CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE DOCK

Evening Star, Issue 19409, 18 November 1926, Page 15

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE DOCK

“ NEFARIOUS TRAFFIC IN HUMAN LIFE " A slashing indictment of the doctrine and practices of Christian Science by three leading scientists is contained in a work entitled ‘The Faith, Falsity, and Failure of Christian Science,’ just published. “ Lies,” “ Swindling,” and “ Suppression ” are among the chapter headings of this book, which asserts that Mrs Eddy, the founder of the sect, was secretly attended by a medical man in her last illness. Mrs Eddy, who claimed to have “ discovered the mind-healing principle on which Christian Science is based, merely borrowed the principle iogetner with the name, from Dr Quimby, a mesmeric healer by whom she was treated for some ailment. Her books, which form the “ bible ” of the sect, contain a teaching which was lifted almost without alteration from the works of Branson Alcott, a New England mystical writer. SCORES OF TRAGEDIES. Although Mrs Eddy denounced Spiritualism, she herself was a Spiritualist, who went into a state of trance, and gave out spirit messages both by automatic writing and by her voice. It is further stated, that, the Christian Science organisation is » money-making concern, built on falsity and upheld by a strict suppression of the truth concerning its affairs. The faith healing which is one of the leading features of Mrs Eddy’s doctrine, is stated to be lacking in efficacy, and the authors of the book quote scores of such .cases whore, they allege, tragedy has resulted from the failure to call skilled medical aid and the use of Christian Science treatment by suggestion. The best that can bo said for it, the authors state, is that it may divert the patient’s attention while other factors make 7 far the euro of the infirmity. Further, they say, the worst that should be said of it cannot be uttered, as mere words are wholly inadequate to depict the iniquity of this nefarious traffic in human life. DEED WORTH MILLIONS.

Mrs Eddy, to whom the inauguration of the cult is due, had an extraordinary influence over such of her followers as came in persona! contact with her, and firmly established the sect in her lifetime. At her death, Mrs Eddy left a fortune of eight million dollars. Disease, according to Christian Science teaching, is merely an illusion due to an error of what Mrs Eddy terms “mortal mind.” Thus a cmvtion of the correct state of mind is' sufficient to cure any disease. Remarkable cures have certainly been effected by the treatment from time to time, especially in nervous afflictions. The evidence is not so certain in the case of cures claimed to_ have been made through Christian Science where the subject was suffering from purely physical trouble or disease.