eddy's
volume from beginning to end.
Here is another proof that the Bible has not
been Mrs. Eddy's guide. She writes, ''The the-
ory of three persons in One God (that is a per-
sonal Trinity or Tri-unity) suggests heathen gods,
rather than the one ever-present f Am." — S. and
H., p. 152. This is the teaching of Unitarianism
which Mrs. Eddy evidently has copied. This is
not a discovery dating from 1866.
Like the Unitarians, Mrs. Eddy has stumbled
over the modern term person. The word is a
Latinism. It is not found in the revised text of
the New Testament. To apply the term person
to each member of the Godhead revealed in the
Bible as we do to distinguish one man from an-
other is not admissible.
Christ Jesus had tangible bodily form and local
presence on earth. Neither the Father nor the
Holy Spirit are spoken of as possessed of bodily
form or presence as the Lord Jesus Christ was.
Our Lord said, '' God is a Spirit." And again to
27
Christian Science Examined
the Jews concerning the Father, ''Ye have
neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His
SHAPE " (John iv. 24; V. 37). The Holy Ghost is
never described as possessed of a human body
as the Lord Jesus is. On the contrary He is said
to indwell the temple of the believer's body!
(i Cor. vi. 19).
Personality is different from and much more
than bodily form, but it is untrue to deny that
God has been pleased to reveal Himself as Father,
Son and Holy Ghost. Take the following state-
ment which gives but one of many of the three-
fold and united combinations found in the Word
of God. '* The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (2 Cor. xiii. 14).
Mrs. Eddy writes, " The infinite and divine
principle of All Being, the ever present I Am fill-
ing all space, including in itself, all mind, the
Father and Mother God." We venture to affirm
that such an incoherent presentation of words
was never exceeded since writing was first
known.
Here is the denial of the Divine Personality.
Impersonal principle takes the position and place
of the Creator. This principle is ''All Being, the
ever present 1 Am." Here also is recognition and
28
Christian Science Examined
assertion from Mrs. Eddy's pen of the Divine
personality which she has just denied. Either
she must deny the Creator's existence or hold
that the Universe is a vast Orphanage. She can-
not elect both positions. Mrs. Eddy says 'Mt-
self " fills all space, is self-existent, is the I Am,
is the all mind, the Father and Mother God.
MRS. eddy's infinite " ITSELF "
What an infinite itself ! Mark! a self-existent
neuter! Here is Pantheism, not to say Atheism of
the most grotesque character asserted, and, in the
same paragraph, denied. Mrs. Eddy writes, the
"itself is the I Am, the self-existent Father and
Mother God filling all space."
Itself in her hands now becomes masculine, a
Father, and feminine also, a Mother, God. This
wonderful "itself," so Mrs. Eddy says, fills all
space, is all mind, denies the senses, excludes
matter, disease, sin, evil, and death. Yes, here
it is, on the authority of this Apostle of Christian
Science. — Rudimental Divine Science, page 1 1 .
Mrs. Eddy's masculine and feminine itself, her
neuter I Am — which it seems to us, should be
/ am not, — comprehends Omnipotence, Spirit,
Good, God, and excludes disease, sin, evil, mat-
ter, the senses, and death.
29
Christian Science Examined
This is extraordinary writing certainly. Thomas
Carlyle said that "Great Britain contained forty
millions of people, mostly fools." What would
he have written had he been compelled to read
Mrs. Eddy, and mingle with her thoughtless fol-
lowing of Christian Scientists. It seems scarcely
possible that any woman of sound mind could
write such a mass of foolish statements as those
we have quoted.
Mrs. Eddy also writes, "To me God is all.
He is best understood as Supreme Being, as in-
finite and conscious Life, as the affectionate
Father and Mother of all He creates." Does
Mrs. Eddy believe that God yields the mountains
and rocks His affection and love ? The words it
will be seen again give contradiction to what she
has before written.
Which statement does Mrs. Eddy believe ? In
one passage she formulates a grotesque Pantheism.
In another she speaks of the Self-Existent Creator.
Both cannot be true. Which is Christian Science ?
The sentimental expression "as the affectionate
Father and Mother God of all He creates," is one
of those womanly utterances for which Mrs.
Eddy is notorious.
It is her gentle method of getting away from
ugly words, such as sin, wrath, death, and the
30
Christian Science Examined
devil or anything which does not harmonize with
her conception of God's affectionate parentage.
It is not the testimony of the Bible.
The Word of God distinctly says, that it is a
righteous thing with God to recompense. ' ' Unto
them that do not obey the truth, but obey un-
righteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation
and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth
evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile ' "
(Rom. ii. 8, 9). Now seeing that if it is right for
God thus to act, it would be absolutely wrong
for ''the affectionate Father and Mother God,"
to fail of retributive judgment in all these cases.
We do not feel at liberty to play fast and loose
with revealed testimony.
Mrs. Eddy allows her feelings to carry her
away. Feeling is one thing, sentiment another,
judgment quite another. Many of our readers
have been in a court of justice. A man or a
woman has been tried, and found guilty. The
prisoner was in tears and distress of mind. Not
seldom a mother or sister of the criminal has been
present. We have seen such in deep grief and
sorrow. What then? Why just this. FeeHng
and sympathy, went out from us toward the
relatives, yea toward the prisoner, but not
judgment. The judgment went out from us
31
Christian Science Examined
also, but it was with the judge, with the law,
with the sentence, and against the condemned
man.
Mrs. Eddy appears to be singularly wanting in
a sound judgment. A clear mind evidently is not
her strong point. Probably she is tormented by
the errors into which the five senses have become
the physical avenues, and into which they have
plunged her. It is kind to hope that she is be-
side herself from a religious point of view.
MRS. EDDY HER OWN HERALD
Mrs. Eddy did not need any herald or witness
in order to her advent as the great prophetess of
Christian Science. This is how she demonstrates
herself (preface to Science and Health). " As the
pale star guided the prophet shepherds to the
cradle of the young child who should redeem
mortals, so now the wise men are led to behold
and follow the day star of Divine Science as it
shows the way to eternal harmony." Is this
fanaticism or idiotcy, which } The question is
raised by Mrs. Eddy seeing that she is the arrived
prophetess, the discoverer of Divine Science.
Then follows on page 28, S. and H., *' The true
Logos is demonstrably Christian Science." If the
writer of these words is sane, then this is bias;-
32
Christian Science Examined
phemy. To say that Christian Science is Jesus
Christ the Word, or that the principles which we
have examined are in harmony with the mind of
the Lord Jesus as revealed in John i. 1-14, is
absolutely false. Once more Mrs. Eddy writes,
"Christian Science has come through the one
whom God called." What scandalous audacity
is here.
And this also, ''Our Master left no definite
rule for demonstrating His principle of healing
and preventing disease. This remained to be
discovered by Christian Science. Christian Sci-
ence alone reveals its principle and demonstrates
its rules. Its discovery is the second coming of
the gospel of peace on earth and good will to
men." Oh the matchless modesty of Mrs. Mary
Baker Eddy!! All this foolish statement is abso-
lutely untrue.
