A Timely Issue
From Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy
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At this date, 1883, a newspaper edited and published
by the Christian Scientists has become a necessity. Many
questions important to be disposed of come to the Col-
15 lege and to the practising students, yet but little time
has been devoted to their answer. Further enlight-
enment is necessary for the age, and a periodical de-
voted to this work seems alone adequate to meet the
requirement. Much interest is awakened and expressed
20 on the subject of metaphysical healing, but in many
minds it is confounded with isms, and even infidelity, so
that its religious specialty and the vastness of its worth
are not understood.
It is often said, “You must have a very strong will-
25 power to heal,” or, “It must require a great deal of faith
to make your demonstrations.” When it is answered
that there is no will-power required, and that something
more than faith is necessary, we meet with an expression
of incredulity. It is not alone the mission of Christian
30 Science to heal the sick, but to destroy sin in mortal
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1 thought. This work well done will elevate and purify
the race. It cannot fail to do this if we devote our best
energies to the work.
Science reveals man as spiritual, harmonious, and eter-
5 nal. This should be understood. Our College should
be crowded with students who are willing to consecrate
themselves to this Christian work. Mothers should be
able to produce perfect health and perfect morals in their
children — and ministers, to heal the sick — by study-
10 ing this scientific method of practising Christianity.
Many say, “I should like to study, but have not suffi-
cient faith that I have the power to heal.” The healing
power is Truth and Love, and these do not fail in the
greatest emergencies.
15 Materia medica says, “I can do no more. I have
done all that can be done. There is nothing to build
upon. There is no longer any reason for hope.” Then
metaphysics comes in, armed with the power of Spirit,
not matter, takes up the case hopefully and builds on
20 the stone that the builders have rejected, and is suc-
cessful.
Metaphysical therapeutics can seem a miracle and a
mystery to those only who do not understand the grand
reality that Mind controls the body. They acknowledge
25 an erring or mortal mind, but believe it to be brain mat-
ter. That man is the idea of infinite Mind, always perfect
in God, in Truth, Life, and Love, is something not easily
accepted, weighed down as is mortal thought with mate-
rial beliefs. That which never existed, can seem solid
30 substance to this thought. It is much easier for people
to believe that the body affects the mind, than that the
mind affects the body.
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1 We hear from the pulpits that sickness is sent as a
discipline to bring man nearer to God, — even though
sickness often leaves mortals but little time free from
complaints and fretfulness, and Jesus cast out disease as
5 evil.
The most of our Christian Science practitioners have
plenty to do, and many more are needed for the ad-
vancement of the age. At present the majority of the
acute cases are given to the M. D.’s, and only those
10 cases that are pronounced incurable are passed over to
the Scientist. The healing of such cases should cer-
tainly prove to all minds the power of metaphysics over
physics; and it surely does, to many thinkers, as the
rapid growth of the work shows. At no distant day,
15 Christian healing will rank far in advance of allopathy
and homœopathy; for Truth must ultimately succeed
where error fails.
Mind governs all. That we exist in God, perfect,
there is no doubt, for the conceptions of Life, Truth, and
20 Love must be perfect; and with that basic truth we con-
quer sickness, sin, and death. Frequently it requires
time to overcome the patient’s faith in drugs and mate-
rial hygiene; but when once convinced of the uselessness
of such material methods, the gain is rapid.
25 It is a noticeable fact, that in families where laws
of health are strictly enforced, great caution is observed
in regard to diet, and the conversation chiefly confined
to the ailments of the body, there is the most sickness.
Take a large family of children where the mother has
all that she can attend to in keeping them clothed and
fed, and health is generally the rule; whereas, in small
families of one or two children, sickness is by no means
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1 the exception. These children must not be allowed to
eat certain food, nor to breathe the cold air, because
there is danger in it; when they perspire, they must be
loaded down with coverings until their bodies become
5 dry, — and the mother of one child is often busier than
the mother of eight.
Great charity and humility is necessary in this work
of healing. The loving patience of Jesus, we must
strive to emulate. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
10 thyself” has daily to be exemplified; and, although
skepticism and incredulity prevail in places where
one would least expect it, it harms not; for if serving
Christ, Truth, of what can mortal opinion avail? Cast
not your pearls before swine; but if you cannot bring
15 peace to all, you can to many, if faithful laborers in His
vineyard.
Looking over the newspapers of the day, one naturally
reflects that it is dangerous to live, so loaded with disease
seems the very air. These descriptions carry fears to
20 many minds, to be depicted in some future time upon
the body. A periodical of our own will counteract to
some extent this public nuisance; for through our paper,
at the price at which we shall issue it, we shall be able
to reach many homes with healing, purifying thought.
25 A great work already has been done, and a greater work
yet remains to be done. Oftentimes we are denied the
results of our labors because people do not understand
the nature and power of metaphysics, and they think
that health and strength would have returned natu-
30 rally without any assistance. This is not so much from
a lack of justice, as it is that the mens populi is not suffi-
ciently enlightened on this great subject. More thought
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1 is given to material illusions than to spiritual facts. If
we can aid in abating suffering and diminishing sin,
we shall have accomplished much; but if we can bring
to the general thought this great fact that drugs do not,
5 cannot, produce health and harmony, since “in Him
[Mind] we live, and move, and have our being,” we shall
have done more.