VOL. VII
MAY, 1916
No. 5
M I t s ][ 3 The King’s Business
“ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.“—Rev. 1:5
Published once a month by the BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A.
O N E D O L L A R A Y E A R
(Tin* Kim j’ii lUtöUu'üü MOTTO: "I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. —Isa. 27:3. R. A. TORREY, D. D., Editor T. C. HORTON, J. H. HUNTER, WILLIAM EVANS, D. D., Associate Editors A. M. ROW, Managing Editor Published by the BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, Inc. Los Angeles, California, U. S. A. Entered as Second-Class Matter November 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Los Angeles, Cal., under the Act of March 3, 1879. Copyright by R. A. Torrey, D. D., and Bible Institute of Los Angeles, for the year 1916.
DIRECTORS
R. A . Torrey, vice-president Leon V. Shaw, treasurer. William Evans. Giles Kellogg.
Lyman Stewart, president. William Thorn, secretary. T. C. Horton, superintendent. E. A . K. Hackett. H. A . Getz. J-
M. Irvine.
Nathan Newby
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT We hold to the Historic Faith of the Church as expressed in the Common Creed of Evangelical Christendom and including: The Trinity of the Godhead. The Deity of the Christ.
The Maintenance of Good Works. The Second Coming of Christ. The Immortality of the Spirit. The Resurrection of the Body. The Life Everlasting of Believers. The Endless Punishment of the Im penitent. The Reality and Personality of Satan. THE WORK (7 ) Bible Women. House-to-house visitation and neighborhood classes. (8 ) Oil Fields. A mission to men cn the oil fields. (9 ) Books and Tracts. Sale and dis tribution of selected books and tracts. ( 10) Harbor Work. For seamen at Los Angeles harbor. ( 11) Yokefellows’ Hall. Thoroughly manned.' Our Mission for men with Street Meetings, and Bootblacks and Newsboys Sunday School. ( 12) Print Shop. For printing Testa ments, books, tracts, etc. A complete establishment, profits going to free die-
The Personality of the Holy Ghost. The Supernatural and Plenary au thority of the Holy Scriptures. The Unity in Diversity of the Church, the Body and Bride of Christ. The Substitutionary Atonement. The Necessity of the New Birth. ___ The Institute trains, free P u r p o s e . 0f cost t accredited men and women, in the knowledge and use of the Bible. . _ ( 1) The Institut j Departments: classes held daily except on Saturdays and Sundays. (2 ) Extension work. Classes apu conferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3 ) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by our evangelists. (4 ) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night. (5 ) Shop Work. Regular services m shops and factories. (6 ) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work among the Hebrews. SCOPE OF r ,
E8 THE KING’S BUSINESS Vol. VII. MAY, 1916 No. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial: The Ideal Chairman—Where Is There a Chris tian Nation?— Too Much Funny^ Business— When Does God Answer the' Prayer of Nations?— Menace of the Movies— Why Does God Permit Atrocities in Europe?— Partisan Politics and Patriotism.................... 387 Why I Am Not a Christian Scientist. By William Evans, D. D......................................................................... -...... - 393 Popular Evening Classes............................................................. 400 Ours in the Field........................................................................... 401 War and the Jew..................................................................... 404 Laymen’s Missionary MovementConvention.......................... 407 Great Revivals and Evangelists— V. William C. Burns (con tinued). By John H.Hunter............................................. 409 Tendencies of Modern Biblical Criticism. By S. J. Andrew 413 What Is an Answer to Prayer? By Chas. A. Blanchard, D. D....................................................................................... 421 Through the Bible with Dr. Evans............................................. 423 Light on Puzzling Passages and Problems............................... 426 Making God Popular............................. 428 Bible Institute Activities. By theSuperintendents................... 429 Homiletical Helps. By William Evans, D. D................. ....... 435 At Home and Abroad............................................................... 439 International Sunday School Lessons. By R. A. Torrey and T. C. Horton...................................................................... 442 Daily Devotional Studies in the New Testament for Individ ual Meditation and Family Worship. By R. A. Torrey 461 SUBSCRIPTION PRICE in the United States and its Possessions, Mexico, Canada and points in the Central American Postal Union, $1 per year. In all other foreign countries, $1.24 (5 s. 2d .). Single copies, 10 cents. Receipts sent on request. See date on address tag.
ES
PUBLISHED BY THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 536-558 SOUTH HOPE STREET LOS ANGELES, CAL.
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New Correspondence Course B y the Faculty o f the BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 1. Fundamental Doctrines DR. R. A. TORREY 2. The Life and Teachings of Our Lord DR. R. A. TORREY 3. Through the Bible by Books and Chapters JOHN H. HUNTER 4. Personal and Practical Evangelism T. C. HORTON TERMS : For Numbers 1, 2 and 3—$5.00 each. For Number 4—$3.00 SEND FOR PROSPECTUS 'The Coming of the Lord Draweth Nigh” An exam ination of the S crip tu res on th e Length o f Th e TIM ES of the G EN TILES l A f U F M Did Th ey B egin ? The Y ear Day Principle. ww n t l ’ W ill They Term inate? H istories and Fu tu rists Both W rong. 48 Page Pamphlet, Fourth Edition, 50th Thousand, Revised and Enlarged. Price 5c each, EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS: let its size I ever saw, I think I can say—and still it is pondered and sought for.”