Take the assertion that the healing and pre-
venting of disease was reserved for Mrs. Eddy to
discover or should we say for Christian Science
to make known. Why all the questions which
belong to mind healing, faith healing, and disease
preventing, effected through diverse mental exer-
cises and conditions have been known, tried, ex-
perimented upon, and written about long before
Mrs. Eddy was born. It must not be lost sight
33
Christian Science Examined
of that all this " high falutin' " bears that ancient
date 1866.
It is said that there is liability to contract men-
tal disease by contact with what is read, as it is
known there is through personal contact with
those physically diseased. Madness by contact
with diseased minds is a terrible possibility.
The law of penalty however has place and holds
here also.
Mrs. Eddy has given out in more than 150 edi-
tions it is said of her seven hundred paged vol-
ume an enormous quantity of *' vicious lymph
from the brain," which has without question in-
oculated many of her followers. Personality
works outward whether for good or evil. " No
man liveth to himself." We should beware of
the curse of an outgoing pride and fulsome-
ness.
KING HEROD AND MRS. EDDY
That is a striking word concerning King
Herod. Here it is, "And upon a set day Herod
arrayed in royal apparel sat upon his throne, and
made an oration unto them. And the people
gave a shout saying: It is the voice of a god and
not of a man. And immediately the angel of the
Lord smote him because he gave not God the
34
Christian Science Examined
glory, and he was eaten of worms and gave up
the Ghost" (Acts xii. 21-23).
The worm period has not yet arrived for Chris-
tian Science, but as surely as Brigham Young
with his polygamous Mormonism came to a
calamitous end, and Joseph Smith with his pro-
fessed new revelation from God, so also will this
boastful and blasphemous system known as
Christian Science. Nothing can ever alter the
words of the Lord Jesus, ''Every plant that my
Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted
up" (Math. XV. 13).
As in the case of Herod, so already woman
worship is being rendered to Mrs. Eddy. Listen
to the fulsome flattery of one of her admirers not
to say worshippers, which we here quote:
*'We can scarcely realize that there ever could
be a mind competent to harmonize with such ad-
mirable discernment of truth and reality, and
such precision of thought the profoundest mys-
teries of moral and spiritual life."
Here is another effusion found in the ''Chris-
tian Science Journal." This time it is a poem ad-
dressed to the authoress of "Science and Health"
some of whose false propositions we have already
examined. The poet in impassioned language
addressing Mrs. Eddy, says, "Through thee, the
35
Christian Science Examined
Christian Science light pours forth in sweet ac-
cord." Again, ''Through the windows in the
heaven of the tender Mother Love, goes forth the
peace on earth to men." And yet once more,
"O Father love, and Mother love, and Christ
love, Trinity, God's womanhood has brought us
all His true divinity."
AND YET ANOTHER DEIFIED MARY
Here is another deified Mary! Mrs. Mary Baker
Eddy blasphemously placed as the third member
of the Trinity. Here is the practical deification
of Mrs. Eddy, and yet many members of the
professing Church of Christ not only attend these
anti-Christian Assemblies but actually consent to
become members of what are known as Chris-
tian Science churches. These churches are
falsely named. To affirm that they represent
the doctrines, principles, and ethical teaching of
the Lord Jesus Christ is utterly untrue.
We have heard that some members of Chris-
tian churches have made application for letters of
dismission to assemblies calling themselves
''Christian Science Churches." Such applications
are simply monstrous and no minister of Christ
or Christian church anywhere should consent to
be a party to such an outrage.
36
Christian Science Examined
The principles of so-called Christian Science
assemblies are utterly foreign to Christian doc-
trine. As we have shown, the Scriptures have
nothing in common with Mrs. Eddy's teach-
ing. " What communion hath light with dark-
ness .?*" or he who believes the Word of God
with the vagaries and blasphemies of Christian
Science ?
We are aware that our impeachment is a vig-
orous one, and are prepared to give twenty times
as many proofs as those already given to show
the truthfulness of our words. A veritable legion
of false statements is found in Mrs. Eddy's books
and teachings.
MRS. eddy's pot of FLIES
Before we deal with the ointment found in Mrs.
Eddy's pot of flies, we call attention to some
other items obviously untrue, but coated over
with Christian Science, sophistry and bombast.
Here is an assertion, " Man is not in matter."
These are the words of Gen. ii. 7, "And the
Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,
and man became a living soul." Man is declared,
so far as his body is concerned, to be formed of
matter, '' the dust of the ground." By the further
37
Christian Science Examined
act of God, His breathing into man the breath of
life, man became a living soul.
Man, therefore, is in matter, indwells a ma-
terial house, a body. Of course nobody who
has not taken leave of truth and become fooled
by Mrs. Eddy could endorse this false statement
asserted with her accustomed boldness.
Here is another falsehood. "Man is not old
or young. He has neither birth nor death. Man
was and is God's idea, even the infinite expres-
sion of infinite mind, and coexistent, and co-
eternal with that mind. Man's consciousness
and individuality are reflections of God. God is
soul. Therefore there can be but one soul.
There are not souls many nor spirits many.
The term souls or spirits is as improper as the
term gods. There is no finite soul or spirit.
God is the principle of man."
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PANTHEISTIC
This whole statement is Pantheistic. It is the
doctrine that nature or the Universe is God.
Mrs. Eddy knows this and has been charged
with being a Pantheist. With her accustomed
readiness for mere assertion she meets the charge
thus, "Christian Science is not Pantheism."
We again investigate and examine Mrs. Eddy's
38
Christian Science Examined
words, ''Man is the infinite expression of infi-
nite mind." Then, if the expression which Mrs.
Eddy declares is infinite, man is infinite. Surely
this is trifling with the term infinite. Man is not
infinite, neither is any man coexistent or coeter-
nal with God. '' Man is principle," according to
Mrs. Eddy. Man's personality is not, and he is
merged into Pantheism.
Once more, ''God is soul, therefore there can
be but one soul." This is another foolish attempt
at logic, but the conclusion is a logical absurdity.
Pantheism again, and Mrs. Eddy's denial does not
alter the fact. There have been, and there are
millions of human souls dowered with con-
sciousness and personality, with capability of
loss, and in every case possessed of responsibility
according to light, knowledge, and opportunity.
Again Mrs. Eddy writes, *' There is no finite
soul or spirit. God is the principle of man."
Now here in the plainest terms man is declared
to be God and God is the principle of man. Man
is represented as infinite, equal with God.
All this is not only in direct opposition to the
teaching of the Word of God, but it actually re-
verses the very relation which exists between
God and man. God is Infinite. Man is finite.
God is the Creator. Man the dependent and re-
39
Christian Science Examined
sponsible creature. God cannot sin. Man con-
stantly does. Disease, decay, corruption, death,
and eternal torment are all possible to men. All
these are impossible to God.
There is the height of infinity between the
Creator, the Self-Existent, the Eternal I Am,
and man the lowly creature, dependent, and so
far as present experience is concerned, mortal.
