The following is an editorial in a recent issue of the Cedar Rapids Commercial, a daily newspaper, published in Cedar Rapids. Iowa.
One of the most abused and perhaps least understood doctrines of modern times is Christian Science. Its noble name is assumed by all manner of quacks, and confused generally with faith cure, spiritualism, hypnotism and numerous other humbugs. The genuine Christian Science doctrine, however, is that taught by the students of the original Massachusetts Metaphysical College, founded by Mary B. G. Eddy, and is comparatively but little heard of through the public press. True Christian Science does not quarrel with the faith of others, but pursues its own stately course. . . . Physical healing is not its chief aim, but comes in as incidental in the destruction of all evil. It takes a high scientific position and proves its theories by demonstration, as well as by logic and scripture. Theology admits that one part of it is right, and Materia Medica admits the other part of it is right. It is true that people have succumbed under Christian Science treatment, but it was not the fault of science, but the lack of it. Our graveyards testify that medicine also fails, and our courts, reformatories, jails, and penitentiaries testify that popular theology is not a complete success. Man has swallowed and applied as medicine nearly every known thing in the vegetable, animal and mineral kingdoms without a panacea, but as intelligence increases the upward tendency is towards less medicine, and so theology has tried creed upon creed, ceremony upon ceremony, but it is gradually being thrown aside as so much worthless rubbish, and advancing faith is centering upon the simple truth that spiritual harmony — heaven — is gained only by the simple ordinance: Do good, think good, be good, and here Christian Science steps in and shows how and why all things divine are good, eternal and scientific, and that material effects are all primarily of mental causation. The doctrine is now having a rapid growth. The Mother Church recently dedicated at Boston, cost nearly a quarter of a million, and has something like six thousand members. The denomination was given great prominence at the World's Parliament of Religions held at Chicago, during the Columbian Exposition, and we quote the following from the remarks of Hon. C. C. Bonney:
Then follows a copy of Mr. Bonney's address.
