Articles

An editorial in The Daily Oregonian of June 10, 1906, in commenting upon the distinctive features of the Christian Science movement makes a statement concerning the practice of Christian Science which may be pondered with profit. The premise from which the editor's conclusion is drawn, the mistaken assumption that Christian Science in its idealism is in any way based upon Berkeley's philosophy, is at once challenged by the reader who understands somewhat of Christian Science, but the deduction in the editorial is interesting and straight to the point, and for that reason the paragraph is here quoted.

In the book of Job we read that when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them. When asked if he had considered the uprightness of Job, Satan answered, "Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will be give for his life," implying that men value more highly than all else the sense of life which they possess.

The secret of one day that is really happy will serve for all days, because it will go below the incidents or chances of time and draw upon permanent and fundamental laws of conduct and character. The secret is complex like the rainbow, and I will name but one strand of the twisted light.

From a strictly medical point of view the only objection that can be urged against the practice of Christian Science is that the patient who places himself under the care of one of its practitioners dispenses with the use of drugs and other material remedies, and by so doing he neglects to employ agencies which might restore him to health or at least alleviate his sufferings. Even the most rigid adherents of the drugging system do not claim that drugs are needed every time the harmonious action of the human system is interfered with.

Prayer is a sacred and an entirely individual link with God, indeed it is humanity's one point of contact with an unseen Father, and Christian Science does not sunder this bond, but strengthens it in each of the old weak points. Notwithstanding this fact, one sometimes meets young students who, while expressing the deepest reverence for the teachings of Christian Science, own to a feeling of some uncertainty with regard to the question of prayer.

Whenever a new and higher vision of Truth is proclaimed to the world, human ignorance and prejudice invariably render contemporary impressions regarding its advent and meaning more or less hazy and inaccurate, even as a dense fog causes objects to appear abnormal and indistinct. A righteous estimate of any great spiritualizing movement can be acquired only as the germinal concept from which it springs is distinguished from the incidental and contingent features which appear in the course of its historical development and which constitute its mental and moral environment.

By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?—Matthew, 21:23. It may seem almost superfluous to define so wellknown a word as authority, but since this word has several shades of meaning it may be advisable for the sake of clearness to agree upon those definitions that concern us in this article.

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. —Jesus.

DURING the last fifty years or more, among Protestant congregations there has come a change of thought regarding pastors and preaching. In former days the sermon was listened to with almost the same reverence as that given to the reading of the Bible, and it was considered that both in his ministry and in his sermon the pastor spoke with authority.

THERE is no knowledge more desirable than a scientific understanding of the spiritual forces which govern man, but up to the time of Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Christian Science in the year 1866, no knowledge seemed less attainable.