A. T. SCHOFIELD_, M.D.^ ON SCIENCE AND THE UNSEEN WOELD. 55 



I took her to two of our leading oculists, who very kindl}^ 

 examined the case for me. The first found that both lenses of the; 

 eyes were long gone, probably through cataract of the eyes in 

 infancy. The eyes were also diseased internally. His theory of the 

 change was that the opaque skin that sometimes replaces the lost 

 lenses, and of which some traces were visible round the pupils, 

 might have been ruptured at the time by the violence used, and 

 thus the sight was partially restored. He ordered her glasses by 

 which her vision is greatly impr oved. 



Another oculist did not think it possible that the change could 

 be thus effected, but made no alternative suggestion. A third at « 



hospital (where she was at once recognised as Blind M ) came to 



the following conclusion : " That there was still extensive disease in 

 both eyes of long standing ; that there was no evidence of any 

 recent changes having taken place in the eyes ; but that it is likely 

 that previously she saw better than she thought she did, and that 

 now she thinks she sees better than she does. 



Christian science is a system that cures in this way, but being- 

 connected with a pure Theism at the same time, greatly elevates 

 the moral tone and character of the healed. It must be 

 pointed out, however, though this is not the place to discuss- 

 the question, that Christians the world over are unanimous in 

 utterly repudiating its claims to be Christian. 



The gift of healing possessed by some individuals is a little 

 different, and is more objective in character, requiring less faith 

 on the part of the sufferer, as I will illustrate. 



About the prayer of faith I should like to say one word, as 

 it is being brought forward so prominently to-day. 



The standard passage in the Bible, to which reference is- 

 always made in St. James v, 14, which I venture to suggest 

 is greatly misunderstood. The words are as to the sick : " Let 

 them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the- 

 Lord," and it is almost universally believed that the anointing- 

 is some sort of religious rite or consecration. There is a word 

 in the Greek that means this, " Krio," from which we get the 

 word " chrism," but this word, which is always used for 

 ceremonies and consecration, is not the word used here, but the 

 medical word " aleipho" which means to rub in or massage 

 witli oil, a process which to this day is the most common 

 remedy amongst the Arabs. When in addition to this we 

 remember that at that time the religious and medical functions 

 were closely allied we can quite understand the "elder" 

 uniting spiritual means (prayer) with medical treatment (oil). 

 T am pleased to say that one of our most distinguished. 



E 



