CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 16

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

t TO THE EDITOR Oy THE PRESS Sir, —It is gratifying to know that the Rev. Tremnyno M. Cumow h;ts a copy of tho Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, though liis letter published in your columns on November 20th indicates that his reading of it has been super- j Acini. Tho "Key to the Scriptures" docs not consist of a glossary, but extends over ninety-eight pages, of which the glossary occupies twenty-one. In the opening paragraph of this chapter tho author, in tho following words, indicates h er reason for including it: "In Christian Science wo learn that the substitution of the spiritual for the material definition of a Scriptural word often elucidates the meaning of the inspired writer." (p. 579). In using a glossary, as in using a dictionary, it is evident that, should a word havo more than one meaning the reader does not substitute one word for another, but studies the various definitions or meanings and selects whichever will elucidate most clearly the passage under consideration. It is interesting to note that Cassell's Bible Dictionary gives tho Hebrewequivalent of tho name "Adam" as "adamah," meaning "red earth." It does not follow, however, that the intelligent reader of Scripture will read the words "red earth" into passagos where the name "Adam" is used.

Your correspondent apparently objects to Mrs Eddy's spiritual definitions of words, but he will probably agree that in the text "That Rock was Christ," which he quotes, the word "rock" has a meaning other than the literal, though he does not offer any suggestion as to what he considers that meaning to be. It is obvious also that "coldness and stubbornness" are not characteristic of the Christ.

In my previous letter I outlined briefly the manner in which Christian Science unfolded in Mrs Eddy's thought and the procedure she followed in her search for Truth, a procedure the very opposite to that imputed by your correspendent. Her textbook was withheld from publication for some years after it was written in order that she might prove beyond question, in the manner required by Christ Jesus, that sho had indeed discovered the science of his teaching. Following the glossary in the textbook is a chapter of one hundred pages entitled "Fruitage," consisting of testimonies of many who had been healed simply by reading the book, a number of these healings being of diseases much dreaded to-day and regarded as incurable, a result which could hardly follow "an elaborate attompt to insert the teaching of Christian Science into the Scriptures." Is a teaching which obeys the Founder of Christianity, and does His works, to be regarded as anti-Christian? If so it is regarded thus only by those who do not understand it.—Yours, etc., CUTHBERT S. BOOTH. Christian Science Committee on Publication. November 21st, 1930.