“I consider this one of the most wonderful lit tle books in the world. It .seems to me to be a positive révélation from the Lord—a drawing aside of the veil which by infinite wisdom kept the Lord’s people ignorant of that which they were better not to> know. But at midnight (mid night sorrow exists now) there was a cry heard. ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh.’ ” “Dear Brother in Christ: Some weeks ago I received throùgh the mail four copies of your booklet ‘On the Length of the Times of the Gentiles.’ I read it with great interest and then read it again and again and after much prayer I quoted^ .‘I find no fault in this man.’ I laid it aside for sonie days and then read it again and again. Then I began wondering ‘Who is sufficient for these things?’ ” “I received several days ago several copies of your excellent booklet, ‘The Coming of the Lord Draweth JsTigh.’ ' I have read it and am rêread- ing it and propose then to study it through again with jny wife. I have carefully studied the illustrations ^that you have given of the year day prophecies, and I want to thank you for the help and the light that you hâve given me upon this long time precious and interesting theme. I have read considerable upon the sub ject, but this was absolutely new to me in sev eral most interésting details. . . . I am a Presbyterian pastor and shalLpass on the solemn truth you have brought to my attention to my people.” “I thank you heartily for so kindly sending me the 4 copies of your booklet, ‘Times of the Gentiles.’ It is exceedingly interesting and how it makes the heart warm to think He may come this very year! I wonder if He will.” “I am impressed-that God has given you this truth and can’t but think it will be a great blessing to any one who would peruse it can didly and prayerfully.” “ Thank you many times for the booklets, ‘The Coming of the' Lord.’ To inquiring minds the subject matter of your booklet has been of in- tensest interest. Everywhere near here and east 20 miles or so, where I had a week’s Gospel meetings, your message has had, shall I say, the ‘right of way.’ . . . . Your little booklet has claimed more time and attention than any book-
“A genuine shock from which after these days I did not recover as yet, is the result of reading your recent tract. I read it at one sit ting and then with the Bible in hand. I am surprised beyond measure. I am not yet suffi ciently sobered up to distill this very strong draught. But I rejoice secretly in my heart. It may be truth. O, how grand if you 'really have found the true key to unlock this marvelous mystery.” “I have read your tract twice. Read it aloud to Brother L. and I wish to express my appre ciation of it. - 1 , too, think there is a strong probability of its literal fulfillment. Since ‘The wise shall understand’ I think that there is clear teaching of^ not only about when our Lord will come, but just when He will come, if only we have the spiritual discernment to see it.” . ‘‘The argument of the booklet is to my mind quite conclusive, and it is just what I have been expecting in these closing days. I am glad if the Lord is pleased to use you in the discovery and promulgation of such all important truths.” “ Your marvelous booklet on the ‘Times of the Gentiles’ is finding eager readers.” “A booklet has come into my possession, ‘The Coming of the Lord Draweth Nigh,’ written and published by yourself, which exposition has taken hold of my heart, and it seems should be a mighty stream of blessing to the ‘redeemed OneS,’ and as we have over 1,000 on our tract list Cfor we publish same), we are anxious to get it into their hands, for we feel sure He must come very soon. Can we buy same of you? and if we can, what is the price per 100 and by the thousand?” “ How I do thank Him for the wonderful rev elation of His word He has given you and I want several of my friends to be able to examine the Word by the aid of what the Lord has given you, so that they may be drawn closer to Him self, and be more occupied with the spread ing of the Gospel tidings while it is yet day. May the Lord of all grace richly bless you and use the little book to His honor and glory in the awakening of His people and the quicken ing of His church.”- Address: C. J. Baker, 621 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, Mo., U. S. A.
m THE KING'S BUSINESS n ■ —no Vol 7 MAY, 1916. No. 5 HD— " ..... .........d E D I T O R I A L The ideal chairman o f a conference or gathering of The Ideal - any sort is the one who is most successful in keeping Chairman. things running smoothly and on time, and in keeping himself out of sight. The average chairman thinks that he must have something to add to what every speaker says, and therefore, as a rule, he wastes, in the course of a Session, a vast amount of valuable time. Oftentimes he thinks he must say something funny, and then he becomes an unmitigated nuisance. Intelligent people do not go to'a conference to hear the empty flatteries, or the threadbare jokes of the chairman, they g o to -hear the speakers who are announced, and the less time the chairman wastes by unnec essary speeches the better it is for the convention. -We hear much in these days concerning the folly of Where Is There a Christian nations going to war against one-another, Christian Nation? but there is no Christian nation. Really Christian nations would not and could not go to war with one another. A Christian nation would be one which, as a nation, recognized Christ Jesus as the supreme authority in all its legislation and all its conduct, and of course there is no nation that does anything like this. A Christian nation would be one which, in its dealings with other nations, was governed purely by Chris tian principles, such as those stated in the Sermon1on the Mount, and in the second chapter of Philippians, looking out, not merely for its own interests, but even more for the interests of other nations; regarding the interests of others as superior to their own in the decision of their conduct toward them. O-f course there is no such nation. There is no nation where anything like a majority even of its citizens are regenerate men and governed by the Lord Jesus Christ in all the relations of life. The governing principle of every nation on earth today is self-interest, i. e., selfishness, and selfishness is not Christian, but devilish. But some one will say, if there is no Christian nation after nine teen centuries of Christian teaching, then Christianity has failed. No, Chris tianity has not failed. It was not the announced plan or purpose of God in the present dispensation to convert nations as nations.- The purpose of God in the present dispensation, as clearly declared in His Word, was to gather out of all nations a peculiar people for Himself (the church, the body of Christ) and this is being done. When this work has been accomplished, the only work proposed or planned for the present dispensation, then will come the time for the con version of nations as nations. The trouble with men who think that Christianity has failed because the nations, as such, have not been converted, is that they do not read and understand their Bibles. God’s plan is a much larger and better one than theirs. God’s philosophy is much profotmder and more far-sighted than theirs.
