MARK TWAIN ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE &EDT/MOE:9
SPEr■-•While sympathising with the writer of the review of Mark Twain's book on Christian Science in your issue of April 6th in his regret at being forced to condemn the great humourist we feel compelled in the interest of justice to arraign Mark Twain on other grounds. Mark Twain's admission that Christian Science can banish four-fifths of the pain and disease in the world, and that he knows of "no other organised force" that can accomplish like results; his state- ment that personally he had not known a Scientist who did not seem "serene, contented, unharassed" ; and his predic- tion that in 1940 "Christian Science will be the governing force in America, and will remain so permanently," make one wonder how he can indulge in unmeasured misrepresentation and abuse of Mrs. Eddy, through whom these great remits are being achieved. Judging Mrs. Eddy by her works (the test given by Jesus), one might be at a loss to understand this wholesale condemnation. Well might she exclaim in the words of the great Master: "They hated me without a cause." The judge's judgment puts the judge himself on trial. What are Mark Twain's charges against Mts. Eddy P He calla her "a boss." Mrs. Eddy's quiet, self-sacrificing life, constantly employed in giving to suffering humanity the understanding of how to overcome attacks of sin and sickness by the power of God, entirely disproves any right to apply to her any such epithet. He charges that she is governed by lust of power. Mrs. Eddy has founded a Church based upon the Bible illuminated by the light shed thereon by Science and Health, and the power she possesses she exercises with the full approval of all Christian Scientists for the purpose of preserving the unity of that Church, and the loyalty of its members to the teaching upon which it is based. How would Mark Twain like any one to question his right to expend in any way he might think fit money earned by his literary efforts ? He charges six shillings for his book on what he calls—but which is not— Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy puts her price on her books. Why should she not P No one needs to buy them. There are, moreover, free Christian Science reading-rooms with lending libraries attached, Wednesday evening meetings free to all, where information about the healing and the tenets of Christian Science can be obtained, and also free lectures upon Christian Science delivered periodically. The charges (more than once in- sinuated by Mark Twain) that Mrs. Eddy obtained from Quimby the ideas set forth in her text-book, "Science and Health," have been conclusively set at rest by a decree pronounced in her favour in a suit instituted for the purpose of determining this question. Christian Science has now been before the world between thirty and forty years, and during that time it has made wonderful progress wherever it has been presented, not only in America but elsewhere, among all classes, and has proved its right to exist by doing the works enjoined by Jesus, and all that is asked on its behalf is that its claims should be thoroughly investigated without prejudice before judgment is [In publishing Mr. Miller's letter, we must make it clear that we condemned the book purely on literary grounds. Although heartily concurring in most of Mark Twain's strictures On the founder of Christian Science, we do not in any way adopt or endorse his extravagant declarations, admis- sions, and predictions as to the organisation and its future development. In our opinion, they are unfounded and absurd. Mr. Clemens has incurred a grave responsibility in making them.—En. Spectator.]
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