There are 15 authorised
biographies of the Discoverer of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, currently
available from The Christian Science Publishing Society. You can see the
complete list at a glance on the "Who was Mary Baker Eddy" tab at https://BooksThatChangeLives.au.
This beautiful website is a project of the Christian Science churches, groups
and societies in Queensland. The page about Mary Baker Eddy captures
information from reliable sources, such as the Mary Baker Eddy Library and ChristianScience.com.
This month's book comes from
that collection of fifteen biographies. Its title is quite long: Historical
Sketches from the life of Mary Baker Eddy and the History of Christian Science.
But don't let that put you off. It's an easy read. I was surprised that I
couldn't find a copy of this book on my bookshelf, and was very glad to find a
copy at our Reading Room. I've been reading a chapter each night before
bed and I'm just about to begin chapter 7. I'm enjoying it immensely. Its
author is Clifford P. Smith, CSB.
Judge Clifford P. Smith's style
is appealing, engaging, succinct, straightforward, and flows easily. He also
writes with authority about his subject. It is a very refreshing read and
thoroughly convincing in its logic.
The Longyear Foundation article about Smith notes that, as
an early pioneer of Christian Science, "One of his early services to the Christian Science movement was to
define and preserve the legal rights of Christian Scientists to heal by
prayer." He was especially suited to this
work because of his legal training and profession as a judge.
I quote in full an example of
Smith's ability to lay out his subject with clarity and precision. This is a
copy of a newspaper article reprinted in the Christian Science Sentinel October
27, 1917:
The third attack on Christian Science by a certain
reverend...
Judge Clifford P. Smith
Virginia (Minn.) Enterprise
The third attack on Christian Science by a certain reverend gentleman,
which the Enterprise has printed, again illustrates the fact that
people who try to convince others that Christian Science is something bad,
continually find themselves relying on misrepresentations. The reason is this:
Christian Science is good; it is good in what it teaches and in what it does
for its adherents; therefore the choice of material for opposition is very
limited.
In this situation, one of the consequences of opposition is that the
admissions or concessions made by one opponent refute what is said by another.
For instance, here is the reverend gentleman trying to convince the people of
Virginia that Christian Science is against the Bible and against prayer. On the
other hand, at Alliance, Ohio, not long ago, when a preacher and editor spoke
to the representatives of fifteen churches or denominations on how to stop the
inroads of Christian Science, he said: "There are many things the church
might learn from Christian Science, including greater loyalty to the Bible,
more faithful testimony to the power and grace of Jesus Christ, the value and
privilege of prayer, and last but not least, the potency of a holy life."
Acceptance of the Bible is the first tenet of Christian Science.
Moreover, a Christian Scientist keeps his Bible in active use. It is neither
covered with dust in a forgotten drawer nor kept on a parlor table as an
ornament. It is needed every day for the study of prepared lessons on which, as
Mrs. Eddy has said, "the prosperity of Christian Science largely
depends" (Church Manual, Art. III., Sect. 1). The
Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, is read at the same time because the light which
it throws on the Scriptures justifies its name and has opened the Bible to
unnumbered thousands of people for whom the Bible had been closed. With
Christian Scientists this textbook does not take the place of the Bible; in
connection with the Bible it takes the place occupied, or at least sought, by
sermons in other churches.
I feel so glad to be getting to
know this author and his subject better. Will you join me?
Julie Swannell
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