This is the testimony of the Bible, as also the
carefully defined conviction of multitudes of the
profoundest thinkers and teachers that have ever
lived.
MRS. eddy's ''principle AND IDEA"
In the face of reason, intelligence, and revela-
tion, Mrs. Eddy has the temerity to write this
blasphemous expression, that "God is the prin-
ciple of man." Thus God is made dependent
upon man and inferior to him.
The term principle means, as we have shown,
a beginning or origin, a fundamental truth.
Now if God is the principle of man, Man is the
beginning and origin of God. The awful lengths
to which this infatuated writer has gone in this
direction may be gathered from the following.
Mrs. Eddy writes, ''God and man. Principle and
idea are inseparable."
40
Christian Science Examined
Here man is the Principle and God is the idea,
and they are one and inseparable. Now the
word idea means ''the image of a thing seen by
the mind," a ''notion," "an opinion." Here is
an atheistic assertio. but it is sandwiched be-
tween terms which deny Atheism. God becomes
an idea and man is deified. That the tendency
of Christian Science is toward Atheism we have
no doubt.
How Mrs. Eddy could write that "the Bible
has been her only text-book and guide in the
straight and narrow way of this Science" is
amazing. Has she never heard of Ananias ?
Why not frankly acknowledge Pantheism at
once ? Mrs. Eddy's position necessarily involves
the following: "God being inseparable from
man and the principle of man," there cannot be
any subjection to dependence upon, or responsi-
bility on the part of man to God. The Bible
therefore which teaches all these cannot be true.
This at least would be straightforward.
Mrs. Eddy knows that were it not for what
the Apostle calls " deceitful and crafty handling "
of the Bible on her part, large numbers of de-
luded Christian Scientists would not only have
been warned against, but they would wash
their hands of any partnership in, or complicity
41
Christian Science Examined
with this burlesque of Christian teaching and
Science.
How strongly the Bible speaks against sin,
against iniquity and wickedness in every form.
There is no glossing over with the tinsel of un-
meaning rhetoric. Man is prone to "leave un-
done the things he ought to have done, and to
do things that he ought not to have done, and
that there is no health in him."
Man is shown to be a sinner worse in character
than he is in action. It is. bad enough to do
wrong. It is still worse to be wrong and to take
pleasure in the condition. To be without desire
for anything better or different from the habits,
conduct and character of the self-satisfied sin-
ner is terrible. Such is man's natural condi-
tion.
Now where, in all Mrs. Eddy's volume is there
anything which teaches the evil nature and
quality of sin. Take the testimony of Christ
Jesus concerning man's natural condition. And
he said, " That which cometh out of the man,
that defileth the man. For from within, out of
the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adul-
teries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetous-
ness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil
eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these
42
Christian Science Examined
evil things come from within, and defile the
man " (Mark vii. 20-23). This is the teaching of
the Bible which Mrs. Eddy writes '' has been her
text-book and only guide."
MRS. EDDY SILENT CONCERNING SIN
It is not only that she is silent concerning sin,
but she actually denies what Christ Jesus affirms
and teaches. These are Mrs. Eddy's own words,
"The belief of sin which has grown terrible in
strength and influence is an unconscious error in
the beginning." She does not believe in the re-
ality of sin, for it is not the sin which has in her
judgment become terrible, but the belief that
sin is.
That she means this the following words
quoted prove: "So long as we believe that soul
can sin, or that immortal soul is in mortal body,
we can never understand the Science of being."
Here Mrs. Eddy denies the plainest teachings of
the Bible. It is written: "The soul that sinneth
shall surely die." Again, "The wages of sin is
death." Again, "All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God," and once more, "By one
man's disobedience sin entered into the world
and death by sin, and so death has passed upon
all men for that all have sinned.'
43
Christian Science Examined
The Scriptures prove Mrs. Eddy to have written
what was false when she said ''the Bible had been
her text-book and only guide in the straight and
narrow way of Christian Science." Here is another
testimony concerning man taken from the Bible.
"They are all gone out of the way, they are to-
gether become unprofitable, there is none that
doeth good, no not one." In the face of these
words which agree with human experience as
we know it, Mrs. Eddy has the audacity to write
" Man remains perfect."
The words of the Holy Ghost given by John,
are that "If we say that we have no sin we de-
ceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. That
if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
righteousness." In the forefront of these pre-
cious and gracious words Mrs. Eddy blasphem-
ously writes, "God never pardons our sins or
mistakes." Once more the Bible teaches, "The
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men."
Mrs. Eddy writes, "Whosoever believes that
wrath is righteous does not understand God."
These statements which we might add to almost
indefinitely, prove beyond all dispute that to
claim the Bible as her text-book and only guide
44
Christian Science Examined
is absolutely false. She stands self-convicted
before the world.
To quote the words of another writer concern-
ing the leader of Christian Science. "Mrs.
Eddy's claim to loyalty to the Bible is mere pre-
tence. If she desired to overthrow belief in the
teachings of the Bible she was at liberty to an-
tagonize it openly. But to profess to believe it,
while rejecting, or denying almost every doctrine
which it teaches, was to resort to a course Vhich
is not easily characterized without using language
which might seem harsh. But her presumption
is still more aggravated by setting up the claim
that she is a divinely appointed interpreter of the
Bible. So astounding is her assumption in this
respect that it can be trusted to overthrow itself."
*'N0 TRUTH IN PAIN, NO PAIN IN TRUTH"
The absurdity of Mrs. Eddy's statement that
there is *' no truth in pain and no pain in truth! "
Whether the pain felt is mental or physical, it is
a fact, and a fact is truth. Pain is of the mind.
It exists also in human bodies everywhere. It is
in matter, in consciousness. To deny this is
folly. The illustrations are quaint and comical
that are found amongst Mrs. Eddy's disciples.
Here is a prominent teacher in a large New
45
Christian Science Examined
England city. Her teeth are defective and cause
much pain. Seeing that Christian Science has
not yet instituted a chair for painless dentistry,
she visited a well-known medical Scientist.
Seated in the comfortable chair of the dentist
and fortified with Christian Science doctrine, that
** there are no nerves in intelligence, and no in-
telligence in nerves," " no matter in mind, and
no mind in matter," ''no pain in truth and no
truth in pain," the operation began. No intelli-
gence in nerves!! Then why this outcry, "Oh
that hurts," "Oh the nerve." No pain in truth.
No truth in pain.
We have no desire to be hard upon this soft-
headed public teacher of Christian Science, but
we could not fail to be struck with the dentist's
words, "1 certainly have not a patient more
sensitive to pain or more alive to the intelligence
of her nerves than this amiable teacher of Chris-
tian Science."
Here is another illustration. Recently Mrs.
Eddy was the speaker in a crowded meeting. A
deaf woman was in the audience. She could not
hear, and changed her place, coming close to the
platform. Mrs. Eddy was annoyed because of
this untimely movement. It was explained that
the disturbing woman was deaf. This was not
46
Christian Science Examined
enough. Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy was cross, and
pettishly said that an orderly Christian Science
Assembly should not be disturbed.
