MODERN MIRACLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1922, Page 6

MODERN MIRACLES.

(To the Editor.) I Sir. —Th** article Modern Miraelee.'* in j the Daily News of the 7th inat . giving ’an account of Air. J. M Hickson s work i in spiritual healing and hie opinions on . this'subject. shows by his regrettable reference to Christian Science that he has no practical knowledge of its teaching arid practice. In these days, when the world is crying out for healing of discordant conditions of divers sorts, it is always a pity when a public epeaker denounces the religious beliefs of another ection of people. Though often classed, as in Mr. Hickson's reference, with New j Thought. Theosophy and Spiritualism. | Christian Science has nothing in common i with these doctrines, but is baeed upon ■he word and works of Christ Jesus, as ; related in the Bible. History tells how he earlv Christian Church, preached the j gospel and healed the sick fcr at least • three centuries after Christ Jesus showed • Hie followers how to do so. and bade i them do it. Then when persecution gave j place to popularity, and the Church be- ' name more of a political organisation. ■ the power to heal the sick was gradually loet. and finally left in the hands of a

separate class of worker -, while, m spite of the Christ command, the Church became the centre for preaching and teaching, but not for healing the sick. Mr. Hickson recognise-, as mo*t thinking people do now. that a “whole salvation” must include healing the sick, and his remarks as to what the Church should be and do have a strong likeness to a description of the Christian Science Church, which was started “to organise a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.” (Church Manual by Mary B. Eddy). While Christian Science has no quarrel with medical doctors, it teaches that, as Mr. Hickson reminds us. an Almighty God can and does heal a ]l kinds of disease, both functional and organic. It holds, too. that sufferers should be free to consult the practitioner of the school they prefer, whether it be the popular school or otherwise. Probably greater attention to Christian Science is gained because of the element of healing that is part of its doctrine, hut the primary mission of Christian Science is not one of physical healing, but “these signs are only to demonstrate it* divine origin, to attest the reality of the higher mission i of the Christ-power to take away the I sins of the world ” (Page 150. “Science ! and Health, with Key to the Scriptures.” i by Mary Baker Eddy.—l am. etc.. MADGE BFLh. j (Christian Science Committee on Publics tion for N.I. of N.Z.) < July 11, 1922.