Editorials

ONE of the very evident signs of the times, from the religious standpoint, is the daring with which the most sacred topics are discussed in the light of modern conditions. There is certainly no cause to regret this free consideration of what are rightly regarded as vital questions, if mankind is thereby advanced and higher ideals attained.

PERHAPS no teaching of Christian Science is more misunderstood and resisted than that of the unreality of evil, and this fact is quite explicable when we remember that most people reach their conclusions through sense experience rather than through the processes of logical thought, and that the opinions of the educated as well as of the commoner are largely determined by the subtle influence of religious prejudice. It is none the less pitiful, however, to find religious writers in this late age playing into the hands of the enemies of a spiritual interpretation of nature and of life by their failure to discriminate between that which seems real to men and that which is real to God.

WE have clipped the following extract from an editorial in the Pacific Christian Advocate , and present it to our readers as an example of friendly criticism which recognizes some of the good fruits of Christian Science yet doubts the value of the tree which bears these fruits. The editor writes,— "We are not disposed to enter into any controversy with the Christian Scientists, and while we cannot agree with them on many points, we are not inclined to indulge in harsh criticisms of people whose lives are as beautiful as are the lives of those who live up to the teachings of Christian Science.

The following extract from a letter of John C. Higdon, Esq.

ONE who has been called "the wise man" said to those who were eager in their pursuit of material things,— the same things for which men to-day are giving their lives, —"With all thy getting, get understanding. " To the multitude this counsel may seem commonplace, not worth disputing, nor worth following to any great length, but to the thinker it embodies all the wisdom of the ages.

On page 760 of this issue we print under the above title a grand communication from Rev. F.

As wider skies broke on his view God greatened in his growing mind. Sam Walter Foss.

The anonymous letter is universally regarded as the refuge of those who have not the courage to stand fairly for their opinions. It would seem that our Leader's untiring work for humanity earns her the right to expect that all communications addressed to her shall be signed.

Will our readers kindly bear in mind that the work at headquarters is necessarily divided into departments, also that by referring to the advertising pages of the Journal and Sentinel they will be able to ascertain the person or persons to whom their correspondence should be addressed in order to avoid delay. Mr.

In a recent religious discussion as to what may properly be defined as skepticism, the statement was made that "If the apostolic church had made the acceptance of dogma the condition of membership, it would have excommunicated Thomas. " It is not surprising if in this age of reason and scientific inquiry there are many ready to defend the position taken by Thomas in demanding evidence in support of a statement made by others, but it is surely proper to inquire as to the ultimate value of physical evidence in establishing spiritual facts.