It will be noted that the sense of hearing
which had become impaired was the rock upon
which the new Logos had struck. Here was proof
that one of the impaired senses much less five
had become an obstruction to comfort. Nor this
only, Mrs. Eddy's eyes were impaired (she was
wearing glasses) and seeing the deaf woman
moving about, they offended her sense of order
and propriety. She was irritated and her temper
was discomposed. Now is it cause for wonder
that she has written, ''The five senses are the
avenues and instruments of human error .?""
THE CRUX OF THE WHOLE POSITION
Yes, there's the crux of the whole position.
Why not see without the eye, or sense of sight,
and hear without ears or the sense of hearing.
Why not handle without the sense of touch or
feeling ? Why not smell without a nose or use
of the olfactory nerves, and eat without the sense
of tasting in the palate ? What a radical change to
be sure. No eyes, noses, ears, hands, mouths or
any other sense or vehicle thereunto. All dis-
carded, and their false evidence and testimony
47
Christian Science Examined
obliterated at the instance of infallible Christian
Science. What a deliverance!! We shall yet
see a Pantomime with Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy
playing chief in a ''burlesque of the five senses."
Seriously, we desire to know how it is that
Mrs. Eddy wears glasses, and that she could be
ruffled by the movement of her deaf sister.^
Christian Science denies the senses, the nerves
and the feelings. Why does the chief Apostle
of this fresh sect act in direct contradiction of
the principles laid down ?
To say the least, this is very inconsistent. We
have sympathy with Mrs. Eddy in regard to dis-
quiet and improper movements at public meet-
ing or address. We, however, admit that we
are but mortal, largely affected by and through
the senses. Sometimes pained by them, but
more commonly pleased. We enjoy them, they
are grateful to us. We praise God for them.
We fmd it impossible to admit that ''the five
senses are the avenues and instruments of hu-
man error." There can be no question that the
five senses are capable of being abused, and used
as God never designed them, but for every evil
to which the use of the senses may be applied,
we undertake to furnish ten that are good and
beneficent.
48
Christian Science Examined
It is an insult to the Divine intelligence to af-
firm that the five senses are to be ignored, de-
nied or revolted against because men and women
become lawless in the use of these invaluable
gifts with which God has endowed them.
THE CHILD A TIMELY ILLUSTRATION
We recall the case of a child. Through the
servanf s want of care the little one had crept to
the nursery fire and burned its fingers. To speak
more accurately, the fire did the injury, and
caused the pain. We were all sorry for the
child. We did not, however, think of abusing
the fire, but we thought of a nursery fire guard.
To declaim against God because it is the na-
ture of fire to burn and cause instant pain would
have been prima facie proof of insanity. Sup-
pose fire did not cause intense heat, consume
and burn, of what use would it be? Every
stove, fireplace, and chimney, indicates at one
and the same time the exceeding value and use-
fulness of fire as also of the need for its protec-
tion and restraint.
We remember saying as the little one cried bit-
terly: ''this is too bad," and we all sympathized
with the sufferer, but using the judgment to rea-
son with we said, ''Supposing the fire had not
49
Christian Science Examined
burned and caused pain. Think of the child
pleased with its rosy brightness, putting the wee
fingers into the attractive light. We suppose
for a moment that pain was non-existent. A
few minutes later and the mother comes in to
find her little darling smiling and holding up a
stump wrist. Pray notice, the child is maimed
for life."
Far better the sharp pain, the bitter cry, the
instant penalty than a painless burning and a
sentimental attack upon the goodness of God
because fire burns terribly. As every reader
knows there is a very real sense in which a fierce
fire is its own defence. You cannot approach
close to a heated furnace or flame. Far better
to study "the nature of things " than to play the
part of foolishness in falling foul of unalterable
conditions and fundamental principles.
What sense is there in denying the experiences
of many generations ? Mrs. Eddy again and
again declares, ''that matter has no existence,"
that ''there is no disease," that " what is termed
disease does not exist." Every Christian Scien-
tist must know that these statements are false.
What is the use of an attractive woman writing
what is not true ? Neither rhetoric nor attractive
personality can make a lie into the truth.
50
Christian Science Examined
As well attempt to whitewash a courtesan with
theatrical applause and a shower of bouquets, as
to rehabilitate these old heresies and errors by
the senseless glamour of a torrent of words. We
have already shown that Mrs. Eddy does not be-
lieve in sin. There is therefore no teaching of
repentance in the Christian Science System.
ANOTHER critic's STATEMENT
The writer from whom we have already quoted,
well says: ''For my part, I do not like Mrs.
Eddy's treatment of the doctrine or the fact of
sin. It has been the way of reformers, prophets,
apostles and founders of religions to call upon
men to repent of their sins. But the founder of
Christian Science commands us to repent, not of
our sins, but of our senses. Her fundamental
postulate is that we are living in an awful error,
belief in matter, in the reality of physical things,
in pain, sin, sickness, disease and death.
''This error is fastened upon us by our senses,
and by our 'mortal minds.' Hence she exhorts
and commands us to forsake our senses and our
mortal minds, to give them up, cast them out and
free ourselves from their bondage. ' The cor-
poreal senses,' she exclaims, 'are the only
sources of evil or error. Christian Science shows
51
Christian Science Examined
them to be false. Corporeal sense defrauds, lies
and cheats.'
''Again: 'Christian Science sustains with im-
mortal proof the impossibility of any material
sense, and defines these so-called senses as
mortal beliefs whose testimony can neither be
true of man nor his Maker?' (Elsewhere Mrs.
Eddy denies that man has a Maker.)
" But this is a kind of Christianity which I find
it exceedingly difficult to accept; and I think I
shall command some sympathy in saying that I
cannot easily give up my senses, for I find them
very handy, and moreover my conscience does
not rebuke me for being in possession of such at-
tributes. Troubles of conscience, frequent, per-
sistent and perhaps sometimes unreasonable, I
have certainly had; but I do not find it possible
to persuade myself that I am to blame for having
a pair of eyes or ears.
" Ifrmay be all a lie when my ear tells me that a
bird is singing on the limb; but then I like the
music, and I expect to go on indulging in that
kind of error, Christian Science to the contrary
notwithstanding.
' * But then, what is the use of arguing the point.
The real Mrs. Eddy believes in her senses as
much as any of us. It is only the Mrs. Eddy lost
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Christian Science Examined
itl a fog bank of metaphysical speculation who
asserts to the contrary."
MRS. eddy's denial OF THE RESURRECTION
Mrs. Eddy denies the fundamental doctrine of
the resurrection of Christ Jesus the Lord. This
is what the Bible says, ''If Christ be not raised
your faith is vain, ye are in your sins — But now
is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-
fruits of them that slept" (i Cor. xv. 17-20).
Nothing could be clearer, or more conclusively
stated. Think of the effrontery of any writer
who in the face of these words pens the follow-
ing: "Our Master appeared to His students, that
is to their apprehension, He rose from the grave
on the third day of His ascending thought, and
so presented to them the certain sense of eternal
life." — Science and Health, p. 502.
