OCR Text |
Show cfiPTIAN SCIENTIST tM up the issue Keplies to S" of tho Flrflt Methodist cnSS Salt Lake. S. Editor The Salt Lake Trlbunc:s WILL you kindly grant a llttlevf your valuable space wherein to correct an eroncous Impression which may have boon made by the Rev. J. M. Buckley, D, D., of New York In his sermon at the First Methodist Meth-odist church of Salt Lake City on Sunday Sun-day last, by classing Christian science with "religious sects" and "false prophets," proph-ets," which he said "drew millions from Christianity." The headline of Tho Trubune's report of the doctor's sermon, viz.; "There Is Only One Way to Heaven, and the Methodi9ts Have It," is rather suggestive sugges-tive If we consider the doctor's extravagant extrav-agant arraignment of other religious teachers and their teachings as "false prophets," having a "false light" From thl3 we reasonably conclude that when he spoko of Christianity he had reference to the Methodist religion. If thlB be true, his text, from the first chapter of John, viz.; "That was the true light," when separated from Us context expresses his thought of Methodism; Meth-odism; but when taken in Its proper connections, as follows: "That was the true light, which llghteth every man that cometh Into the world," beautifully beautiful-ly sets forth the gospel teachings, and prophesies the establishment of the universal brotherhood of man. As the true light appears, creed and dogma are seen to belong to the darkness: dark-ness: and In the effulgence of this light, love for God and man becomes the ruling rul-ing and controlling lnlluence. Tho founder of Christianity, Jesus the Christ, filled with the Holy Ghost, showing forth love for God and man, healing the sick nnd raising the dead, when commissioning His disciples to "preach the gospel," Included In the command the promise that they should "heal the sick" a3 a necessary proof of their gospel ministry, saying; "And these slgn3 shall follow thorn that be-licvo." be-licvo." If the church demanded of Its preachers preach-ers the same proof of efficiency that Jesus Je-sus did and does today demand of those who preach the gospel, would the learned doctor be filling the exalted position po-sition he now occupies? Ho made no reference In his sermon as to the efficacy ef-ficacy of his religion, or preaching, or that it was intended or expected that he would fulfill the demand to "preach the gospel" and "heal the sick," Dr. Buckley presumes to criticize and condemn others as though he spoke understanding un-derstanding and with authority, but the following questions, as practically answered In Christian science, with "signs following." may serve to show the harmony between that which he calls "false light" (Christian science) and "that true light." that Is lightening lighten-ing every one that comes to It. Has the divine principle of Christianity Chris-tianity changed, that the gospel of Christ Jesus lr. not as efficacious to heal the sick today as it was eighteen nun-dred nun-dred years ago9 Is not the command to "preach the gospel" and "hal tho sick" as Imperative today as it was the day It was first given? Has there been a time In the history of the world when there was greater need of an effectual healing agency, other than the generally gener-ally accepted material systems of to-dav? to-dav? Can the sinner be saved from his sin through the gospel, while the sick must get relief from materia med-Ica med-Ica or perlBh? The divine principle of Christianity Is the same, "yesterday, today, and forever." for-ever." The gospel that was preached by Jesus and His disciples, which appears ap-pears to this age as Christian science, and Is" concisely set forth In the textbook, text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, is efficacious, and docs heal th sick and sinful of today. And is bringing suffering humanity out of the darkness of belief and dogma Into that glorious light "that was (and Is) the true light," through its Influence and ministry. Dr. Buckley may or may not be correctly cor-rectly Informed concerning the different differ-ent "isms" which he berates, but It is clearly apparent to the student of Christian science that he is Ignorant of the true teachings and import of this science; and blind to the manifest results of Its Influence, as seen In the sick that are healed, tho sinful reformed and the vicious saved from his vice through Its application. Respectfully, M. H. LINCICOME. Publication Committee for Utah. Ogden, June 11, 1904. |