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places that text .book on a very much higher level than the Bible, for, as the following quotations will show, the author o f Science and Health does not consider the Bible free from false and contradictory statements: “ The second chapter o f Genesis contains a statement o f this material view o f God and the universe which is the exact opposite o f scientific truth” . . . and “ must be (is) based on some hypothesis o f error” (S. & H., p. 503, 1893 ; p.521, 1909; pp. 514, 515, 1899; pp. 521, 522, 1916). “ The first statement that evil is the fable o f the serpent” (p. 544, 1910; cf. pp. 507-524, 1893). “How then could a material organization become the basis, o f man?” “ Is it the truth er is it a lie concerning man and God? It must be (the latter) a lie” (S. & H., p. 524, 1910; p. 524, 1916; p. 517, 1899). “ The legendary scriptural text in the second chapter o f Genesis (S. <5* H., p. 526, 1910): Ts it not clear from these statements that the Bible does not hold as important a place in Christian Science as does Science and Health? Mrs. Eddy s&ys: “ The material record o f the Bible is no more important to our well-being than the history o f Europe and America” ( Mis'c. Writings, p. 170, 1893, 1916). It is claimed by Christian Scientists that their doctrines are based on the Scriptures, but a consideration o f their method o f using (or abusing) the Scripture, may reveal to. us the fact that any system o f doctrine can be built upon the Bible if it be so miscon strued. Here are some examples. The brackets show the additions made by Sci ence and Health to the Scripture text. In Romans 5 :10 we are told that we were “ reconciled to God by the death o f His Son.” Science and Health reads, “W e were reconciled to God by the [seeming] death o f his Son (p. 45, 1908, 1916; p. 350, 1899). In 1 Corinthians 15:22 it is written, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Science and Health reads, “As in Adam [error] all die, even so in Christ [truth] shall all be made alive.”
Revelation 1:17, 18 reads: “I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth and was dead [not understood]; and behold I am alive forevermore [Science has explained me] S. & H., p. 334, 1908, cf. p. 330, 1899; p. 334, 1916. In quoting Isaiah 53:6, Science and Health says: “With (through) his'stripes (the denial—rejection—o f error) we are healed” (p. 325, 1899; p. 20, 1908, 1916). Here is an illustration o f Mrs. Eddy’s interpretation o f the Scriptural injunction t o ’ “ Prove all things; to hold fast that which is good.” She says: “ I f from an injury or from any cause, a Christian Sci entist were seized with pain so violent that he could not treat himself mentally—and the (a ) Scientist had failed to relieve him, the sufferer could call a surgeon who would give him a (an) hypodermic injection— then when the belief in ( o f) pain was lulled he could handle his own case ment ally. Thus it is that we ‘Prove all things;’ (and) hold fast that which is good” (S. & H., p. 464, 1908, 1916).' This does not look as though pain were an illusion after all; and it does look as if there were contra dictory statements in Science and Health, which in other places denies the existence o f pain and sickness. IV. I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN SCIEN TIST BECAUSE CHRISTIAN SCI - ENCE IS A FOE TO THE HOME “ It is a fact that Christian Science is a foe to the home. I have heard o f a family in which an invalid sister has made one brother, a painter, another a fnusician, and a third an excellent reader. These brothers loved their sister very devotedly. ' One o f them learned painting, that he might paint scenes which she could not visit. The second learned music, that he might fill the home where she was with melody. The third devoted himself to reading, that he might while away her tedious hours. Here were the sweet, tender ministries o f love. Let Christian Science enter that home, and it asserts that the sister is not sick—she is suffering from a delusion. She is, there fore, to blame; and all these tender min-
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