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THE KING ’S BUSINESS Many public speakers, evangelists, and presiding offi* cers seem to have been seized with a perfect mania for being funny—everything must be turned into a joke, or presented in a way to awaken a laugh. We recently
Too Much' Funny Business.
attended a missionary convention. One of the speakers had made an excellent and impressive address with a very solemn closing. The chairman arose to announce the next speaker, and in doing so told a number of very funny stories. He succeeded in exciting prolonged laughter; it was almost impossible not to laugh aloud, the stories were so very, very funny and so well told, but with many persons he entirely dissipated the solemn effect of the preceding address.^ Nothing could by any possibility have been more out of place. The convention was filled with admiration for the chairman’s wit, but they entirely lost sight of the Lord and His work.
The central powers are praying for victory over the entente allies, and the entente allies are praying for vic- tory over the Germans. Certainly the prayers offered on the one side or the other side must come to nothing.
When Does God Answer the Prayeir
of Nations?
_ To many this fact seems conclusive proof that the Bible doctrine concerning prayer is not true. But it proves nothing of the kind. There is no promise anywhere in the Bible that God will answer all prayers for all things of everybody. The Bible doctrine of prayer is that God will hear the prayers o f men and women who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are entirely surrendered to the will of God, and who show their surrender by keep ing His commandments and doing the things which are pleasing in His sight (John 15 :7 ; 1 John 3 :22; John 3 :12-15). There is no promise whatever in the Bible that God will hear the prayers either of nations or individuals when they are living in unconfessed sin, or when they are praying for things which are not .according to His will. Have we any reason for supposing that either the entente allies or the central powers are not living in unconfessed sin ? J Have the Germans and their allies on the one side confessed and put away their sins ? Have the English and their allies oh the other side, as nations, confessed and put away their sins ? Have either of the parties in this awful conflict met the conditions of prevailing prayer? God certainly will not hear the prayers of both sides, and we have no Bible warrant for thinking that He will hear the prayers of either side, for neither has met the conditions upon which He answers prayer. This doctrine so prevalent, that any individual or any nation, no matter whether they are living in obedience or disobedience to God, and for getfulness of God, can go to Him at any time and ask Him for anything they want, and use the God that they have forgotten and disobeyed, simply as a con venience to carry out their own selfish plans, is not only utterly foolish, but utterly unscriptural. That God does not hear the prayer of the Germans at the present time is no proof that God does not hear the prayer when the conditions of prevailing prayer are met, for they have not met them. The fact that God does not hear the prayers of the English at the present time is no proof that God does not answer pfayer when the conditions o f prevailing prayer are met, for they have not met them. This objection to the Bible doctrine of prayer, so common at all times, but especially emphasized in this time of conflict between people who are praying for diametrically different things, is not only unreason able but silly. .
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It is inutterably sad to see the way in which men high in .political affairs are sacrificing the clear dictates_of patriotism to the .exigencies of petty partisan politics. The attacks made upon our. President at this time by
Partisan Politics and Patriotism.
Some Republican papers are shameless and shameful. The highest interests, of our country, and the respect with which our country is held by foreign nations - are greatly jeopardized by attacks of this kind, which beyond a question are made in the interests of the narrowest and meanest partisan politics. The attack which was recently made upon the President by one whom we have been disposed to regard as among the most high minded of modern statesmen, filled us with humiliation and sadness. The attack showed great ability but was full of the most evident inconsistencies and unfairness, and even went so far as to bitterly condemn the President and Secretary of State for not doing a thing which was exactly similar to a thing which he himself refused to do when he was Secretary of Stat£. Why will men of great abilities and held in general esteem stoop to the arts and tricks and unprincipled partisanship of the lowest ward politicians? Cannot people who really love their country, even at such a time of danger and crisis as we are now passing through, put aside their parti sanship and put the highest interests and welfare of the country above the suc cess of a political campaign, and above their own personal ambition to obtain office? There is probably no institution that is doing more in Menace of our day to corrupt the morals, both of old and young, the Movies. . than the Movies. A very large proportion of the Movie plays exploit vice in its worst forms. They are attended by young men and women at the most critical period of their life. They arouse the vilest thoughts and passions. Their appeal is increasingly to that which is lowest and basest. They are proving the ruin of thousands of young men and' women throughout the land, and are having a thoroughly demoralizing effect even upon men and women of mature years. O f course,.there are moving picture exhibitions o f an entirely different character, but thé demand of the majority of those who attend the movies is for that which is vile, and the mov ing picture companies are in the business for money, and they, know what pays. Even when pictures of a higher class are presented oftentimes something of the viler sort is worked in, and it is almost impossible to tell what one is going to see. Many o f the worst plays have been those which professedly have been in the interest o f warning the young of the-results of certain forms of sin. This profession is usually utter hypocrisy. In at least one of our cities a movie play, to which the ministers .were invited beforehand for their endorsement, and which some of them were foolish enough to endorse because it showed, in a wajr, the awful results of certain forms of sin, ran continuous performances for men and women up to and after midnight, with the evident purpose of lur ing the young of both sexes who were foolish enough to be on the streets, at that late hour. While some of the results, of sin were shown, the sin was of such a character that the presentation did more to awaken vile passions until they were irresistible, than it did to deter anybody from the gratification of the passions by the fear of evil results that might follow. In the City of Los Angeles the manufacturers of movie films combined to resent an attempt to restrain them in exhibiting immoral pictures. Their argument was that they were bringing millions of money to the city, and therefore they ought to. be allowed
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THE KING’S BUSINESS to do as they pleased, no matter how vile and corrupting the pictures were that they part-out. But the thirty millions of dollars of which they boasted that they were bringing to the city annually would be no compensation for the ruin of a single girl or boy. The highest ambition of many a high schoolgirl is to become a moving picture actress, receive the applause of an evil- minded public and the large pecuniary remuneration that it is supposed one will secure in such a posi tion. Any young woman who goes into such a work is exposing herself to awful danger. It has resulted in the ruin of many a young life. The attitude that serious-minded Christian people ought to take toward the whole institution is not difficult .to discover, if one really wishes to please God. Every child of God should come out and be separate and refuse to touch the unclean thing (2 Cor. 6:17). '
^
A great many people are staggered at the awful things that are now occurring in Europe, and are wondering hów they can be reconciled with the doctrine that God is love. They think that if there is such a God as the Bible teaches, that He ought to step in and interfere—
Why Does God Permit Atrocities
in Europe?
