Vol. VII.

SPECIAL NUMBER

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE EXTRA

International Bible Students Association, Publishers.

BROOKLYN, N. Y.

No. S

FACTS FOIL THE ASSASSINATION OF PASTOR RUSSELL’S CHARACTER

A post-card request brings free to any one who doubts Pastor Russell’s purity of life and sincerity of purpose, a clear cut statement of the facts at issue. Address Watch Tower, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Those who read carefully and get the benefit of the pure spiritual atmosphere into which Pastor Russell leads them need not be told that the many vile printed and pulpit attacks are wholly false and merely the desperate efforts of opponerits whose nefarious schemes to keep the people in ignorance of the truth on all subjects Pastor Russell is so fearlessly and thoroughly exposing. .

It is for this reason that the millions of newspaper readers continue to enjoy Paster. Russell’s pen products and are not being influenced by any of the so-called news reports with scare-headlines, some of which, if even partially true, would have sent Pastor Russell to prison long ago; but the fact is that not a soul on earth has the slightest cause for grievance against Pastor Russell, except that he is telling the common people truths the clergy wish them not to know.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

IS IT REASONABLE?

“COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER,” SAITH THE LORD

Remarkable Growth of This Cult—Its Adherents—Their Realization of a Supernatural Power Outside of Man—An Outgrowth of Present-Day Conditions—Are Its Teachings —og-ical?—Some Perplexing Problems—The Power of the Will in Resisting Disease—God Omnipotent and Omniscient but Not Omnipresent.

REJECTS DOCTRINE OF MOTHER EDDY

First Reader and Practitioner Resigns

[PASTOR. k’llSSl U !

His Reason: “Christian Science Not Only Fails to Reveal, but Even

Pastor Russell recently delivered two addresses on Christian Science which have been widely quoted in the public press, and we here publish a synopsis of them for the benefit of our readers.

His text was, ‘ ‘ Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be- as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18.) He said in

The Baltimore Sun and various other papers of the country report the resignation of a well-known Reader and Practitioner from the Christian Science Movement, with a full text of his reasons, which we believe should

.                part:

What a man believes or disbelieves is his own business, and not subject to public criticism. But when a number of people iilOCA/"" - ’ ciate themselves,, publish their doctrines to the world and invite members, their doctrines are properly subject to public criticism. These should be honestly treated, however, not misrepresented; and all honest people should welcome such truthful criticism. We

appeal to other Scientists who have a sacred assume that Christian Scientists, therefore, regard for the Bible as a Divine revelation.

We publish an extract of the report, as follows:

- A sensation has been aroused in religious circles in this city by the resignation of Mr. Frederick W. Plaenker, first reader and practitioner of the Christian Science Church of Cumberland.. The announcement of Mr. Plaenker’s withdrawal, coming suddenly, as it did, was something of a shock to the members of his flock, but there was nothing for them to do but accept it, as their leader was determined upon severing his every connection with Mother Eddy’s church, at the same time rejecting all its tenets absolutely. The fact that Mr. Plaenker has been one of the strongest and most active, workers, of the Christian Science church in the city, has made his complete rejection of all of Mother Eddy’s teachings quite remarkable and startling.

“For over five years Mr. Plaenker has been an earnest supporter of Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science. He studied in Baltimore, having relinquished a career at the bar to do so, being a graduate of law at the University of Maryland, ’05. Hence, from being one of the most loyal advocates of Christian Science, Mr. Plaenker now becomes one who totally rejects the teachings of that faith, for the following stated reasons:

• 1. “A careful perusal of Pastor Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures has shed more light upon the entire Bible than Science and. Health has shed upon a single chapter during my five years of close study and practice; notwithstanding the Christian Science text-book, by Mrs. Mary G. Baker.Eddy, bears the.title of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

• 2. “Since I understand the Bible to be an expression of God’s Plan, I more and more realize that Christian Science not only fails to reveal that Plan, but even conceals it.

• 3. “By its denial that Adam was originally perfect and subsequently fell from that perfection, Christian Science consequently denies:

will fully appreciate what we now have to say. We trust that we always have this, attitude toward criticism of our public teachings.

The growth of Christian Science has astonished the world. Its teachings appeal to. a very intelligent, well-to-do class of people, of considerable mental independence. The physical healing of either themselves or their friends seems to have been more or less associated with their conversion to their cult. Their realization of the cure brought them the conviction that there is a supernatural power outside of man, and aroused a religious sentiment such as they had never known before. It seems to them that they have started a new life.

The reason for this is that nominal Christianity is merely a form of godliness, without power or conviction. This form of godliness has spread until the whole is styled Christendom—Christ’s Kingdom. In countries like Great Britain, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia approximately ninety-five per cent, of the population are rated as Christians, even though some of these are in prison, some in insane asylums and some too young to think. In Italy everybody is rated a Christian—although amongst some of the Italians who come to our shores flourish works of the Devil, such as the Black Hand, the Mafia, etc.