**The forgiveness of sins," which is another of
the fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures is also
denied and misrepresented. This is the teaching
of the Word of God, *'Be it known unto you
men and brethren that through this man (Jesus
Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of
sin, and by Him all who believe are justified from
all things from which ye could not be justified by
the law of Moses" (Acts xiii. ^S, 39). This
53
Christian Science Examined
precious testimony Mrs. Eddy distinctly denies.
She writes, " The design of love is to reform the
sinner. If his punishment here has been insuf-
ficient to reform him, the good man's heaven
would be a hell to the sinner. . . . Science re-
veals the necessity of sufficient suffering either
before or after death, to quench the love of sin.
To remit the penalty due for sin would be for
truth to pardon error. Escape from punishment
is not in accordance with God's government in
which justice is the handmaid of Mercy. " Again,
''It is useless to suppose that the wicked can
gloat over their offences up to the last moment
and then be suddenly pardoned and pushed into
heaven." — Science and Health, p. 341.
Once more we examine Mrs. Eddy. ''Resur-
rection is ascending thought." What nonsense
this is. Resurrection from the dead is not
ascending thought. It never was. It cannot be.
The resurrection of Christ was separated from
His actual ascension by the space of forty days.
Resurrection is life from the dead. The Lord's
personal ascent from Olivet to the right hand of
the Majesty in the heavens is not ascending
thought.
We cannot without protest permit this playing
with terms. This "ascension of thought" busi-
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Christian Science Examined
ness is stupid. Thought was not raised from the
dead. Thought cannot die. The Lord Jesus the
Saviour of sinners poured out His soul unto death.
His life was given as the infinite sacrifice for
sins. " He died unto sin once. He lives unto
God. His resurrection is the proof. By one
offering of Himself He has perfected forever
them that are sanctified."
Mrs. Eddy must not traffic in counterfeit
terms. It is not honest. To wrest the Bible
from its real meaning shall not be done without
exposure. It was not ''ascending thought" that
was raised from the grave on the third day.
Again she writes these words "ascending
thought, and so presented them the certain sense
of eternal life." Now eternal life is not "certain
sense." The Bible distinctly says of all believers,
"This is the record that God hath given to us
eternal life and this life is in His Son. He that
hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the
Son of God hath not life" (i John v. ii, 12).
THE BIBLE HAS NOT BEEN MRS. EDDY'S GUIDE
Why does Mrs. Eddy withhold from her fol-
lowers these Bible truths ? The fact is there is
no sense in her statement. Eternal life means
much more than thought or perpetuity of being.
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Christian Science Examined
Eternal life is the possession of the Son of God.
It is a caricature of Christ's teaching to speak of
''the certain sense of eternal life. Thought is
not life. Life precedes thinking. Thought is
the act of thinking or reasoning."
Let us turn from sophistry and deceit and hear
what the Bible says. These are the words of the
true and only Logos, ''To as many as received
Him (Christ) to them gave He the right, the
power to become the Sons of God even to them
that believe on His name. Which were born
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God" (John i. 12, 13).
This is eternal life, to receive and possess the
Son of God. Mrs. Eddy's certain sense is cer-
tainly senseless and directly contrary to the
teachings of the Bible.
Again she writes, "The design of love is to
reform the sinner." This is a very pretty senti-
ment. It is truth out of place. The design of
God's love is to save the sinner. You cannot
reform the sinner. If you could, he would be
the same man reformed. Reformation is not
God's design. Regeneration is God's design. It
is written, " If any man be in Christ he is a new
creature." He is not reformed. A new creature
is not and cannot be a reformed sinner.
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Christian Science Examined
Of all believers, of all who have received
Christ it is written, ''We are His workmanship
created in Christ Jesus unto good works which
God hath afore prepared that we should walk in
them." A reformed sinner is one thing. A man
born of God, born from above, born of incor-
ruptible seed, is quite another.
This wretched system has no place for the
grandeur of the truth. ''Neither circumcision
availeth anything nor uncircumcision but a new
Creation. And as many as walk according to
this rule, peace be on them and mercy " (Gal. vi.
15, 16). Mrs. Eddy should sit at the feet of
Jeremiah and listen to God's philosophy. "Can
the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his
spots ? then may ye also do good that are ac-
customed to do evil" (Jer. xiii. 23).
When will Mrs. Eddy learn that Science teaches
''the tendency to final permanence." Let the
sinner continue to reject God's great salvation
and he will become what the devil is, viz, a
permanent sinner having sinned away every
particle of will power to submit to God.
BIBLE TEACHING CONCERNING SATAN
In this connection it is solemnly interesting to
notice what the Bible teaches, that when the
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Christian Science Examined
Lord returns to the earth for the Millennial age the
evil Personality, Satan, is bound and shut up in
the bottomless pit for a thousand years. At the
close of this long period of imprisonment he is
not improved, much less reformed. He goes forth
at once as a revolutionist and leads the nations
into final revolt against God.
For this his latest and last revolutionary crime
against the Supreme and Blessed God, he is cast
into the lake of fire. His evil nature is not re-
formed. How could it be when he has made
definite choice of the role and character of the
usurper of Supremacy. The last we hear of the
devil is his deformed personality, localized and
tormented forever in the lake that burneth with
fire and brimstone.
Mrs. Eddy may well need her sentimental
" Father and Mother God." In her definite rejec-
tion of the teachings of the Bible she must for-
mulate some caricature of the truth, and she has
done it. Anything more grotesque than the
make-up of '* Christian Science," it would be im-
possible to conceive.
It is true that if Mrs. Eddy's reformed sinner
could enter heaven it would be hell to him, but
for a very different cause than she suggests.
What is to prevent the reformed sinner going
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Christian Science Examined
back to the dictates and service of his corrupt
nature ? It ought to be seen that if it were pos-
sible for the reformed sinner to enter heaven,
he would sin there as certainly as he does here.
No reformed sinner is sinless or holy. Sin is
restrained, that is all.
Until a man is regenerated he is destitute of a
holy and sinless nature. His human nature as
the Bible and experience everywhere declares
and gives evidence is sinful. The profound
reason for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ, was that by virtue of union with Him re-
generate men may become partakers of -"His
holy life, the divine nature " (2 Pet. i. 4).
By faith in Christ the believer possesses a holy
and sinless nature. The testimony of the Bible
to all that are born of God is ''Ye have died, and
your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ
our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear
with Him in glory " (Col. iii. 3, 4). This is Bible
doctrine. Possessed of Christ's holy life and
pure nature when He comes (sin after that time)
will never exist in the believer or be committed
again. The unscriptural travesty formulated by
Mrs. Eddy is thus stated— ''Science reveals the
necessity of sufficient suffering either before or
after death to quench the love of sin." Science
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Christian Science Examined
does nothing of the kind. So far science has
not spoken about suffering either before or
after death in order to quench the love of sin.
This is Christian Science assertion, Mrs. Eddy's
counterfeit gospel. " Suffering is to quench the
love of sin." It may be after death. Here is a
fresh purgatory and a post mortem salvation
through personal suffering. Here is a fresh Sav-
iour, whose name is '* Suffering."
