—The Journal for March is at hand, and I have read with deep interest the majestic "Defence of Christian Science."
I had read the letter of Dr. Gordon against this second coming of Christ, and Cook's endorsement of it (the letter), in a copy of the Advance. It was immediately apparent to me that neither of those self appointed judges had read the chapter on " Imposition and Demonstration," in the second volume of Science and Health. A friend fears that they will retard the progress of Christian Science. But to me, J. C. seems a pigmy man with feeble voice, protesting against that Truth whose thunder tone at the tomb of Lazarus waked death to life. Clothed with the authority of Omnipotence, its rousing battle cry, "Loose the false fetters of dominant materialism! Roll ye away the stone! " thrills a buried age to life. Worse has not been said of us who would obey— cannot be said, than was spoken against our forerunner, Jesus of Nazareth: "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils," (Spiritualism.)
From a sermon by Prof. Swing, I copy a few singularly appropriate thoughts, to harmonize the time of this peculiar appearing of Truth in these days with the prophetic words of the Man who "perverted the people ("Let Christians beware of the system"): "In the days of the saint who saw this war in the clouds, (Michael and his angels against the dragon,) he and a few others had embarked in an enterprise of religion and love; but such a move was a declaration of war—just as were the personal movements of Socrates, and the private and public life of Jesus. Virtue of any form has never made a move in this world without waking up the dragon." (In this instance the double-headed monster appears in the livery of two reverend gentlemen, before a Christian audience, attacking a woman who comes in the name of the King.) "It was this ever-recurring conflict that created the myth Dragon, whose name is said to mean "tiery eyes." To meet such a constant enemy, Michael was also invested with a name which implied resemblance to God. We thus have a pictorial representation of all trouble that besets all righteousness, all reform, all religion, all civilization. No sooner does any good appear than forth comes the dragon to dispute its right, and its advance, and the contest begins. Christ came as the most thrilling leader in the vast struggle, and let fall some words about coming to the world again, in more power and glory. It is thought by some that He will come suddenly, as king of nations and men. But the wisdom of such a personal reign of Christ is inadequate. God may not judge as we, and may know of an end of the long battle more glorious than this dream. This we seem to know—that an end will come; will come with defeat to the dragon and his host, and with matchless triumph to the Man of Nazareth and his followers, conscious or unconscious of his leadership."