Bewildered Christendom

Additionally, some sincere Christian people have,' during the last fifty years, been in great perplexity because of the stupendous nonsense intermingled with Truth which was handed down from the. Dark Ages. Under the increasing light, thinking people ■ could not swallow some of the monstrous statements of the creeds as readily as did their forefathers. Gradually the great churches which formerly persecuted all others as heretics, forbidding any to preach except by their ordinations, found themselves compelled to desist from making their tenets too prominent. Thus many people have concluded that the only difference between

• (a) The necessity of a Ransom-price.

• (b) That our only hope of everlasting life is in our acceptance of the Redeemer, Christ, in obedience to His commandments.:—Acts 4.TO-12.

(Continued on 2d page, 1st column.}

“WHERE ARE THE DEAD?”

This article was published in a recent issue of The Bible Students Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 3. The interest aroused and the great demand for copies of it have been remarkable. A sample copy will be mailed to any one free upon receipt of post-card request.

the various denominations is in church forms, ceremonies, ordinations, etc.

The doctrine that God had foreordained 999 out of every 1,000 to an eternity of tor--xture in fire was gradually looked at as too horrible to believe. The alternate doctrine, that God did not foreordain the matter thus,

• Under such conditions Christian Science was born, and has grown to its present proportions. Three things especially favored it: (1) its acceptance of the Bible; (2) its rejection of everlasting. torment, mental or physical; (3) its teaching respecting Divine healing. . Mrs. Eddy, the acknowledged head of Christian Science, had a keen mind and considerable wisdom. in its exercise. She would hold to the Bible, even though perverting its teachings. She would not make her teachings too antagonistic to other theories. She contented herself with vague, ambiguous statements re the future life. She laid principal stress on healing, and settled all doctrinal difficulties with the dictum that there is no evil, no sin, no death; that what have been so-ealled are merely errors of the mind.

The very absurdity of these statements advertised them.. People said, What does it .....i'heic. is no death, no -sickness, no pain, no sorrow, no evil of any kind? Absurd! Later;, they said, We will see how Christian Scientists explain death, sickness, pain, sin. Thus curiosity led them into the metaphysical labyrinth which Mrs. Eddy had skilfully constructed. Having no intelligent knowledge of the Bible, they fell an easy prey to “Mother Eddy’s’-’ errors. If some of her definitions were fanciful, far-fetched and un-scriptural, they were no more so than the illogical teachings to which people had been accustomed from childhood.

C. S. Readers and Practitioners.

Christian Scientists feel what might be termed spiritual pride in connection with their healing practises and with the public reading of the Scriptures and Mrs. Eddy’s comments—as much spiritual pride as is sometimes felt in the churches by preachers, elders, deacons, vestrymen, deaconesses, etc. Once elevated to positions as readers, practitioners or healing practitioners, it becomes their duty loyally to support the system they represent. And so, just as earnestly as with other sects, the establishment and defense of Christian Science goes courageously onward.

Stall another class is interested—those in control of Christian Science literature. It sells at good stiff prices; and anybody questioning the merchandising of the truth is given to understand that he is unappreciative; and with the majority the price regulates the value.

Is Christian Science Logical?

Having, we believe, fairly stated the facts and claims of Christian Scientists, we will now endeavor to show why we consider their teachings illogical. “ Mother Eddy ,” striving after a truth, declared that there is no pain, no sickness, no sorrow, etc. The truth she was feeling after, but did not fully grasp, is that sin, sickness, sorrow, death, are abnormal conditions, resulting from the curse that came upon our race at the beginning because of disloyalty to God. We agree with Mrs. Eddy to the extent of saying that these unsatisfactory conditions are not designed by God to be everlasting. He does not recognize them as proper for those in fellowship with Him. Jesus Himself tells us that their

obliteration will be the work of His Millennial Kingdom.—Revelation 20:6; 21:4; 22:3.

Is it wise to say in one breath that these will pass away, and in the next breath that they are non-existent? Surely we all value consistency and logic! Otherwise language would bring us confusion instead of intelligence. Let us then say that these conditions exist because man is out of relationship with God through sin; and that according to the Bible mankind shall be delivered from this

but had not the wisdom or power to avoid such a catastrophe for His creatures, was equally repugnant. Consequently, preach- , - ------------— ~~

ers began to tell that the destiny of the J?o^ndage ^sin and death into the glorious world was not literal fire, but gnawing of con- liberty of the sons of God.—-Romans 8:21.

science, etc.—each manufacturing a Hell in The perfect race, was represented in. Father accordance with his own wisdom or ignorance Adam before he sinned; and through Christ and to suit his congregation. $            eventually the earth will be filled with per-

feet human beings. Then whoever will come into fullest accord with the Lord will die the Second Death. Theirs will be the per’ ishing like natural brute beasts, which St. Peter mentions—the punishing with an everlasting destruction, mentioned by St. Paul. (2 Peter 2:12;. 2 Thess. 1:9.) But nothing in the Bible implies an everlasting torture of any one.