and they hold God responsible for what is going on. But why should God interfere ? God has a plan, and it is a large plan, a plan formed in the eternity back of us and that takes in the eternity ahead of us, and into this plan He takes the sins of men as well as their acts of righteousness, and even the malice of Satan. It is the most silly folly to think that any man can comprehend God’s plan, and not only-still more silly folly but hardened wickedness, to attempt to criticise the actions of an infinitely wise and infinitely holy God because He permits or does things that we in our finite foolishness cannot understand. God in His wisdom permits men to find out their foolishness and their sinful ness, and their utter failure, by the awful results that come to them and to others through their schemes and their sins. There is something immeasurably worse than suffering, and that is sin. A man must learn in the bitter school of experience what an awful thing sin is. The human race has grown exceeding proud; they hatfe thought they could get along without God, and God has in a measure for a time withdrawn His hand to let men see just how well they can get along without Him, and these awful calamities are the result. But even in these days God does restrain and mould, the affairs of men, and makes even the wrath of men to praise Him, and the remainder of wrath He does restrain (Ps. 76.TO). God is not to bíame for what is going on. Man is to blame, and Godwin the final outcome will bring good out of it to. the only persons that deserve good—those who love and serve Him. The things that are occurring, even the most awful of them, are only what God in His infinite grace -has told men would occur if they forgot Him. But what about the awful things that even earnest Christian people are permitted to suffer? The answer is simple: These things that appear so awful will work together for good with other things for them. We may not be able to see just now how they do, or how they- can, work together for good, but we shall see some day. Even for a Christian to be massacred is no real/loss, for that simply means to depart to ,be with Christ, which is very far better (Phil. 1 :23), and this light affliction which is but for a moment worketh out for those who suffer more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17), and the sufferings of this present time,
THE KING’S BUSINESS 391 even the severest of them, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed some day in those who thus suffer (Rom..8:18). Every Chris tian who suffers, even those who suffer the most appalling agonies and bereave ments, some day, in the clear light of the world which is to come, will look back upon these things and thank God that they .were ever granted the great privi lege of suffering them. These things that are going on today are no indication that the Bible is not true and that the God of the Bible does not exist, or that He does not work in the way the Bible says He does, they are simply an added proof of the exact truthfulness of the Word of God. God is letting men see how utterly shallow and untrue is the “ optimism” of the world which has been so paraded in the literature of our day, and.how the optimism that has a real foundation is that larger and better optimism of the Word of God, founded, not upon belief in the divinity of man, but belief in the grace of God which is to find its consummation in the return of His Son, and the triumph of love and truth and righteousness that will result from His return. -------------- O - — ------- S I S T E R S T H R E E I Cor. 13:13. R.V.
By CAMPBELL COYLE
F A ITH , shackled and imprisoned waits The swinging wide o f iron gates. She sees the gloom, and feels the scorn That fills the earth since sin was born. She hears the tumult and the rage O f men at war from age to age. But patient, calm, her brow serene, Unmoved by all that’s low and mean, .Her eyes look on and on and on To where the hill tops glimpse the dawn. Hope, singing, leads on day by day, T o where some sharp bend in the way Will spread before her longing eyes A vision clear o f cloudless skies. Though rough the road, the journey long, She murmurs not, but sings her song, And bears her burden up the hill With resolute, unbending will. If sometimes held by prison bars, She gazes through on sun and stars.
Love walks along the dreary road, And helps the weary bear their load. She sits beside the couch o f pain, And seeks to lure health back again. She feeds the poor, and calms the fears O f those whose lives are drenched with tears. She goes where there is sin and care, And plants the sweetest roses there. No questions asked, she toils away To conquer grief, and pain allay. Faith, Hope and Love, sweet sisters, three, Come share my humble home with me. Sit by my hearth, and counsel give As how ’tis best for me to live. Let not blind Doubt, nor sad Despair Come in to occupy a chair. Drive out the gloom, let in the light, Heroic keep me in the fight, And help me sing my cheerful song, Despite the prevalence of wrong.
Why I Am Not a
Christian Scientist By Dr. William Evans Associate Dean Bible Institute of Los Angeles
Note—This address has been delivered in the leading cities of the United States. Last month an audience of over 7000 persons listened to it at Long Beach. This is the first of three articles dealing with the subject.
edition has been changed to the sixth in the 1909 edition; the second to the seventh; the third to the eighth; the fourth to the ninth; the fifth to the tenth; the sixth to the fourth; the seventh to the third; the eighth to the fifth; the ninth to the elev enth ; the tenth to the first and the eleventh to the second. “As a consequence o f this re-arrange ment, a statement made on a page o f the seventy-fourth edition cannot be found on a corresponding page o f the 1909 edition. “ For example: A reference from page 351 o f the seventy-fourth edition will be found on page 46 o f the last edition. This is a difference o f 305 pages. “ The result o f the system is clear enough; those who try to verify the quotations made from the seventy-fourth edition will have trouble, and not finding them, may be led to suppose -they do not exist. “ Not only has a radical change been made in the numerical re-organization o f the chapters, but syllogisms, propositions and statements have been transformed.”
