So much has been said recently of Christian Science, and it has been brought prominently before the public in so many ways that even the most sceptical feel an interest in it. Still, only a few of those one meets know enough about it to be able to give any intelligent opinion of its principles, and still less of its actual workings.
At a meeting of the Christian Scientists of this city held in their church on Bowen Street last night a very good opportunity was offered to see what kind of persons belong to this faith, and to see what is done at their meetings, how their services are conducted, and to hear what was said, and listen to accounts of the work that is being done throughout the country. As the observer looked about the church, which was well filled in spite of the storm, he saw an assembly of people of evidently more than ordinary intelligence and education, just such people as are met in a business way from day to day, of whom it would be said that they were of the "better class." The congregation is clearly free from "the man of one idea," that much-described, unreasoning, long-haired individual who is himself the doom of his own cause.
Many ignorant people have supposed that the Scientists are composed largely of persons of this sort, but none such are seen here. The gathering is clearly one of representative people.
The service was conducted by Rev. E. H. Greene, and was opened with singing from the Christian Science Hymnal. This was followed by reading from the Old Testament Scriptures, and selections from the Christian Science text-book, Science and Health, by Mary Baker G. Eddy.
Then came a season of silent prayer, closing with the repetition of the Lord's Prayer by the congregation. Another hymn was then sung. The announcement was made that meetings were held every Sunday morning and every Friday evening, the latter being a testimonial service. Such was the meeting last night.
The services are conducted in an earnest and devout manner, and it is perfectly evident that the followers of the new faith are entirely sincere. What is their belief? Perhaps quite a good answer would be to say they believe in doing good. Have they done it? Yes.
Especially interesting was the address made by a lady of large experience as a healer, both in this country and in Europe, who read a number of letters and gave in a straightforward way the history of the correspondence. From it as given here briefly some idea can be gained of the commonsense practical work the Christian Scientists are doing in this country, of the practical results they are getting, and of the good that is being accomplished by their efforts. Any missionary society that can show such results ought to receive the heartiest praise and support.
It appears that in England and Scotland Christian Science is just beginning to get a foothold and is meeting with some opposition because the ecclesiastical tenets of the Church of England have so great a hold on the people. With this explanation the first letter will be perfectly clear. The Christian Scientists at Portland, Oregon, have been doing missionary work among the inmates of the county and city jails in that city with most excellent results. The prisoners have manifested much more interest in what the Scientists said to them than in the words of representatives of any other denomination. So on receiving such a letter from Scotland the testimonials following were easily obtained.
Barnff, Alyth, N. B., October 22, 1897.
Dear Mrs. H.:— I hope you will forgive the liberty I take in writing to you, but I am led to do this on account of your very interesting article on missionary work which appeared in the October, 1897, Christian Science Journal. Here in Scotland we are beginning to know something about Christian Science, and there is considerable opposition to it from some quarters. One charge which has been brought against it by the Episcopal clergymen of this place is that the doctrine of the unreality of sin is a most dangerous one to preach, and would certainly tend to encourage crime if it spread to the masses. I cannot help thinking that you must have, or could easily obtain, first-hand evidence to the contrary. You speak of the jailer at Portland, Oregon, being so friendly to Christian Science and encouraging your visits. Do you think you could get him to make a written statement to you, or dictate to you? The points I would wish answered are these: (1) Judging from what you have seen of the results of Christian Science, do you think that the doctrines tend to diminish or increase crime? (2) If the former, how would you compare its action with that of the teaching of other churches? Is Christian Science more or less powerful in reforming from crime? Of course if you have, or could obtain, any statements from men or women (preferably men) who have felt the benefit of Christian Science in healing sin, they would be most valuable. Any information you can give me which would be regarded as evidence, I should greatly prize. Over here the work is still in its infancy.
Statement made by the jailer and matron of the county jail at Portland, Oregon, November 13, 1897.
Your letter of inquiry asking for written evidence from me as to the good the Christian Scientists have done in this institution has been received. In reply I can truthfully say they have, in my opinion, done more good in this jail than any other denomination. You must remember that they only commenced their work in this jail last April. I will state a few instances in which they have done good work. I had under my charge one John W. He was a very dangerous man when intoxicated, and was arrested about every two weeks for assault and battery. Finally, when intoxicated, he nearly killed a man, for which crime he was sentenced to six months in the county jail. During the early part of his confinement he was very sullen and disagreeable. The Christian Scientists read to him twice a week and left with him some of their books. He attended their meetings every Friday night and never did he betray the trust. He would pass saloon after saloon, never thinking of buying a drink. He was released on the last of September and has not tasted any liquor since, being completely cured. He has work now and attends their meetings and tries to help others. Another case is Ed N., who was arrested for larceny. He was a cook by trade, and was about twenty-five years of age. He was sentenced to ninety days, and after thirty days I made a trustey of him. He spoke to the Christian Scientists and told them he wanted help, and they treated him in the same way. He was released on the nineteenth, and to-day he is occupying a position of trust. Another instance is John M., a United States prisoner for an act committed while under the influence of liquor. He is entirely cured, and says he never thinks of drink. Often of an evening he calls the boys around him and reads to them and says, "See what Christian Science has done for me." He was a great smoker, but now he has laid his pipe aside.