In the Bible presentation there is a special place for the Church of the Gospel Age, called out of the world before the Restitution Times. Her acceptance, of the Call implies her attempt to live in fullest harmony with the Lord under present imperfect; unsatisfactory conditions—even to the extent of laying down life for the brethren, for the service w God and His Word. To this Church class, the Bible assures us, will come a still higher blessing than. Restitution. The Church is tp have the highest form of spirit nature* as St. Peter declares.-’—2 Petei l.-l.

Truth Biblical, Scientific, Sanctifying

We commend Christian Scientists for their endeavor to hold fast to the Bible, but remind them that not the letter of the Bibi*, merely will enlighten and sanctify, but ste ..... spirit, its real meaning.. This is obtainable^ not. by confusing definitions, but by sins-plicity of mind in accepting the words fos?. what they are and putting them together illogical order.

Let us give Mrs. Eddy credit -for desiring to be logical; but let us notice that her language was confusing when she said, ‘ ‘ There is no death, no sickness, no pain.” The most that .can.be conceded by the most generOTS logician is that there should be no deaths no sickness, no pain, no sorrow, if things wera in right condition. But things are not he. right condition, as the Bible declares and w all can see; and they will not be so until th® Savior who redeemed the world by the sacrifice of Himself shall assume His kingly and. remove the curse. Then there will b® no sin, no death, no sorrow, no pain.

But since Mrs. Eddy and Christian'So| ence fail to recognize and statq 'these-_;.feas6i|J clearly it follows that, howevergiaitractiv*]' her teachings, may be to some'people,\thegq cannot be relied, upon, because they are o» the true foundation—recognizing neither th® facts of sin and death nor the necessity 'let redemption therefrom by Jesus’ sacrifice nor for the coming Restitution. Furthermore'_; Christian Science does not differentiate b©« ’ tween the Church, which has been in process' of selection for more than eighteen centuries/ and the world, which still lies in the Wickeffi. One, and which will not be dealt with un® the Church shall be glorified, and with heiE ' Lord shall constitute the Kingdom of Righteousness.

Jesus prayed for His Church, “SanctiJsr them through Thy Truth; Thy Word fe Truth.” While Christian Scientists an® , people of other denominations, and some: heathen as well, are, many of them, moraL . exemplary, honorable, yet few claim to bi sanctified. Indeed, the sanctifying features of Truth they ignore or do not see. We not to think of church attendance or of jection of profanity, liquors, etc., as sanctification.. The putting away of the filth of'the' flesh is indeed commendable, but is only &, primary step in the right direction.

God is now calling a sanctified class—aaefe-apart, people—whom He is testing under ths promise, “Be thou faithful unto death, airi> I will give thee a Crown of Life.” This doss not signify faithfulness to a denomination or a cult, but faithfulness to the Lord, -to'th®» testimony of His Word, to the principles cf righteousness, to self-surrender to walk ia Jesus’ footsteps.

We will not discuss at length the scientific . element of Christian Science. To some it > seems very unscientific—inharmonious witi '

(Continued on 2d page, 2d column^

THE BIBLE STUDENTS MONTHLY

; [ W. F. HUDGINGS, Editor.

I' 13» 15, 17 HICKS ST., BROOKLYN, N. Y.

(Continued from 1st page, 4th column.)

Monthly—12 cts. a year-

An Independent,

Religious Newspaper!,

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Devoted to the Forwarding of the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement for the Glory of God and Good of Humanity.

^Ministers of th© I. B. S. A. render their services at funerals free of charge. They also invite correspond-sneefrom those desiring Christian counsel.

^Continued from 1st page, Lt column.')

(e) That there will be “times of restitution of all things spoken,” because man could not be restored to something he never yet enjoyed.—Acts 3:21..

(d) That Adam “was not deceived,” ginning wilfully.—I Timothy 2:14.

4. “By teaching death to be merely an ©venue to another plane of consciousness, ■ Christian Science aids Satan in perpetuating his first falsehood, “thou shalt not surely 4iie” (Genesis 3:4), thus making it impossible Sor the Scientist to understand Christ to be “the resurrection and the life,” as set forth fat the Bible (John 11:25), and that Jesus suffered death as a substitute for Adam and his race, “ a ransom for all. ”—I Timothy 2:6.

“All my reasons for rejecting Christian Science may be briefly summarized thus: If the Bible is true, many principles of Christian Science are utterly false, and I must recognize that either the one or the other must be rejected. I therefore reject Christian Sci-®nce, and in obedience to candid conviction and conscience I accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God, the Revelation of the Divine Plan of the Ages. My purpose in thus stating my position is not to berate Mrs. Eddy nor to infer that she wilfully sought to deceive mankind, but to assist Christian Scientists and others who are sincerely seeking after Truth and righteousness.”

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

IS IT REASONABLE ?

the Truth. We believe that the only way that anything scientific could be associated with it is by adding to it the thought that sorrow, sin and death are in the world only temporarily, by reason of transgression of Divine Law, and that they are to be exterminated by Messiah’s Kingdom.

A Very Pernicious Teaching.