HIS lecture is based on the O j statements o f Christian Sci- ence itself as gathered from m its own text books, particu- larly Science and Health
•with Key to the Scriptures, which has gone through many revisions and editions. Tljose who endeavor to refute the errors o f Christian Science by referring to this text book are sometimes accused of not quoting it correctly, or o f making false statements. A quotation from the introduction to Dr. Haldeman’s volume, entitled Christian Sci ence in the Light of Holy Scripture which, we understand, Mrs.' Eddy put under the ban—throws considerable light Upon this matter. The author says : “ Since writ ing the above, the 1909 edition o f Science and Health ha? been placed in my hands. “It differs greatly from the seventy- fourth edition, 1893. “A startling change has been made. The chapters have been completely transposed. “ The first chapter in the _seventy-fourth
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REVISED “REVELATION ” To a candid mind these changes in the text book o f Christian Science certainly give reason for doubting w.hether a “ reve lation” needing so much change, revision, and substitution was given by special inspi ration o f God. A Christian Science reader and practitioner, well known in , Chicago Christian Science circles,, . stated recently that it was this one fact—the constant changing and. revision o f Science and Health, that first led her to doubt the truth and reliability o f the claims Of Chris tian Science to be a divine revelation, and which led her, later, to give up all faith in it. The matter o f change and revision, extending as it does, even to direct contra dictions o f former statements, must event ually lead any Serious-minded person to doubt that Christian Science is anything more than human .in its origin. j u d g i n g C h r i s t i a n ' s c i e n c e - It has been stated that one who is not a fully-initiated Christian Scientist is not cap able o f judging the faith of that cult. It seems to us, however, that one who is not himself a Christian Scientist, is really bet ter able to judge of the merits of the case. There are reasons for this. The Christian Scientist is forbidden ito read books that speak against that cult; he is told he must not argue with any one, even those who are o f the closest kinship, if they manifest opposition to the teachings o f Christian Science ; the doubts that arise in his mind must not be expressed to any one save his teacher; individual thinking and opinion is discouraged; in point o f fact, the only books he is encouraged to read are those which are sent out by the Christian Science publishing house in Boston. The Christian Scientist, therefore, has been characterized as one who is “compelled to walk through life' like a horse with blinders, seeing only one thing and reading only one class of books,” Thè man who is hot thus restricted in his reading and speaking is surely more competent to judge o f the value o f Chris tian Science than one who is handicapped
and limited as is the fully-initiated mem ber o f that cult. W H Y SINGLE IT OUT? Why should the Christian pulpit deal with the faith and practice o f Christian Science? Why single it out rather than some others ? Why not leave it alone? The ' Çhristiàh pulpit“would gladly leave it alone Vete ¿it not fop the fact! that it comes ta us with the title “ Christian,” and “In the name o f Christ,” and with its own text f boo'k bound in between the covers of-ou r I Holy Bible. It demands a respectful hear ing because it has attached to itself the .name “ Christian.” But further, the Christian pulpit must pay some attention to Christian Science because it assumes the privileges and pre rogatives o f a religion. It has its ministers, its churches, its members, its regular, ser vices, its bible. Although.the organization o f churches and the recognition o f creeds, while now considered in Christian Science absolutely essential to its success, fs a departure which Mrs. Eddy, in the begin ning o f the cult, severely criticized as unnec essary, a great mistake, a great hindrance, rather than a help to the highest spiritual development. In Science and Health, pp. 166, 167, 1875 Edition, Mrs. Eddy says: “W e have no need o f creeds and church organizations to sustain or explain a dem- onstrable platform, that defines itself in healing the sick, and casting out error. The uselessness o f drugs, the emptiness of knowledge that puffeth up, and the imagin ary laws o f matfer are very apparent to those who are rising to the more glorious demonstration o f their God-being: The mistake the disciples o f Jesus made to found religious organizations and church rites, if indeed they did this, was one the Master did not make ; but the mistake church members make to employ drugs to heal the sick, was not made by the,, stu dents o f Jesus. Christ’s church was Truth. ‘I am Truth and Life,’ the temple for the worshippers o f Truth is Spirit and not mat ter . ; . “ No time was lost by our Master in
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true God, uniting them in one common brotherhood. .“After due deliberation and earnest dis cussion it was unanimously voted: That as all debts o f the corporation have been paid, it is deemed best to dissolve this cor poration, and the same is hereby dissolved.” The Christian ministry is under obliga tion to warn Christendom o f the errors of doctrine, and the apostasy o f the days that are upon us and that are to come. It is remarkable to note, says one, that our Lord in dealing with the theme o f the apostasy o f the last days, characterizes it as not being down-right lawlessness, showing itself forth as such, but as a system, an organized form o f professed truth, pro fessing to come in the name of Christ, but in reality denying Christ, and thus leading its adherents to ruin. And now, coming more particularly to the reasons “Why I am Not a Christian Sci entist,” let me say: I. I Am Not a Christian Scientist Be cause Christian Science Is Not Sci entific. On the contrary, Christian Science denies the very first principles o f science. Science is defined as “Knowledge gained and verified by exact observation.” One thing which “ exact observation” verifies by the experience o f all is that' matter exists, and that there are various kinds of matter. It also asserts that these scientific facts or data come to use through the senses. This scientific platform Christian Science denies in toto. The very first plank in the platform o f Christian Science denies the reality o f matter; declares that there is no substance in matter; that matter is mor tal error; that matter is unreal. The fol lowing quotations set forth the Christian Science platform relative to the existence o f matter: “Matter seems to be, but is not {S. & H.j p. Í23, 1909, 1916). “ There is no such thing as matter.” “Matter is but manifest mortal mind” (Mise. Writings, p. 47, 1916) . “There is no matter” (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 6). “Matter was originally