THE BIBLE OPPOSED TO CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
The Bible, the Christian's guide, knows nothing
of Christian Science salvation. This is the testi-
mony concerning the sinner's Saviour, ''Thou
shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His
people from their sins" (Matt. i. 21).
And again of all believers. ''Who His own
self bare our sins in His own body on the tree
that we being dead to sins should live unto right-
eousness; by whose stripes ye were healed " (i
Pet. ii. 24).
And yet once more: " In that he died, he died
unto sin once; in that He liveth. He liveth unto
God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be
dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God in Jesus
Christ our Lord" (Rom. vi. 10, 11). In the face
of these teachings of the fundamental truth of
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Christian Science Examined
the sinner's salvation through the sufferings and
death of the Lord Jesus, Mrs. Eddy has the te-
merity to write that the quenching of the love of
sin comes by the suffering of the sinner either
before or after death.
If this were so then there was no need for
Christ's sacrifice for sins. No place for the pre-
cious words '* Herein is love, not that we loved
God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be
the propitiation for our sins" (i John iv. lo). Oh
shameless writer to say ''The Bible has been my
text-book and only guide."
It will be seen that Christian Science is a mere
system of morality. The fundamental truth of
partnership with Christ in resurrection, has no
place in Christian Science. The following an-
them of all believers is not known and could
not be rendered in these Assemblies, "In this
was manifested the love of God toward us be-
cause that God sent His only begotten Son into
the world that we might live through Him" (i
John iv. 9).
It is well to bear in mind that the word moral
has no place in the Bible. From Genesis to Revela-
tion it is not found. Morality simply means ap-
propriate conduct amongst men. We know
large numbers of men and women who pride
61
Christian Science Examined
themselves upon their morality, but they are ut-
terly opposed to the gospel of Christ.
Morals represent man's thought of the gospel.
Salvation from the guilt and penalty of sins by
the death of Christ and deliverance from sin by
reason of partnership with Christ in resurrection
represents the gospel of the Blessed God.
IS IT IMPROPER TO SPEAK OF SOULS .^
Mrs. Eddy, writes, "It is improper to speak of
souls as it is improper to speak of gods." This
is false. The Lord Jesus teaches, ''For what
shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole
world and lose his own soul. Or what shall a
man give in exchange for his soul " (Mark vii.
37, 38J. The words ''his own soul" and "his
soul," settle the question. Christ affirms again
and again, that the soul is a personal possession.
Here the personality of the man and the sepa-
rateness of the man's soul from every other man's
soul is distinctly taught.
So senseless and revolting is Mrs. Eddy's lan-
guage in regard to the atonement that we for-
bear quoting her words. Lest however we
should be supposed to do the writer injustice we
give one or two sentences. " He atoned for the
terrible unreality of a supposed existence apart
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Christian Science Examined
from God. He suffered because of the shocking
hunian idolatry that presupposes Life, Substance,
Soul and hitelligence in matter."
The author of such absurd phrases is surely
better fitted for kindly restraint in an insane asy-
lum than for the leader of this latest cult Chris-
tian Science. We notice that one of the leading
teachers has recently been lecturing in Chicago.
We believed we were justified in calling this sys-
tem Pantheistic. This gentleman said, speaking
of Christian Science, ''We do not believe that
God is personal or the image and likeness of per-
son, for person and personality are finite."
Here is the denial of God as ''Creator," "Re-
deemer," "Saviour" and " Preserver of men."
All these personal terms which necessarily carry
with them the blessedness expressed in the
words, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth," are ruled out by
this ungodly system and exchanged for the im-
personal abstractions of the Pantheist.
We do not understand an impersonal God.
Life is too real and the necessity for God's salva-
tion, love, fear, obedience and blessing too great
to fall down before an infinite and self-existent
"itself."
Were we compelled to make choice of posi-
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Christian Science Examined
tions, we would rather join the fools who say in
their heart, "there is no God," than bow in a
Christian Science assembly where deformed in-
telligence impudently asserts that the Eternal
God of whom the Cherubim sang, "Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord of Hosts," does not exist. The
seeds of its own corruption inhere in Christian
Science.
OUR DEEP CONVICTION CLEARLY STATED
Here at this very point we have deep convic-
tion that the Church of Christ has greatly missed
her way. She should have made the questions
of healing and the alleviation of human suffering
one of her chief ministries and business. This
she has not done, and hence as we believe one
great cause of her weakness. We need to hear
the strong words of common sense spoken by
the Prophet Isaiah.
Reproving the mere ritual into which the fasts
of Israel had fallen, the Lord asks, "Is it such a
fast that I have chosen for a man to afflict his
soul for a day, to bow down his head like a bul-
rush and to spread sackcloth and ashes ? Wilt
thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the
Lord ? Is not this the fast that I have chosen ?
To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the
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Christian Science Examined
heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free ?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that
thou bring the poor that are afflicted to thy
house ? when thou seest the naked that thou
cover him ! and that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh ? " (Isa. Iviii. 5).
Then follow the words which should be graven
on the pillars of the houses of assembly or better
still upon the hearts of all believers, " Then shall
thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness be as
the noonday — And the Lord shall guide thee con-
tinually and satisfy thy soul in drought — and
thou shall be like a watered garden and like a
spring of water whose waters fail not." (Verses
10, II.)
What a wonderful proof is here given of the
personality of the Lord, and His deep and loving
sympathy with human sorrow and suffering, and
what a reproof to the mere ritualism and for-
mality which in our day has eaten like a canker
into the practical worth and usefulness of the
Church. There could be no improvement sug-
gested to the words spoken by the Lord Jesus on
this great question.
The burden of His great sympathizing heart
finds vent in the gracious invitations of the Gos-
pel, ''Come unto Me all ye that labor and are
65
Christian Science Examined
heavy laden and I will give you rest," and again,
"Go ye into the streets and lanes of the City,
into the highways and hedges, and bring so
many as ye find of the poor, and the maimed,
the halt, and the blind, and bid to the marriage,"
and again, "Compel them to come in that My
house may be full."
OUR lord's pathetic complaint
Oh wonderful love! O splendid Saviour. Had
Thy words been heeded and Thine example fol-
lowed, what heavy burdens had been removed
from the sinful and suffering sons of men. Can
we wonder that failing so largely to fulfill His
Will, the Church instead of saving and helping
the world has been mainly engaged in enriching
herself.
Is it matter for surprise that the Lord of glory
said of her with pathetic sorrow, "Thou say est I
am rich and increased with goods and have need
)f nothing. And knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
md naked." Oh burdened heart of the Saviour
Zhrist.
To see Thy Church, designed to save others
saving herself, declining to enrich the poor, and the
miserable, and the blind, and the naked, becoming
66
Christian Science Examined
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked her-
self. Well may it be written, ** So then because
thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot 1
will spue thee out of my mouth." Has he re-
jected the professed Church from real service ?
