A Lecture delivered by Prof. Hermann S. Hering, C.S.B., Member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., Dec. 29, 1913
The healing so universally accomplished through Christian Science is probably the one feature of its work which attracts the most attention and which has been most misunderstood, since its methods are purely mental and spiritual, the direct opposite of those employed by the ordinary schools of therapeutics. That healing has resulted when Christian Science treatment has been applied after all other means have failed, is now quite generally conceded; but the manner in which this healing is accomplished, is so far from being understood that there is still a great reluctance on the part of many to avail themselves of it, and some still question its possibility. This, however, can be just as truthfully said of the healings which are chronicled in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament, where the spiritual means of healing is plainly referred to and advocated, and where many instances of healing are specifically named.
In Exodus we read, "I am the Lord that healeth thee;" in Psalms, God is referred to as He "who healeth all thy diseases;" and again, "He sent his word, and healed them." In Mark's gospel we read, "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." These citations show that mankind should look to a spiritual source for their healing instead of to drugs. Had God created drugs and given them healing power, Christ Jesus, who came to show us the way of salvation, or deliverance from sin, disease, and death, would certainly have used them himself and recommended them to others. His own success in healing proves that, he fully understood a healing art which has no recourse to material means.
