THE question is sometimes asked, "Is Christianity fulfilling its purpose?"
Many centuries have passed since the followers of Christ Jesus were designated as Christians in Antioch. It is noteworthy that the early Christians demonstrated the truth of their religion by healing sickness and disease of every nature, in obedience to the admonition of its great Founder. Many were the hardships they endured. Reviled and tortured, they proved the practicality of their high idealism, and were inspired with dauntless courage through their sense of spiritual dominion. Christian soldiers they were in very truth, warriors who battled valiantly to redeem mankind from the tyranny of sin, sickness, and death. With the shield of unwavering faith and the sword of the spirit of Truth they stormed the citadels of carnality and hypocrisy. By their spiritual understanding they healed the sick and raised the dead. Thus did they labor to carry the gospel—the good news of their glorious religion—onward, ever onward.
And what of today? There are many millions who have embraced the Christian religion. Several great nations have long been regarded as Christian nations. The Christian Bible has the largest publication of any book in the entire world, and the teachings of Christ Jesus contained therein are generally considered to be the highest idealism. Not all of that idealism, however, is believed by all Christians to be practical, notwithstanding that its entire practicality was demonstrated by Christ Jesus and the early Christians. Until the discovery of Christian Science by Mary Baker Eddy, in 1866, the belief, for many centuries, was general that the power to heal by spiritual means, so conspicuous in primitive Christianity, was a divine dispensation specially conferred on certain individuals during a set period. Also, it was considered presumptuous to believe that this power could be otherwise acquired.