organizations, rites and ceremonies, or in proselyting for certain forms o f belief.” -Did Christian Science assume a mere therapeutic attitude toward things, the Christian church would have no quarrel with it; did it content itself with being a “mind-cure” agency—which in reality jt is —and not aspire to the title o f a divine healing cult, whose cures are wrought by virtue-of a relation to certain religious principles, called Christian; then, if it kept within reasonable bounds, the Christian pulpit would not need' to pay any particu lar attention to it. That Christian Science really started as a mental healing cult is clearly evident from the following paragraphs, taken from some resolutions passed at a special meet ing o f the Board o f the Metaphysical Col lege Corporation, October 29, 1889. Fol lowing is the exact quotation found on pp. 48 and 49 o f Retrospection and Introspec tion by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy: “At a special meeting o f the Board o f the Metaphysical College Corporation, Oct. 29, 1889, the following are some o f the reso lutions which were presented and passed unanimously: “Whereas, The Massachusetts Metaphys ical College, chartered in January, 1881,- for medical purposes, to give instruction in sci entific methods o f mental healing on a purely practical basis, to impart a thor ough understanding o f metaphysics, to restore health, hope and harmony to man,— has fulfilled its_ high and noble destiny, and sent to all parts o f our country, and into ' foreign lands, students instructed in Chris tian Science Mind-healing, to meet the demand o f the age for something higher than physic or drugging . . . . “ Resolved, That we thank the State for its charter, which is the only one ever granted to a legal college for teaching the Science o f Mind-healing; that we thank the public for its liberal patronage. And everlasting gratitude is due to the President for her great and noble work, which we believe will prove a healing for the nations, and bring all men to a knowledge o f the
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error in solution” (S. & H., p. 372, 1916). According to Christian Science, then, there is no such thing as matter. “ The only evidence o f th£ existence o f a mortal man, or o f a material state and universe, is gath ered from the five personal senses. This delusive evidence, Science has dethroned” (Misc. Writings, pp. 64, 65, 1916). Matter is a delusion o f the mortal mind; mind is the only thing; matter has no existence. VALUE OF EXPERIENCE Dr. E. Y. Mullins says: “ Experience is the foundation o f all philosophy and sci ence ; you cannot have either without exper ience. Experience is to philosophy and sci ence what dough is to the housekeeper. We must take a lump o f experience to make a scientific or philosophical biscuit. Exper ience furnishes the lump from which all science and philosophy are made.” Prof. Bowen says: “ No matter what your sci- , ence or .philosophy is, your experience is the same. You may evolve from your consciousness any sort o f philosophy you wish, and call things by any sort of name your fancy may direct, but when you have dorfe that, you have not altered your exper ience one particle.” Christian Science tells us that “there is no such 'thing as matter” (Misc. Writings, p. 27), that “Matter and evil are unreal.” “But, say you,” (some inquirer asks) “ is a stone spiritual? To erring, mortal, mater ial sense, N o! but to unerring spiritual sense, it is a' small manifestation o f Mind.” “ Take away the mortal sense o f sub stance, and the stone itself would disap pear” (Misc. Writings, pp. 27 and 28). A COBBLESTONE IDEA According to this theory o f matter, then a cobblestone is not matter, but an idea. Suppose, for a moment, that a cobblestone is just an idea, and assume that a man hurls it at you and strikes you on the head with it—it does not affect your experience one particle to be told that the cobblestone is just an idea. Admit, if you wish, that it is an idea, and what hkve you? An ideal man, we will say, hurls an ideal stone, and it strikes an ideal head, causes an ideal pain, raises an ideal bump, requires
an ideal liniment, which is rubbed on an ideal head, thus causing an ideal cure, and so you’ have an all-round ideal experience. Now, I say it does not make a particle o f difference what you call a cobblestone, your experience is just the same. A cob blestone that is an idea, hits your head just as hard as a cobblestone that is not an idea, but matter.- Matter will produce the same experience even if you' call it “mind.” I once heard o f a boy who owned a belligerent billygoat. One day the boy was teasing the animal. The goat stood the teasing as long as he could, and, finally, lowering -his 'head, got ready to make a charge upon the mischievous boy. Natur ally the boy screamed for help. Instantly his mother, who was an ardent Christian Scientist, came to the rescue, and seeing his condition, tried to quiet him by saying : “ Now, my son, be calm; don’t be afraid; the goat can’t hurt you, for the goat is only an idèa ; there is no such thing, really speaking, as a goat ; it’s a delusion o f the mortal mind.” The little fellow, almost dead with fright, screamed out, “Mamma, I know that, and you know that, but the goat don’t know it!” The question is asked: “ How can I believe that there is no such thing as mat ter, when I weigh over two hundred pounds and carry about this weight daily ?” Answer. “By learning that matter is but manifest mortal mind. You entertain an adipose belief o f yourself as substance” (Mise. Writings, pp. 46, 47). According to this theory, you weigh about as much as you think you weigh. Your experience is determined by what you think. Think that you are as light as a feather and you will be no heavier than that frail thing that is tossed about with the slightest breath o f air. A very comforting doctrine for stout people in hot weather ; a good obesity-reducing scheme, surely. In Christian Science the evidence o f the senses is not to be believed nor received. The testimony o f the senses cannot be true (cf. p. 448, 1916). “ Christian Science • • • • declares the corporeal senses to