And is that the reason for His words, ''As many
as I love 1 rebuke and chasten, be zealous there-
fore and repent." (See Rev. iii. 14-19.)
Is it unjust or unkind in the light of the Lord's
constant healing, help and blessing to say how
little in these respects is the Church of to-day
like unto her Lord? His public ministry was
adorned all along its course with wonderful
works. The rebuking and outcasting of de-
mons, the healing of all kinds of disease. The
restoration to wholeness of physical condition
was His delight. They were His proofs of the
mighty working of God. They were credentials
of His matchless ministry. Miracle became His
attendant handmaid.
Well might Peter speak out at Pentecost, " Ye
men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth
a man approved of God among you by miracles
and wonders and signs which God did by him
as ye yourselves also know." Is it not the fact that
for some cause or other the Church has lost this
beneficent ministry. Faith in Christ Jesus as the
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Christian Science Examined
healer and Saviour of the body needs a real re-
vival. This we readily admit but let us be care-
ful of so-called hypnotic and mind-healing sci-
ences which, whilst boasting of their power, deny
the august personality of the Lord Jesus Christ.
NO REAL HELP IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
And what is there in Christian Science to meet
man's deep need ? What can the abstractions in
which Mrs. Eddy delights avail ? Instead of the
magnificent outflow of the great love instanced
in the words, ''God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son that whomsoever be-
lieveth in Him should not perish but have ever-
lasting life." We have the following insipid
phrases, "Good is God," ''Principle is God,"
" Truth is God," and so on ad libitum.
Instead of God's infinite, personal and blessed
character we have words, words, words. Oh
the bright and blessed contrast contained in
the truth, "For if when we were enemies we
were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,
much more being reconciled we shall be saved
by His life. And not only so but we joy in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have
now received the atonement" (Rom. v. lo, ii).
This erratic system is constantly defended be-
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Christian Science Examined
cause a certain measure of success has attended
it. Many persons have thrown in their sympathy
and lot with Christian Science for no better rea-
son than this that it has attained a position and
following in the states, ''Nothing succeeds like
success." That a measure of interest exists in
Christian Science is freely admitted.
The reason for this is not far to seek. Sym-
pathy with human suffering everywhere exists.
We readily turn to anything which gives prom-
ise of the alleviation, healing, and cure of disease.f^
Natural affection in the family and in our indi-
vidual and social life produces this. It is kind^
right and wise, and ought to be.
Christian Science announces the discovery of
an enormous mind power which is effective to
cure and alleviate any quantity of disease. Mrs.
Eddy's recognized intellectual follies are borne
with, and her absurd propositions winked at, by
many who long to see their relatives and friends
restored to health and strength.
Christian Science professes to possess ability to
deal with various diseases and cure them. To
secure the benefit you are expected to become a
Christian Scientist. This is practically the sine
que non. These cures are not affected by ordi-
nary medical skill or medicine, but by what Mrs.
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Christian Science Examined
Eddy describes as virtues flowing out from Chris-
tian Science meetings, teacher's and associations.
Mind-healing well expresses the modus operandi
of Christian Science.
The intimate connection which exists between
the mind and the body, between the mental and
physical divisions of man's constitution is well
known. "Mind-healing" as it is called has be-
come popular. Hypnotic professors and mind
Scientists have quite a large following. Just
here is the strength of Christian Science and the
principal reason for its progress. It is the goodly
piece of human ointment in Mrs. Eddy's large
pot of flies.
LOOKING AFTER THE FLIES
We have nothing to write against truth, come
it from whence it may, but we are bound to look
after the flies. We are told that they are very
good scavengers, but we are not prepared to ac-
cept them though they infest and cover the oint-
ment.
That Christian Science has through its teachers
and operators healed disease and relieved im-
paired mental conditions, and through the mind
effected some remarkable results and cures is prob-
ably true. But this has been and is equally true
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Christian Science Examined
of what is known as "faith-healing." There is
a connection just here which needs to be pointed
out. These cures we were personally familiar
with in London long before Mrs. Eddy's advent.
This has been equally true of America and the
Continent of Europe, though not so widely
known as during the past twenty years. It is
simply absurd for Mrs. Eddy to say that it was
reserved for Christian Science either to discover
or make known mind-healing as a new gospel.
We are not by any means sure that hypnotism
is other than very dangerous. We have seen
and heard of the most absurd not to say immoral
things done to and by those who have yielded their
minds and wills to the mesmerist and hypnotist.
Tampering with the governing force, the con-
scious soldier on guard in mansoul is to be
strongly deprecated. No operator has the right
to tamper with or weaken the will power or sen-
sitiveness which pertains to personal conscious-
ness. Far better the anesthetic than the pranks
of the hypnotist. Of the remarkable cases of
cure effected in England and the United States in
years past we are all more or less familiar. That
Mrs. Eddy and her followers have emphasized
that phase of so-called ''Mental. Science" which
teaches the denial of the senses we frankly admit.
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Christian Science Examined
But is this denial of the senses, Science or Fanati-
cism, Mind or Madness, which?
The beneficent results which we believe may
in many cases (not in all) be obtained by prayer,
the exercise of faith, and the discipline of the
mind we would be the last to make light of, much
less deny. Through sin and carelessness, through
want of faith in, or lack of definite surrender of
body and mind to the healing ability of the Lord,
large numbers we believe are weak to-day both
in body and mind.
To ignore the Lord Jesus as the Saviour and
Healer of mind and body for this present life is
melancholy indeed. With this we could have no
sympathy, and we are heartily in accord with all
intelligent effort and true discovery which helps
and alleviates human suffering. This is the mind
and will of the Lord, whose servants we are and
whom we heartily desire to obey.
THERE MUST BE A RECOGNIZED LIMIT
There must, however, be a recognized limit to
the operations and results of ** faith-healing" or
•* mind-healing." We have known numbers of
cases in which after prayer, the exercise of faith,
and anointing with oil, the patients have been
asked to believe that they were healed, to get up,
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Christian Science Examined
and walk about. Now the truth is they were
not healed, and the question arises, what about
the sacrifice of truth involved by the patient stat-
ing, "\ am healed" when it was not the fact?
There have been numbers of such cases and ex-
periences.
We know of some cases and have heard of
many who have been healed, and healed at once,
through the exercise, as we believe, of faith and
prayer, but that which we have stated shows
that you cannot define faith healing as we know
it to be a J principle of abiding application in all
cases. Here is the crux of the whole question
whether " faith-healing " or *' mind-healing" be
in question.
Some Christian men and women we have
known appeared to possess the gift of healing.
But the gift, whatever the reason assigned may
be, was not effective for exercise in every case.
To our minds the perfect and comprehensive will
of the Almighty Creator " in whom we live and
move and have our being," is always to be kept
before us and submissively recognized.
We have not yet guaged the depths of the
divine philosophy resident in the matchless utter-
ance of Christ Jesus, who in His vicarious sorrow,
when *^made sin for us who knew no sin " said,
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Christian Science Examined
"If it be possible let this cup pass from Me
nevertheless not My will but Thine be done."
