I Believe it is not unusual for recent converts to Christian Science, in the glamor of their new experience, to be overenthusiastic in its defence. Such champions in their mistaken ardor often prejudice against their views many candid and thoughtful persons. New-born zeal is sometimes more earnest than logical, and liable to invite ridicule and satire rather than command respectful attention. Controversies should especially be avoided. Christian Science is so far in advance of our traditionalism, and on a plane so far above the institutions that presume to exercise unqualified authority; so unlike and distinct from the ethical and religious instruction of ecclesiasticism—that the prejudices, of the ordinary church Christian are slow to yield to its beautiful truth or the acceptance of its spiritual ideals. And the public is not inclined to give attention to things unobserved from a material, standpoint.
I am occupying only a Kindergarten seat in the school of Christian Science myself, but have learned enough already not to quarrel with my friend when he thinks he has proven, for instance, the reality of matter by asserting that he sees a horse, and that he knows it is a horse, and really knows what color it is, and challenges me to disprove it. While I would not dare to enter into a metaphysical discussion with him, nevertheless, I know that we must not always accept, as real, the outward sense of things; for I once knew of a boy who had a painful experience from smelling a hot flat-iron, when, to his material vision the implement did not seem to be "loaded."
My materialistic friend said to me not long ago," That were it not for his eyes he could not see the beautiful flowers, the birds, nor brooks. In fact all his knowledge was obtained through the channel of his physical senses." I asked him "if he thought his eyes were any more reliable to him, as a means of communication with the outer world than were an animal's eyes to it." He thought not, if anything the animal's vision was the more acute. Then I told him the story of the goat, that was so angered and provoked at his reflection in the mirror. This goat had never before, in all his diversified animal existence, met one of his kind that displayed so many conceited airs. Finally, being driven to the verge of desperation by his staring impudence and menacing attitude proceeded to knock his antagonist out. But his deluded judgment led him to a false conclusion, and likewise defeat and degradation. So, man, listening with credulity to the dictates of his material senses, pursues with eagerness, phantoms as absurd as that which challenged the pugilistic goat.