Christian Scientists tell us that they have benefited mentally and physically from following Mrs. Eddy’s theory and denying that there is any pain, etc. We quite agree that the will is a powerful factor in resisting disease—that if we brood over sorrows, difficulties, aches and pains, they are increased by the operation of our minds. . We agree with all physicians, that the mind should be diverted from our diseases. But it is

Scientists—and by many of other denominations—that is very pernicious, very injurious, very untrue, very unscientific, very unscrip-tural. This is the teaching that God is omnipresent—present in everything and in every place. Nothing in the Bible so declares; and when we attempt to be wiser than what is written we surely make a mistake.

Whoever thinks of God as omnipresent necessarily thinks of Him as impersonal; and the more he thinks the more vague his God becomes, until finally he has no God, but merely (as some Christian Scientists, including Mrs. Eddy, express it) believes in a principle of good and calls that principle God. Such wish to believe in a supreme Creator, but by this erroneous reasoning they mislead their own intelligence, into the denial of a personal God. An omnipresent God is

not a person.

The Bible recognizes a personal God—a great Spirit Being—and gives Him a home, or locality.. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, which art in Heaven.” How different this is from saying that God is in every-

thing useful or valuable—in the soil, because

illogical, irrational and, above all, un- _______________________ ___________________

truthful to say that we are without pain it is useful for the development of fruits; in when we have pain. No lover of truth can the chair, because useful to sit upon; in the

when we have pain. No lover of truth can tue cm«u, uwauw usuui iu mu upon, consent to this. Honesty must be first table, because useful as a convenience! Such with all right-minded people, and surely is ' ‘

pleasing to God.

There is one doctrine held by Christian

teachings surely lead away from sanctification of heart and life and from the faith which the Bible inculcates.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

IS IT SCRIPTURAL?

Wages of sin is death¹

Soul that sinneth shall die.

NOW LOVES GOD, A NEW EXPERIENCE

Former Trustee of First Church, Scientist, New York City, Relates Interesting Life Story

Him” and to “be dead with Him,” that she may thus share with Him in the best resurrection—to the Divine nature. (2 Timothy 2:11, 12; 2 Peter 1:4.) Therefore the Church should not expect Divine healing, which is so much of Restitution and will be-long to the world by and by, after Messiah’s Kingdom shall have been established. But Restitution is not the promise to the Church, but a new nature, the Divine; and that Divine nature is obtainable only by participation with the Redeemer in ‘ ‘ the sufferings of this present time” and in “the glory to follow.”—Romans 8:18, 19.

Healing in the Early Church

Neither Jesus nor His Apostles experienced healing—nor did any of the early Church, so far as the record shows. Dorcas, who was raised from the dead, and St. Peter’s wife’s mother, who was healed of a fever, are not to be considered exceptions to this rule. Nor was this, because none of them were sick. Jesus Himself evidently was very sick in Gethsemane, and on the way to the Cross he fainted. St. Paul mentions Trophimus and how sick he was; yet there is no suggestion that the Apostle healed him. St. Paul notes \ the fact that St. Timothy had dyspepsia; but instead of healing him the Apostle wrote ’ to him advising a certain diet.

We must not think of these things as acci-dental; for they are in full accord with what is abundantly set forth in the Bible. The ’ healings were done.in.exceptional cases, for ■ the purpose of convincing the people respect- * ing the Church and for the establishment of

Sickness and Death Abnormal—Death the Penalty of Man’s Sin of Disobedience—Jesus the Divinely Appointed Redeemer of Man—Jesus’ Death and Resurrection the Satisfaction for Man’s Sin—Healing a Restitution Work—“God Is al Spirit”—His Personality—His Attributes—Omnipotent, Omniscient, but Not Omnipresent.

PASTOR. RUSSELL’S sequential sermon die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive.” on Christian Science was based on the (1 Corinthians 15:21, 22.) What is this but

We- received, recently, a very interesting BOmmurtication from Mr. Henry Lincoln Case, well-known soloist and composer of sacred music, which we here publish for the benefit of our readers:

“ 102 W. 84th St., New York City, May 3, 1915.

* International Bible Students Ass’n, “Brooklyn, New York.

*Dear Brethren in Christ:

“For several years a Trustee of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, New York City, . as well as musical director of the choir, I naturally became conversant with many phases of Christian Science in addition to those familiar to the average member or trained student. The inconsistencies, both of doctrine and of practice, which came to my notice during the eight years of my membership (1892 to 1900), forced me to choose between withdrawing or stifling my conscience. I left the church, not knowing where to go. For several years thereafter, I was ‘without Christ, a stranger from the ©©venants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.’ (Ephesians i:12.) But how different is everything to ae now! I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude to God ‘ who hath called me out of darkness into His marvelous fight.’—I Peter 1:9.

