OUR NEW RELIGION
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sm,—Your issue of December 7th contains a review of a recently' published book, Our New Religion, by the Rt. Hon H. A. L. Fisher, and it must be readily admitted that the task of reviewing such a book is not an easy one. To write a cor- rect appreciation of such a book requires some knowledge of the actual facts, and to be able to discern between thein and the statements made in several biographies which have been written, in some instances, more for the purpose of discrediting Mrs. Eddy and the church she founded than for giving correct information.
The officials of the Church of Christ, Scientist, have always been ready and- willing to place at the disposal of anyone sincerely desirous of writing an impartial biography of Mrs. Eddy all the information available about her interesting life and the Christian Science movement. To-day there are still many people alive who lived with Mrs. Eddy and knew her personally, yet' these people are never approached nor asked for information about her.
When it was known that Mr. Fisher intended to write on the subject of Christian Science 'he was offered authentic information and any assistance he might desire, but these offers were never even acknowledged. It is doubtless true that Mr. Fisher's book is written with wit and clarity, and I am glad to note that your reviewer admits that " At times he may be charged with being unfair to Christian Science and to its founder ; not so much in his selection of facts as in the neat way in which he contrives to make the facts seem a little ridiculous." Your reviewer adds, however, that the question " Is one of proportion."
Apart from the lack of intimate knowledge of the facts, it is evident that in setting himself the task of explaining the growth and spread of the religion of Christian Science Mr. Fisher was breaking ground which was quite unfamiliar to him. This is particularly apparent in the chapter dealing with the doctrine of Christian Science, and I trust your readers will accept my assurance that Christian Scientists do not hold the views therein attributed to them.—I am, Sir, tirc.;
Donington House, Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C.-2.
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