A frequent charge against Christian Science is that the claim of inspiration for its text-booK, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and that its author, the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy was divinely appointed to its preparation, is preposterous. The clergy are especially pronounced in their denunciation of this claim. That one— and especially a woman — untrained in the theological seminaries, should assume the prerogative of interpreting the Scriptures from a higher standpoint than they have reached, is to their sense, the height of presumption.
This is not surprising when we look back upon the history of theology and note the peculiarities of doctrine and conception which have entered into it. The Roman Catholic, Greek and Anglican Churches, adhere strictly to the doctrine of priestly authority as coming in direct line from the apostles, or through what is commonly called the apostolic succession. This doctrine has been so firmly engrafted upon the general church polity that the so-called Evangelical churches have not yet cast it off. True, in some of its denominations the theological seminaries have in some sense taken the place of the apostolic succession, and a prescribed line of educational and intellectual training has become the test of fitness to preach the gospel and interpret the Scriptures, yet this can scarcely be said to be a general rule within those churches.
Judaism also adheres strictly to the rabbinical idea, and only the rabbi, educated according to well established and prescribed methods, may authoritatively preach the word and interpret the Scriptures. Thus an exclusiveness has been built up, which, so far as it can be enforced, of course rules out all but the traditionally authorized classes from teaching the people the word of God.
These systems have borne their legitimate fruit, and scholasticism, from a strictly technical standpoint, has too largely supplanted the pure Gospel of Christ Jesus. It is but the recital of plain historical fact to say that theology, as a system, finds its authority much more in Judaism and the material philosophies than in the life, character and teaching of the Nazarene. Had His theology been adopted and taught with even the faithfulness and zeal which have characterized the prevailing systems, it is impossible to conceive what would have been the fruit harvest.
We look with sadness upon the comparatively fruitless results of scholastic theology. We see struggling humanity adrift upon its shallow shoals, and wonder in amazement that it does not see that there is a radically wrong condition of things within its own borders. So blind is it to the true state of affairs that it is looking for the remedy elsewhere than within itself. It is attributing its own shortcomings to the wickedness and degeneracy of the people.
On the other hand, the people are awakening to a higher sense of the Gospel, and rapidly is it spreading abroad in the hearts and consciousness of men.
The great need of humanity which theology has failed to meet is being met by Christian Science, and woman has been made the divine instrument to supply the need. The female of God's creation is becoming apparent in these latter days, and ecclesiasticism will sooner or later be awakened to this fact. The Gospel of healing according to Jesus' system must inevitably take the place of doctrine and formulary, of priestly dictation and theological ipse dixit, and the mighty tenet of God as Love and man as the eternal child of Love, become the Theology of the world. Christ must take the place of creed. Christianity must super sede churchianity. The sleeping must be awakened. The dead must become alive.
