IS CHRISTIAN SCIENCE A "CRAZE"? 217 



most exacting rules for the use of these guides in investigation, 

 and that extend over many years. Its statements are absolute 

 and demonstrable in the same sense and by the same methods as 

 the propositions of geometry. Every line of this book was writ- 

 ten from demonstration, by which is meant experiment in the 

 sense the word carries in natural science. The author first 

 worked out the principles of healing in Christian Science on her- 

 self, after she had been condemned by medical science. Then, 

 through nine years more, she worked out the rule of the opera- 

 tion of truth in the constant, public practice of healing " all man- 

 ner of diseases," physical and moral. 



This practice covered thousands of cases. Her history through 

 these years, and the almost twenty that have succeeded them, has 

 been one of silent endurance, in reliance on God, of mockery and 

 persecution, often — in the earlier times — of hunger and cold. Suf- 

 fering worse than martyrdom, daily repeated, has set its seal upon 

 her work. 



Here is her own declaration as to the method pursued in work- 

 ing out her discovery : 



" The point to be determined is, Shall Science explain all 

 cause and effect, or shall these be left open to mere speculative 

 thought ? ... In Christian Science mere opinion is valueless. 

 Proof is essential to a due estimate of the subject. ... I have set 

 forth Christian Science, and its application to the treatment of 

 disease, only as I have discovered them. I have demonstrated 

 the effects of Truth 011 the health, longevity, and morals of men 

 through Mind. ... I have healed hopeless disease, and raised the 

 dying to life and health, through the understanding of God as 

 the only life. . . . The sick, the halt, and the blind look up to me 

 with blessings/' 



To the truthfulness of the most surprising of her declarations 

 many certificates are published in " Science and Health " from per- 

 sons of unquestioned character, and have stood fourteen years 

 unchallenged. Hundreds of others have been published during 

 the seven years past, and the publication continues monthly in 

 the " Christian Science Journal," with the names and addresses of 

 writers, and thousands more are at the free disposition of any in- 

 quirer for truth. 



The laws or formulae of Christian Science are given in " Science 

 and Health " so plainly that any person of average intelligence 

 can repeat the results obtained by the author. These results have 

 been and are being repeated by multitudes of persons, who testify 

 publicly to the fact that they have proved them to be invariable. 



Prima facie, then, the pretensions of Christian Science are not 

 absurd. They are entitled to fair and candid examination, con- 

 ducted as it would be in the case of any other alleged science, 



VOL. XXXV. — 14 



