In a certain paper there was published an article which began with what was claimed to be a question and reply from Robert G. Ingersoll, and it seems not unlike the man. It was, in substance, the following: He had been asked if he were to make a world how different would he make it from what this is now. His reply was, that he would make health catching instead of disease. While no one expects any views very religious or spiritual from the "great agnostic," this reply, if he made it, shows that he really has got hold of one of the deep mysteries of the world, according to the common orthodox cosmology. In fact, one who dwells at all in thought upon the course of affairs comes to a necessary and intuitive conclusion that there is a mistake somewhere, when a world, made by such a Creator as the Bible represents God to be, has such an anomalous condition of things that the evil, the disastrous, the death-bringing, is contagious, while the good and life-bringing seems inert and powerless.
At the present time none but Christian Scientists pretend to point out the mistake, and prove what the real condition of the universe is. It is quite probable that the famous lecturer intended this as a thrust at the churches or their theology, instead of a true, honest conviction, or sense of spiritual need. It is well known that his human sympathies are quick and generous, and he might wish to make health catching so as to save people from pain merely; but this does not necessarily lead to any spiritual or eternal good. But we will at least give him the credit for presenting a subject that comes so near to the spirituality of Divine Science that only Christian Science can answer it.
Christian Science teaches that health, in reality, is catching, and that it will at last entirely destroy disease. The subject at bottom is the preponderance of the Good over the bad; that, in the conflict between them, the Good is a better fighter than the evil, and at last will vanquish it in mortal thought. The victory has been already gained in Principle, as told in Revelation, but it is to be realized in mortal thought.