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be mortal and erring illusions” (p. 477, 1916). “The only evidence . . . o f a material state and universe, is gathered from the five personal senses. This delu sive evidence Science has dethroned by re peated proofs o f its falsity” (Mise. Writ ings, pp. 64, 65). Christian Science rejects the testimony b f the senses, and “will not believe even though one rose from the dead.” “I f this proposition o f the delusive evidence o f the senses should be pressed to its conclusion, then everything the author o f Christian Science has written would be proven false, since the evidence o f her writings comes through at least two o f the senses—seeing and hearing.” Thus Christian Science refusés the testimony o f the senses through which we gain scientific knowledge, and inconsistently calls itself a science. To the Christian Scientist, medicine and hygiene are unnecessary ; physical exer cise and care in diet are scarcely worthy o f consideration. The difference between filth and flowers lies only in thought—one would be as attractive as the other i f it were not for the deluded mortal mind. All that medical men have to say about germs and microbes producing diseases is litter foolishness.. POWER OF SUGGESTION In speaking o f Christian Science over coming the power o f drugs, the founder of Christian Science claims that she took large doses o f morphine just to demonstrate that the drug would have no effect upon her. She says (Mise. Writings, p. 249), “ The drug had no effect upon me whatever. The hour had struck—‘if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them’.” There is no difference between whiskey and milk except that difference which the mortal mind makes ; if you associate the idea of intoxication with milk, then milk will make you drunk. Any amount o f strychnine would be harmless except for the fact that we think it is fatal. A bunion will produce insanity just as quickly as congestion of the brain, if you only think so. “ Palsy is a belief that matter governs
^mortals and can paralyze the body, making certain portions o f it motionless” (S. & H., p. 375, 1916). “The pallid invalid, whom you declare to be wasting away with con sumption o f the blood, should be told that blood never gave life and can never take it away”-—that there is “more life in one good motive, and act than in all the blood” (S. S' H., p. 376, 1916). “ Consumption . . . is not inherited; inflammation, tuber cles, hemorrhage^ and decomposition are beliefs, images o f mortal thought superim posed upon the body” (S. S' H. p 42S 1916). “W ISE SAYINGS?” To a Christian Scientist there is no such thing as heat or cold—“Heat and cold are products o f (the) (mortal) mind” (S. & H., p. 373, 1899; p. 374, 1909, 1916). Expos ure to cold draughts while in a state o f perspiration, cannot possibly be “ fol lowed by chills, dry cough; influenza, con gestive symptoms in the lungs, or hints of inflamatory rheumatism,” if you are a Christian Scientist, but if not you will suf fer from the “bad effects o f your belief’^ that you will catch cold. But if a Chris tian Scientist, you have an abiding convic tion that you have broken no law” and so neither rheumatism, consumption, nor any other disease will ever result from expos ure to the weather. In (Christian) Science this is an established fact which all “evi dence before the senses could never over rule” (cf. S. S- H „ p. 384, 1916). The Christian Scientist need not change the weight o f his clothing in summer or win ter , he need not go south in the winter, or north in summer. He need not build a fire nor use ice; he has no need o f the coal man or the ice man. Though every thermometer in the land should indicate zero, the Chris tian Scientist would have no need to wear fur. or sealskin, for the cold cannot effect him. Steam-heated apartments 'a re no longer necessary, for ice and snow are only products o f false belief. One might well ask, Does mortal mind raise and lower the mercury in a thermometer? Are ice and snow really but productions o f false belief?
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I f a native o f Central Africa were trans ported suddenly to the North Pole, would the climate there be as warm to him as that of his native country, if he bnly thought so?' Christian Science tells us that foofl and drink are not necessary; “ Gustatory pleas ure is a sensuous illusion . . . diminish ing as we better apprehend our spiritual Existence” ( Y . & H., pp. 117, 118, 1899, cf. pp. 221| 222, 1916). “ Food neither strengthens nor weakens the body” (Y. & H., p. 118, 1899). It is truly laughable to hear a Christian Scientist say this after calling for a third supply o f turkey at a. Christmas dinner. Christian Science tells us that “ Sight, hearing, all the spiritual senses o f man are eternal. They cannot be lost” (Y. & H., p. 486, 1916) ; that people lose their sense of sight and hearing because they believe in such things. If this be true, then we are to assume that people take cold, suffer, and die, because they believe in such things. Do horses and dogs take cold, suffer dis ease and become blind because they believe -in such things? PHYSIOLOGY Christian Science tells us that “treatises on . . . physiology . . . are the pro moters o f sickness and disease” (Y. & H., p. 72, 1899; p. 179, 1909, .1916). “He who is ignorant o f what is termed hygienic law, is more receptive o f spiritual power” (cf. Y. & H., p. 382y 1916). One sometimes wppders whether this means that a person o f ordinary cleanliness is thereby debarred from being a success in the matter o f spirit ual power. W e are told that “You can even educate a healthy horse so far in physiol ogy that he will take cold without his blanket” (Y. & H„ p. 72, 1899; p. 179, 1909, 1916). “All disease is the result of education” (Y. & H., p. 69, 1899; pp. 69 and 176, 1909; 176, 1916): “The simple food o f our forefathers did not make them strong, but ignorance o f the laws o f health and physiology” (Y. & H., p. 197, 1909 Revision). “A man’s belief produces dis ease and all its symptoms” (Y. & H., p. S3, 1894, 1899; p. 159, 1916). “ Destruction of