>   "1 must tell you, briefly, how this came

about. It was through witnessing your IPhoto-Drama, ‘CREATION,’ at the New York City TEMPLE, recently, that my

, faith in the Bible was awakened. I became i ao deeply interested in the Drama’s por-| irayal of the Bible’s teaching that I inquired for further doctrinal information. Bring advised of Pastor Russell’s works, “Studies in the Scriptures,’ I procured immediately. Too much praise cannot be spoken or written concerning these bodksl A knowledge of the Truth, God’s great Plan for humanity, as pointed out an lucidly by these volumes, has completely sjewlutionized my mind and my life. In $he- riear light of the true Gospel everything; takes on a new aspect. Faith is bestowed., How I wish every Christian Sci-®ntist, and all others, could know the real teaching of the Bible! With the knowledge K have gained through Pastor Russell’s writings, I have learned to fervently love <j©db-aui entirely new experience for me.

“Believing, you would be pleased to have •Wistestimony,, I remain,

X. “ Gratefully yours,

text, “There shall be no more death, neither

“Henry Lincoln Case.”

Calamities—Why Permitted?

< *

FREE LITERATURE!

Send postal-card request to the editor for free copies of this paper. Some of the interesting subjects you may have

I’l* for asking are: . Calamities—

, Our Lord’s Return.

Which Is the True Gospel? The Battle of Armageddon. What Is the Soul?

Philosophy of the Deluge. The Rebel Satan Doomed. Gathering the Lord’s Jewels. What Is Baptism?

The Law of Retribution.

Sin Atonement.

‘ The Lost Key of Knowledge, etc.

sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any i more pain. ” (Rev. 21:4.) He said in part: i In ur address of last week, having, we be- ' lieve, fairly stated the facts and claims of Christian Science and having pointed out the 1 unreasonableness and inconsistency of some of its statements, we now proceed to inquire whether its teachings are Scriptural. This is the question of special interest to us. The others are merely incidental. We hold, and will endeavor t© show, that Christian Science is in confliet with the Holy Scriptures.

The Bible distinctly avers that God created man perfect—in His own likeness, morally, intellectually. . It declares that Adam’s disobedience was sin, punishable, not with eternal torment, but with death.—Romans 5:12; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22; Genesis 2:17; 3:17-19; Ezekiel 18:4, 20.

Christian Science denies these facts, declaring that there is no death and that whoever dies merely commits “mortal error.” It is surely against Christian Science, but confirmatory of the Bible teaching, that for more than six thousand years mankind have been dying. Even “ Mother Eddy, ’’who was expected not to commit “mortal error,” finally succumbed to it. What answer can our Christian Science friends make to this? We know of none, except that they might claim that the unreasonableness of their position is no greater than the unreasonableness of any of the other sects , and creeds. Logic never seems to be taken into consideration in religious matters; the more illogical a statement, the more commendable the acceptance of it.

If all disease is error, if death is the greatest of errors, and if the escaping of “mortal error”—death—brings the reward of everlasting life, how do our Christian Science friends expect to get everlasting life, when at the last moment of their trial they make failure? For those of them who are at all logical, this must he another very perplexing problem. The Bible declares that whoever fails in one point is guilty of all the Law. (James 2:10.) Surely he who commits “mortal error” has failed in attaining the desideratum of Christian Science more than in all the other failures of his life in combating all other things! If “mortal error” thus takes hold at the dying moment, what hope would there he for such a person as respects everlasting life, if only to overcomers will be granted that life and if none of them overcome, but all succumb to “mortal error”? The corollary of the argument would be hopeless death for all mankind. In this conclusion the Bible agrees. “ The wages of sin is death”; sin brings death, “mortal error.” —Ezekiel 18:4; Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23.

What the Scriptures Say.

The Bible logically and beautifully points out God’s compassion for our race and His provision in Christ for our recovery out of this death condition by a resurrection from the dead. The _r Bible logically shows that the Divine sentence of death (not torment)

a declaration that the sin leading to “mortal error” is atoned for by Divine favor, to the intent that all sinners may be rescued from “mortal error”—from death?

The Bible is so much more reasonable and beautiful that, we believe, Christian Scientists, seeing its teachings with clear vision, will gladly exchange an inferior for a superior. Why should they bind themselves too closely to “Mother Eddy,” who according to her own theory failed in the highest degree, in committing “ mortal error”—and hopelessly? Would they not rather take the older and still better teaching of God’s Word, and realize that Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead was the Divine recognition of His perfect sacrifice and a guarantee that His death had accomplished the designed purpose of providing a way for the removal of “mortal error”— death—from all?

Those who accept Jesus’ death and resurrection as the satisfaction provided by God for sin, and who believe the Bible teaching that the actual resurrection is to occur after the Second Advent of Jesus, may by faith speak of themselves as already risen with Him. But those who deny that there is any death must of necessity deny that Jesus died, and hence would be, whether intentionally or otherwise, denying the Ransom-Price—the Redemption-Price—given for the sins of the whole world.

