A Remarkable feature of the progress of the Christian Science denomination is that very few of its members have accepted the distinctive teachings of Christian Science for no better reason than that some relative or friend is a member of the denomination. Comparatively few have called themselves Christian Scientists without having had to overcome a sense of opposition and prejudice that rendered them well-nigh incapable of passing sane judgment upon the facts coming their attention. Only after this opposition and prejudice gave way under calm and deliberate consideration of evidence which could leave no reasonable doubt of the truth of Christian Science, were they willing to cast in their lot.
It is for this reason that the denomination is a live, energetic, forceful, and aggressive factor in the world of to-day. Every Christian Scientist can give a reason for the faith that is in him, and with most of them the reason is that they have been healed of their diseases, and have been brought back to a living faith in God, a demonstrable faith that He is indeed "a very present help in trouble."
Every prosecution of Christian Scientists and all at tempts to legislate against them have but served to make known to a greater number, that Christian Science is the healing, saving religion of Jesus, and that from year to year an increasing army of intelligent people are espousing it. It would seem, therefore, that from this time forth attempts to enact restrictive or prohibitive legislation may be expected to meet the sudden and merited fate of the bill recently introduced in the New Hampshire legislature.