the auditory nerve and paralysis o f the optic nerve are not necessary to ensure deafness; for if the mortal mind says, ‘I am deaf and blind,’ it will be so without an injured nerve” (Y. & H., p. 194, 1916), Christian Science tells us that “ Human mind and body are myths” . . “ The blood, heart, brain, lungs, etc., have nothing to do with life, God” - (Y. & H., pp. ISO, 151, 1909). Someone has well said that if this be true, “Then the. mummy o f Rameses II., which now lies in the Cairo Museum and which is minus these organs, is still alive.” THE MATTER OF “BRAINS’,’ “Does the brain think and do nerves feel ? No” (Y. & H„ p. 478, 1916). “ Nerves have no more sensation, apart from what belief bestows upon them, than the fibres o f a plant. (Y. & H., p. 488, 1916). “ Brains have nothing to do with life”—one can almpst believe it when he thinks o f people believing such foolishness as this. Chris tian Science tells us that “bones have only the substantiality (substance) o f thought.” “ They are only an appearance, a subjective state o f the mortal mind (phenomena of the mind o f mortals)” (Y. & H „ p. 421, 1894, 1899; p. 423, 1916). According to this, a man might fall headlong down from a twenty-story building and break his back or even his neck, and if he could only rid himself o f the thought' that he had any bones at all, he might get up and say: “Man is eternal and indestructible, hence no breakage can really occur; I am not hurt” and walk home as though no'thing had happened to him. Christian Science tells us that “The evi dence o f the senses is not to be accepted in the case of- sickness” (Y. & H., p. 384, 1894, 1899; p. 386, 1916). “A diseased body is one o f the beliefs o f the mortal mind” (Y. <5* H., p. 425, 1916). “Mart is never sick” (Y. & H., p. 392, 1894, 1899; p. 393, 1916). When, therefore, a man is doubled up with cramps or acute gastritis he need not send for the doctor. He needs to be calm and self-possessed ; he is merely going through a new form o f gymnastics-; the Christian Scientist says to him, “Remember
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.that you have a calm center within which can never be disturbed.” According to this, a man is sick only because he thinks he is sick. Catarrh, rheumatism, hay-fever or consumption are not because o f the climate, but on account o f belief (cf. Y. & H., p. 385, 1894, 1899; p. 386, 1916). The Chris tian Scientist says, “You say a boil is pain ful, but that is impossible;” . . . it is “a belief in pain and (that) this belief is called a (pain) boil” (Y. & H., pp. 46, “47, 1899; p. 153, 1908, 1916.) Surely no person is foolish enough to suffer from a boil simply by imagining that he has one. “ The Christian Science infant is born o f the Spirit, born o f God, and can cause the mother no more suffering” (S'. & H., p. 463; 1916). CONTAGION Mrs. Eddy tells us “W e have smallpox because others have it” (Y .' & H., p. 47, "1899; p. 153, 1909, 1916), The Christian Scientist says to the man with the contag ious disease, “You are not sick; you are perfectly well, and- you may go among your friends as much as you please,” If it be true.that “Man is never sick,” then our hospitals are filled with, sound, healthy, well people, and it is a shame for the phy sician to take money from well people, and nothing short o f a crime for Christian Science practitioners to take money from patients for curing diseases which the patients do not have. This is getting money- under false pretenses. -According to Christian Science, “ There is no death” (Y.‘ & H., p. 425, 1899; pp. 427, 428, 1909, 1916). “ Nothing . . . can end the existence o f man in (or according to) Science. Man is the same after as before a bone is broken or the body guil lotined” (S. <5* H., p. 427, 1916). “ Death is (but) - a mortal illusion” (Y. & H .; p. 185, 1894, 1899; p. 289, 1916) ; -“ A Mortal Belief” (S. & H., p. 185, 1894, 1899; p. 289, 1916) ; “ The body cannot die” ( S. & H „ p. 424, 1899; p. 426, 1909, 1916) ; “Man
is incapable o f: . . . death” (Y. & H., p. 471, 1899; p. 475, 1909, 1916). DEATH ’S REAL ITY I f it be true that “ The body cannot die,” then is not the mother wh(? has laid away her little child, being persuaded thgt it was dead, really guilty o f burying her child alive? As we have stood by the bedside of our loved ones and watched them breathe their last; as we have followed them to the cemetery, and seen their bodies laid beneath the sod, have not we also been guilty o f burying our loved, ones alive? I f “the body cannot die,” then our friends are not dead, and in believing that they no longer, live we are the victims o f a false belief, and we are perpetrators o f a bar barian and criminal practice. That this proposition—that there is no reality in matter, and that the experience o f the senses is not to 'be relied'upon, but absolutely ignored—should be laid down as the fundamental plank o f a cult calling itself scientific; that it should , seriously engage the attention' o f honest and intelli gent persons seems almost beyond belief. How can any thinking man accept as a sci ence, anything that so. absolutely refutes the very fundamental facts o f science as' does Christian Science, falsely so called? . “If from an injury or any other ’cause, a Christian Scientist were seized with paih so violent that he could not treat himself mentally—and the Scientists have failed to relieve him—the sufferer could call a sur geon, who would give ,him a hypodermic injection, then when the belief in pain was lulled, he could handle his own case- mentally. Thus it is that we ‘prove-all things; (and) hold fast that which is good’ ” (Y. & H., p. 464, 1916), In the preface of the 1909 edition-.of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: “ The divine principle o f healing is proved by the personal experi ence o f a sincere seeker after truth . . ; No intellectual proficiency is required in the learner." W e can readily believe it.
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