Cannot our Christian Science friends accept the Redeemer and His work, and by faith look forward to the Restitution, which St. Peter declares will follow our Lord’s Second Advent? (Acts 3:19-21.) It will be for all mankind, and will last a thousand years, dealing with “every man in his own order”—bringing them back from the tomb and from all their weaknesses, which are the blemishes of sin—back to the perfect image and likeness of God, as originally represented in Father Adam.

must be met either by humanity^or by a Redeemer, and informs us that for this pur-

Healing the Sick Not a Sin

Christian Science healers necessarily acknowledge that there is sickness when they speak of healing; for how could any one be healed who is not diseased? We have already conceded that sickness, sorrow and pain would not be proper for any who are God’s people; and that the prevalence of these conditions attests the fact that God is dealing with the world as criminals under death sentence. The question arises, Is not the Church an exception to the world in this matter? We answer that those who believe in Jesus’redemptive work and who fully consecrate their lives are counted as separate and distinct from the world. (John 17:16.) Nevertheless, to the surprise of some, it is not the Divine Plan that those received by God as sons should be released from sickness, imperfection or death.

Take the case of Jesus: “Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” the Son of God by a full outward attestation (Matthew 3:17; John 1:14), He was weary, He hungered, He agonized in the Garden, He died on the Cross. Nor were these errors; rather, they

iteaeemer, ana miorms us mar wr whs pur- ™*e the.very^things,forwhichHe came into pose Christ left His Heavenly glory, that He <the world, as He Himself declared, and with might redeem Adam and his race from gin ^ou^ Jc,^sus suffering as our Redeemer Adam and its death penalty. So the Apostle writes ^an<^, .^^{ia ra}p® never be recovered, ac-by inspiration: “As by a man [Adam] came cording to the Divine arrangement.

death, by a man also [Jesus] comes’the res- The Church, styled in the Scriptures the urrection of the dead. For as all in Adam Bride of Christ,” is invited to “suffer with

the Church. Even Jesus Himself did not < heal all who needed aid. At the Pool of Bethesda there were many impotent folk; ’ but. He healed one only. (John 5:5-9.) ' He informed us that His work was merely a j sample of what Restitution will be in due ^! time, when Messiah’s Kingdom shall pre- -vail worldwide: “These things did Jesus, and manifested beforehand His [coming] ' glory”—His Kingdom work at His Second । Advent, when He will be the great Healer, ; the great Life-Giver, for all of Adam’s race, i •—John 2:11.                                  J

Seme one may inquire, Pastor Russell, ; have you forgotten Mark 16:17,18? “These j signs shall follow them that believe: In My | name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

No; we do not forget that these words are accredited to Jesus and St. Mark; but all scholars know, or should know, that these words do not appear in any Greek manuscript of earlier date than the Seventh Century. Besides, we doubt whether all Christian Scientists claim to be healers, or whether even the healers would handle serpents or drink poisons, such as prussic acid. This is not Higher Criticism. I am not a Higher Critic. It is the simplest form of criticism to reject frauds and impositions when we have proof that they are such, as in this case. We are glad to acknowledge, however, that the number of such fraudulent additions to God’s Word is comparatively small. John 21:25 is another of these; and its absurdity is manifest.

Another important fraud is found in 1 John 5:7, 8, where unscrupulous men sought to establish the false doctrine of the Trinity; for not one. text of Scripture could be found to its support. Here they have added twenty-four words of the text, which in the oldest MSS. reads, “For there are three that bear record, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one [record].” As usual, all these spurious additions involve absurdities. In this text the absurdity would be to have Father, Son and Holy Spirit all bearing witness in Heaven to the angels that Jesus is God’s Son, as though the angels would not know that fact!

The God of the Bible.

Christian Scientists declare that the ten most potent words ever written were penned when Mrs. Eddy wrote the first ten words of her “Scientific Statement of Being”— “ There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter.” How does this agree with their teaching that God is everywhere and in everything?

It further declares that God is a Principle, yet discusses Him as a personality, quoting, “God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.” (Habakkuk 1:13.) On the strength of this misapplied text Christian Scientists build the theory that God is ignorant of everything impure or injurious; that to Him and to them such things are not realities. .Nevertheless, the context contradicts all their theories by declaring, “Wherefore iookest Thou upon them that deal treacherously, and boldest Thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”— Hab. 1:13; see also V. 3.

Christian Science is in conflict with the Bible along another very important line. According to Christian Science, “God is a divine Principle, supreme incorporeal Being, Mind, Spirit, Soul, Life, Truth, Love. These are synonymous terms. They refer to one absolute God, and nothing else. The attributes of God are justice,, mercy, wisdom, goodness, and so on. Principle is divine, one Life, one Truth, one Love, and this is God, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.” ♦ * * “Soul, or Spirit, signifies Deity, and nothing else. There is no finite •oul, or spirit.”

¹ But the God of the Bible is a Person, a Spirit. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in

' spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24.) God is a Person, or Soul: “If any man draw back, ' My Soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 1:3; 10:38.) He is “the God of i all grace, the Father of mercies,” from whom i cometh every good and perfect gift.” (2

where. Since the invention of the telephone and the wireless we may much better than ever before understand how God can have fullest knowledge of everything throughout the Universe, just as man can receive information in an instant from the remotest parts of the earth. What man can do under Divine guidance and enlightenment is, we may be sure, as nothing in comparison with what his Creator can do with that Creator’s power and knowledge.