We make these remarks not as criticising in
any unfriendly spirit ''faith-healing" as a re-
vealed truth in which we firmly believe, but as a
kindly protest against any hard and fast line being
laid down and applied in all cases.
To assert as some have done that " it cannot
be according to the divine will that any believer
should be sick." This we regard as a very su-
perficial statement. To those who affirm that
** all sickness is of the devil," we reply that in our
judgment it is a self-evident fallacy. That sick-
ness was originally caused by sin we doubt not.
That the devil is shown to be a sinner from before
the beginning of human history, and that he
tempted the first man and woman to commit sin
is also true.
This unwise speculation concerning disease
and physical defect being purely of the devil, or
necessarily a result of parental or personal sin
was wisely rebuked by the Lord Jesus Christ.
We read, " And as Jesus passed by He saw a
man which was blind from his births and His
disciples asked Him saying, " Master who did sin
this man or his parents that he was born blind ?
Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned nor
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Christian Science Examined
his parents, but that the works of God should be
made manifest in him" (John ix. 1-3). Christ's
still more efficient answer was this that at once
He gave the blind man his sight.
To attempt to divide into proportions the
measure of guilt, sin and penalty, which per-
tains to man on the one hand and the devil on
the other is not wise. Evidently they were both
guilty. The devil and ungodly men are in part-
nership now, anyway, and will, if the partner-
ship is continued, share together a common and
similar judgment.
MRS. EDDY EXPLAINS AWAY THE DEVIL
Mrs. Eddy denies in the boldest terms the ex-
istence of the devil. This of course is part of the
so-called principles which pertain to Christian
Science. The Bible gives no less than thirty per-
sonal titles and names to the devil.
We quote Mrs. Eddy's words, "Devil! a lie!
error! neither corporeality nor mind! the opposite
of truth! a belief in sin, sickness and death,
animal magnetism, lust of the flesh." —Science
and Health, p. 575.
What shall be said of her words, "The Bible
has been my only guide and text-book in the
straight and narrow way of Christian Science."
75
Christian Science Examined
In trying to get rid of the personal devil Mrs.
Eddy quotes the words concerning the Lord:
*'He cast out devils," commenting upon the
word ** devils," she says, "This record shows
that the term devils is generic, it being used in
the plural number. From this it follows that
there is more than one devil. That Jesus cast
several persons out of another person is not
stated, and is impossible."
The truth is that Mrs. Eddy is either ignorant
or guilty of falsehood. Wherever the word
** devils" occurs in the English translation it
should be " demons," and is so rendered in the
Revised version. There is but one personal
spiritual being called the devil.
There are many demons. There are personal
spiritual beings. Angels that have fallen and re-
volted from God having left their proper habita-
tion (2 Pet. ii. 4; Jude 7).
We now deal briefly with the question of
mind-healing, the piece of ointment found in
the Christian Science pot of flies. Much may
be accomplished by the wise and disciplined
use of the powers which pertain to the human
mind.
The mind may be so powerfully affected as to
bring depression, hopelessness, despair and
76
Christian Science Examined
suicide. It is obvious also that the human mind
is capable of being influenced for hopefuhiess,
confidence, buoyancy and bright outlook. Hope-
ful words spoken by the kind-hearted medical
scientist, friend, or nurse, have marked the hour of
crisis to thousands of sick people, confidence and
hope have been white-winged angels heralding
to the patient hopeful tidings of speedy recovery.
Mind influence of a true and healthy character
cannot be too highly estimated or too often used.
The outlook of unwholesome fear has meant in
many cases the contraction of disease, the herald
of weakness, the forerunner of death.
We remember with vivid distinctness the dread
visitation of cholera in London in 1854. We
lived in the very heart of the cholera centre. A
paralyzing fear tended to the contraction of dis-
ease, and rapid approach of death to many who
resided there. Large numbers hastened from the
city. We remember a startling case. A wealthy
lady moved with unwholesome and cowardly
fear, hurriedly left for Paris. She reached the
metropolis of France, but died there within two
or three days.
We recall a patient, incidentally hearing that
the bed he occupied in the hospital had been
filled by a man who had recently died. Fear
77
Christian Science Examined
took hold upon him and in a few days he also
died. Thousands of illustrations might be ob-
tained proving the extraordinary power and in-
fluence of the mind over the body.
Had Mrs. Eddy called attention to this force,
this mind power, she would have done good
service. To mix up an important factor, such as
the aid of the mind is proved to be, with the
unwise attacks made against the invaluable and
divinely imparted senses which men everywhere
possess is stupendous wrong.
To profess allegiance to the Bible, and to state
that she has made it her text-book and guide,
when she denies nearly every truth revealed
therein, is sin of no ordinary magnitude. We
cannot forbear taking exception to Mrs. Eddy's
statement, that disease is cured by casting out
belief in its reality. She actually affirms that
•^in teaching so she has rediscovered Christ's
method.
The interpretation which Mrs. Eddy puts upon
Christ's miracles of healing will serve to show
the fanatical character of her views. She claims
that disease is cured by disbelieving that it really
exists. To recall the words which she uses re-
peatedly, "Matter has no existence, all is mind,"
and, ''What is termed disease does not exist."
78
Christian Science Examined
Mrs. Eddy actually says that 'Mn this teaching,
Christian Science shows that it has rediscovered
Christ's method of treating disease." Another of
her critics with striking and incisive words
writes :
'' Perhaps in these days when so many teachers
assert rediscoveries of Christ, the lady at Concord
should not be denied her little privilege, but it is
no part of the record of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John that Jesus cured disease by teaching
that it had no reality.
'' He did not tell the blind man that he was mis-
taken about his blindness, or the paralytic that
his senses were deceiving him, or the leper that
the decay which was feeding upon his flesh was
only a delusion; but He recognized the fact of
disease in its grim reality, and healed by an ex-
ercise of power. To deny all reality to pain and
sickness makes Christ's ' mighty works ' merely
the vanquishing of phantoms.
''But this is not the view which the Bible gives
us of these miracles of healing. And no such
view can be read into the record without turning
language inside out and upside down. But the
laws of language cannot be expected to have
much force with an author who always speaks
of the laws of the material world as so-called
79
Christian Science Examined
laws, and who denies the actual existence of the
pen with which she writes her thoughts."
Let it be remembered that in this criticism
of Mrs. Eddy and her teachings we have no
reference to any real results of healing really
effected by Christian Science, much less with
many whom we highly esteem who hold intelli-
gently '' healing by faith and prayer."
Much more might be stated to show the un-
scriptural character of Mrs. Eddy's writings.
One terrible result which is bound to follow the
reception of Mrs. Eddy's teachings is the denial
of personal responsibility to God. It is written
in the Bible, ''So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God." Whether Mrs.
Eddy realizes this or not the trend of Christian
Science teaching is clearly toward this result. It
has been well said ''that nearly all departures
from the truth agree in their common dislike of
personal accountability to a living God and in
their attempts either by open attack or subtle
deception to get rid of it."
FINIS.
80
Date Due
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