To C. L. R.
Dear Madam:—The ladies of the missionary committee of the Christian Science Church inform me that you write to inquire, "Does Christian Science teaching lessen, or is it an incentive to, crime?" Their teaching among the inmates of our jail certainly elevates them and lessens their desire to do evil. All who come under their care are better men and women with higher thoughts for doing right. Their treatment enables them to endure physical suffering by teaching them that the mind controls the body, and by giving them happier thoughts. Although I am not a Christian Scientist, I find them the personification of goodness and happy thoughts. I wish every jail in the land had missionaries from their church.
Letter from an inmate, County Jail, Portland, Oregon.
Dear Friends:—I take pleasure in telling you what Christian Science has done for me in the short time I have been studying it. By the reading of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," it has unfolded the blessed Truth to me, and shown me by what power we are able to overcome error in all forms. For several years I have been a slave to strong drink and also to the use of tobacco, but as I began to realize the power of Mind over matter, and that God is all, I have lost all desire for either, and I find how true are the words, "For the things we once loved we now hate, and the things we once hated we now love." I had never before found anything that showed mortal man as he is until I found it by reading Science and Health. I am still trying to gain a higher understanding of God and his goodness, and I hope that these words of truth may be the means of helping some one else to turn to the Truth of being.
From another inmate of the same institution:—
This is to certify that I, Chris Young, was born in January, 1861, and am now thirty-six years of age, have spent nearly half my life behind prison bars, and have heard many people preach and pray me to do what is right, but it never has had any effect on me until I started to read the book of Christian Science, and I know that it has done me a world of good, as I am a changed man, and hope and pray that it will be so the rest of my days. I am satisfied that it will do the same to all that read and study the book of Christian Science.
From another inmate of the same institution:—
Dear Friends:—I will endeavor to tell you what Christian Science has done for me. I had never heard of Christian Science till I got in jail, and then I thought it was like all other Christian work. I did not know the light that was hid in the little book called Science and Health, and when I first took it up to read it was with the intention to find fault. But I had not read far until my fault-finding intentions were changed, and I began to see the Truth, the new light that will guide the footsteps of the wandering sinner. I then began to look at myself in the new light, and found that I was in error, and then I began to realize the allness of God, and it is to this blessed Truth gained by the study of Christian Science that I owe my cure of the tobacco habit and the use of profane language, and have been able also to demonstrate over the belief of headache. We are taught by the Bible and Science and Health that the leaves of the tree are for the healing of all nations, and that there is no other way that we can be saved except by the power of God through the blessed truth and love of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I have been studying the Christian Science text-book for only about five months, but in this short time it has been worth to me more than its weight in gold.
It has given peace to my soul and put a new love in my heart and new words in my mouth, and as I continue to read it unfolds the allness of God more fully. It is as a light shining in the darkness, and the more we read the closer we get to that light which is God. I will close for this time, hoping that these few words may be the means of turning some poor wandering soul to the light.
The testimony of this lady was followed by other testimony from various persons in the congregation. Cases of healing were related, which would be declared to be simply impossible, but for the fact that the evidence is unimpeachable. Difficult cases of surgery have been quickly, easily cured. One of Dr. Sulcer's cases, that of a child given up as beyond any help from the bite of a poisonous spider in California, and immediately cured by a healer, was cited. This, with many others, was instrumental in bringing Dr. Sulcer over to Christian Science. Other cases still more marvelous were related, and if people at large should know even a small part of the things that have been done by Christian Science, the ranks would fill up much more rapidly than they are filling now.
The meeting closed with the singing of a hymn. The ideals of the Scientists are high, and if the world can be made to appreciate them they cannot fail to spread rapidly and do far more good than they do at present by being more
The church itself is a very fine example of the modern chapel. The interior is finished throughout in oak. The seats are very comfortable. At the front is the reading desk on the platform. In a sort of alcove back of this is the organ and the choir. The floor is of hard wood and the aisles are well carpeted. The building is lighted by electric lights in the ceiling. Palms and other tropical plants adorned the platform and the steps leading up to the choir. Altogether the service was most interesting and served to dispel many incorrect ideas of the sect.
The News, Providence, R. I.,March, 5, 1898.
The hymn, "Feed my Sheep," by Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, as set to music by Mr. Lyman Brackett, is again being published by the Christian Science Publishing Society. See Publisher's Department.