In conclusion, we urge upon Christian Scientists, as upon all professing the name of Christ, the importance of coming into relationship with Jesus by faith: First, faith in Him as the Redeemer—the One through whom alone there is provision for escape from sin, sorrow, sickness, death; secondly, belief in Him as the great King whose Reign is to accomplish the work of overthrowing sin; thirdly, belief in the testimony of Jesus and the Apostles that He is gathering put a Church to be His Bride, or Associate, in His glorious Messianic work of a thousand years —yea, and to be His Companion in glory to all eternity.—Ephesians 2:7.

Let us become, through Christ, through consecration, through Spirit-begetting, the children of God, that we may properly call Him our Father and properly expect and receive His parental care over all our affairs, temporal and spiritual. Let us remember that the glory, honor, immortality and Divine nature, promised to the elect saints, are to be attained only by those who shall demonstrate their love and loyalty to God by faithfulness in His service even unto death, as did our Lord Jesus Christ.

Women Not Always Messengers of Light

. Rev. Tomlinson’s final point is that “ Christian Science was discovered and founded by a woman,” and “in the churches of this denomination man and woman unite in the conduct of the Sunday services.” Right here he shows again that Mrs. Eddy’s book, and not the Bible, is the true text-book of the movement in which he is interested. No one held woman in higher esteem than Our Lord, yet when choosing His twelve Apostles, and later the seventy, He included none of them. . Nor were any female members of the tribe of Levi eligible to the priestly office. The first woman was Satan’s first ambassador—a successful one, too, in misleading the first man and plunging the entire race into sin and death. The Divine Program runs counter to the natural tendency of all men to specially esteem woman in religious matters. This tendency is notable in the records of the past as well as the present, as evidenced by the Egyptian goddess Isis, the Assyrian goddess Ashtaroth, the Greek goddess Diana, the Roman goddesses Juno and Venus, the worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the use of women as mediums in Spiritualistic seances, and finally the exaltation of Mrs. Eddy.

Hear the Word of the Lord: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” This is in accord with the wishes of the best women ©f all ages. The true woman desires to retreat from the limelight of publicity, and to put the responsibility for Christian instruction where it properly belongs, upon the half of the human family that is best fitted to impart such instruction without the damage to character and disposition which so soon mars the womanhood of the gentler sex, when they take up duties f@r which they were not by nature designed,

A certain amount of combative courage is demanded in overcoming the world, the flesh and the Devil and their various snares. This fighting disposition may become a valuable aid to ourselves and t@ the Master’s cause if rightly and wisely directed against sin, first in ourselves and secondly in others; if used for the Lord and his people and against Satan and all his powers of darkness and superstition. This, in the Scriptures, is called fitting the good fight, and we all should be gallant soldiers in this battle for Right and Truth, lovingly defending ©ur Captain’s honor and his people’s liberties.

Shun a contentious and fault-finding disposition as contrary to the spirit, or disposition of Christ—contrary t© love.

Do Not Trust to Conscience Alone

If conscience were a sufficient guide you would have no need of the Scriptures. The majority of people have as good as no conscience; for they are blind t© the principles and laws ©f God given to guide conscience; and still worse off than these are those mentioned in 1 Tim. 4:2. Hence the imperative necessity for carefully heeding the Lord’s Word, and walking circumspectly according to its light.

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INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

Brooklyn, N. Y., or London, England

CHAIRMAN ROSS AND MR. WOODWORTH DEBATE ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

C. S. Official Asks That Publication of Criticism Be Suppressed. t<          Refers to Woodworth Article as Reprinted

on Page 3 of This Issue.

“5. The quotation, ‘Not the death of the cross, but the cross-bearing deathless life, that Jesus left for the example of mankind, ransoms from sin all who follow it,’ is pre- _willlead you _{into a}n _truth. _The“Sermon on ^mably from page 271 of Sc a ]^_oun^ j_a essence of this Science, and .^exact                               eternal life, not the death of Jesus, is

When the Science of Christianity^aPPearsit _{it3 outcome}.»> _And _then you add, ‘The will lead you into all truth. The S • n forgoing comparison is a fair example of the Mount is the essence of this Science, j_{low care};_esg^_{y eur cr}ifj_c has quoted from and the eternal hfe, not the death of Jesus, g_c;_{ence an}^ Health.' But what will you is its outcome. The foregoing comparison           -   - -         .   ..      .

is a fair example of how carelessly our critic has quoted from Science and Health.

“Finally, Mr. Woodworth attributes to Science and Health meanings of several names which Mrs. Eddy never gave to them, and which do not appear in any of her writings. For instance, he states that the meaning of Eve is‘Evil’; Israel‘Isreal’; Mary‘Sweet,’_______________ ______________

etc., all of which are misrepresentations.          G_od-’ H is impossible to answer

Time will not permit me to refer to Mrs. ^jg _charge fully without knowing which Eddy’s definitions of these words, but in q_UOt_ations are claimed as inaccurate, but to cases where she does define names you will gj_{ve you no} ground for this statement I will find them m the Glossary of Science and q_UOf_e a paragraph from my article, and give the references to Science and Health:

Health with Key to the Scriptures.

