Editorials

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS are always glad to hear of criticism of their doctrines and practice, if only it be fair and if the critic does not claim to have a complete knowledge of the subject when he has only the dilettante's point of view. The time has gone by when any thoughtful person, especially one with religious conviction, can afford to admit ignorance of Christian Science.

IN no particular, perhaps, is Christian thought more sadly awry than in its concept of the nature and law of the divine activity in creation, and for this fact one of the world's greatest poets is largely responsible. Milton wrote not only as a poet but as a theologian, and when the profoundly moral earnestness of this great religionist finds expression in the "incomparable phrases," as Matthew Arnold calls them, with which lie pictured the events narrated in the second chapter of Genesis, the sympathetic reader retains not only a vivid remembrance of his majestic measure, but he can hardly escape the impress of an interpretation which is no less material in its sense than splendid in its setting, and the effect has been to fix in thought a sense of God and His order which yet dominates dogmatic theology, but to which the spiritual interpretation of the Bible is and ever has been inherently opposed.

WHEN Jesus healed the sick of "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease," there is no record that he used any material means; and we may say that this claim is universally admitted, notwithstanding the captious critic of Christian Science who occasionally comes to the fore with his assertion that the Master did make use of clay and spittle in the case of the man who was born blind. It is also generally admitted that Jesus' reference to the works which he had done, and the "even greater works" which his followers were to do after him, did not contemplate a different system from that which he had employed.

ONE of the immeasurably important factors of life is environment, and other things being equal, he who wins the largest number of spiritual suggestions from his surroundings will make the best showing in his Christian progress and achievements. Place, friends, opportunities.

A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST , in conversation with another of the same faith, said, "I would give up all I possess, deny myself all the comforts of human existence, if I could thereby heal the sick as did Christ Jesus;" and there are doubtless many others who would in all sincerity echo this sentiment. St.

ONE of the stock criticisms of Christian Science promulgated by those who have only a superficial acquaintance with its teachings, is that these teachings permit the followers of this faith to do evil; that is, these critics assume that the acceptance of the declaration that there is no evil, must carry with it the belief that all human or mortal experiences are good, therefore may be indulged with impunity and without sin. The utter fallacy of this criticism is apparent even to one who in his own experience has touched but the border of Christian Science teaching, for to those who believe that all which really is, is created by infinite Mind, and cannot be otherwise than perfect and good and eternal, like its creator, it is perfectly plain that the statement that there is no evil is truthfully made in the exact and scientific sense of evil as being in no sense a part of God's creation, and therefore without entity,—unreal.

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VISITORS to one of the famous galleries of Munich are sure to pause before a large canvas by Richter, on which the artist has wonderfully portrayed a most stirring scene. It is the moment when Egypt's mighty monarch has alighted from his chair and stands amid the swarming workers upon the pyramid which is to be his final resting-place.

MRS. EDDY tells us that "spiritual teaching must always be by symbols" (Science and Health, p.

Behind a frowning providence He hides a shining face. THE Christian Scientists at Mrs.