“ I have pointed out enough errors m Mr. Woodworth’s article to prove beyond cavil that he evidently wrote to misrepresent Christian Science merely because its teachings differ from his own theological views. It is very easy for an advocate of one system m to see in other systems various types of so-called heretical teachings, and to point to certain passages from the Scriptures to verify his conclusions. I do not desire to challenge your statement that the author of this article is ‘a Christian man of the highest ideals.’ There are a great many sincere religionists who are zealous to do right in ------ —---------- -----------.

most of their dealings with their fellowmen; the conclusion that follows irresistibly— but when it comes to the matter of doctrine if those statements are true. But please oftentimes they throw truth to the winds note that the quotations are correct, and it is and resort to methods that are less cruel than the statements themselves, , not my deducthose of the Middle Ages only because civili- tions, that are open to question:

Bation has so far advanced that the dungeon “1. If Jehovah is not a person, but a prin-and the scaffold, as means of settling doc- ciple;                        .

trinal differences, are frowned upon by soei- “2. If God and man are inseparable, aa _e^_y>                                          principle and its idea;

“As a matter of justice both to Christian Science and to your readers, I feel you should not only stop immediately the circulation of the copy of The Bible Students Monthly containing the erroneous article entitled / Christian Science Unscientific and Unchristian,’ but that you should publish this communication, which I feel you will be glad to do.9

Mr. Wood worth’s Reply

Upon receipt of the foregoing communication we immediately forwarded it to Mr. C. J. Woodworth; who corresponded direct with the writer, sending copies to us, from which we quote:

Mr. Woodworth said:

“Mr. Robert S. Ross,

“Christian Science Committee on Publication, New York City.

“Dear Sir:

“ The Secretary of the International Bible Students Association has handed me your communication of February 13th, in which you make further protests against my letter published in the Scranton (Pa.) Times, some ten years ago. and republished later by the I. B. S. A.

“I am extremely busy and can hardly devote the necessary time to the work, but as you seem to feel badly about the repeated appearances of this article I have made a reexamination of the original sources from which I drew my data, and am now able to give you the citations which you have called in question. Doubtless you have been sincere in questioning my truthfulness, because you were not sufficiently familiar with the past history of your movement. But you should realize that it places you in a very embarrassing position to accuso-.a gentleman of untruthfulness, and have him afterwards confront you with abundant evidence that his statements were based upon authorized Christian Science publications. It is your place, not mine, to stand sponsor for what Mrs. Eddy has written.

“You say, ‘Mr. Woodworth quotes /Science and Health as stating “Jehovah is not a person. God. is principle.” There is no such passage in Science and Health.' Now, having in mind that my article was written several years agp and was based upon your literature of a still earlier date; will you refer to your edition of Science and Health when it was published in two volumes, and note page 167; Vol. I., where the statement is made in

the exact form above quoted!

“You say, ‘The quotation, “Not the death of the cross, but the cross-bearing deathless life, that Jesus left for the example of mankind, ransoms from sin all who follow it,” is presumably from page 271 of Science and Healthf the exact wording of which is,

-     ’ “ When the Science of Christianity appears it

*7 nnd lead you into truth. ’ ~

now say when I show you that the quotation you have rejected as carelessly made is to be found word for word in that work! Please see Science and Health, Vol. II., pp. 185, 186, heading Atonement.

“You say, ‘ Mr. Woodworth also attributes several other quotations to Mrs. Eddy which do not appear in her writings, and declares most unjustly that Mrs. Eddy believed her-

Woman is the highest term

idea.

I joined these four statements logically, in

PROF. STRONG'S AND PROF. YOUNG’S DEFINITIONS.

Emptiness or vanity; figuratively something transitory and unsatisfactory. From habal, a primitive root, meaning to be vain in act, word or expectation.—Strong.

Transit o r in e s s.— Young.

Father of a multitude. From ab. a primitive word meaning father.— Strong.

Father of a multitude. •— Young.

Adam. Error; a falsity: the belief “in original sin/* sickness and death; evil; the opposite of good—God and His creation; a curse; a belief in intelligent matter, finiteness and mortality; “dust to dust;’* red sandstone, etc.

From Malak; an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger, specially of God, i. e., an angel. Ao-gelos from aggelo (to bring ridings); a messenger.— Strong.

Malak; Aggelos; Yn.es-senger; agent.— Young. (Note the Bible mentions evil angels as well as righteous ones (2 Peter 2:4), a fact quite contrary to Mrs. Eddy’s definition of angel.)

“I have not the time to carry the matter further, but the mixture of truth and error in Christian Science doctrine is so palpable to me that I cannot ask the International Bible Students Association to discontinue reprinting the article which offends you, sorry as I am to offend anybody. Truth is truth, and in defense of the truth I would not hesitate to take my stand, kindly but firmly, even though I should have to stand alone.

“Very truly yours,

“C. J. WOODWORTE.”

FORMER C. S. READER AND PRACTITIONER