Christian Science Sentinel
September 1, 1917.

Christian Science Sentinel|

FOUNDED SEPTEMBER, 1898, BY
MARY BAKER EDDY, AUTHOR OF THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE TEXT-BOOK
“SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES”
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PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY, BOSTON, U.S.A.
Entered at Boston, Mass., post-office as second-class matter
William P. McKenzie     Annie M. Knott,     William D. McCrackan
Editor and Associate Editors
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EDITORIAL
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[This article was written by Mrs. Eddy in 1910.  Its message is of vital importance to every Christian Scientist today.]

Principle and Practice
by
Mary Baker Eddy

The nature and position of mortal mind are the opposite of immortal Mind.  The so-called mortal mind is belief and not understanding.  Christian Science requires understanding instead of belief; it is based on a fixed eternal and divine Principle, wholly apart from mortal conjecture; and it must be understood, otherwise it cannot be correctly accepted and demonstrated.

The inclination of mortal mind is to receive Christian Science through a belief instead of the understanding and this inclination prevails like an epidemic on the body; it inflames mortal mind and weakens the intellect, but this so-called mortal mind is wholly ignorant of this fact, and so cherishes its mere faith in Christian Science.

The sick, like drowning men, catch at whatever drifts toward them.  The sick are told by a faith-Scientist, “I can heal you, for God is all, and you are well, since God creates neither sin, sickness, nor death.”  Such statements result in the sick either being healed by their faith in what you tell them-which heals only as a drug would heal, through belief-or in no effect whatever.  If the faith-healer succeeds in securing (kindling) the belief of the patient in his own recovery, the practitioner will have performed a faith-cure which he mistakenly pronounces Christian Science.

In this very manner some students of Christian Science have accepted, through faith, a divine Principle, God, as their saviour, but they have not understood this Principle sufficiently well to fulfill the Scriptural command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel.”  “Heal the sick.”  It is the healer’s understanding of the operation of the divine Principle, and his application thereof, which heals the sick, just as it is one’s understanding of the principle of mathematics which enables him to demonstrate its rules.

Christian Science is not a faith-cure, and unless human faith be distinguished from scientific healing, Christian Science will again be lost from the practice of religion as it was soon after the period of our great Master’s scientific teaching and practice.  Preaching without practice of the divine Principle of man’s being has not, in nineteen hundred years, resulted in demonstrating this Principle.  Preaching without the truthful and consistent practice of your statements will destroy the success of Christian Science.

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Mr. Eustace goes into great detail on this subject of “Principle and Practice” which can be found in his book “Why Am I a Christian Scientist.”  Below are only a few of his words on this subject.  The whole article is discussed in detail on pages 125 to 137 of the aforementioned book by Mr. Herbert W. Eustace.

“On this point of understanding that is so fundamental to a correct answer of, Why am I a Christian Scientist?  I want to read to you from an article written by Mrs. Eddy in 1910, and published in the Christian Science Sentinel, September 1, 1917.  I do not believe Mrs. Eddy ever wrote anything fraught with more import to the Christian Scientist, than this article, “Principle and Practice.”  It was the dictum of that deep spiritual experience, that understanding of Mind, which was so clear and fearless that it could call evil by its right name and expose the absurdities, the dangers and inconsistencies of human belief, whether appearing under the guise of Christian Science and its practice, or under any other guise.

In the opening statement of this article Mrs. Eddy writes, “The nature and position of mortal mind are the opposites of immortal Mind. The so-called mortal mind is belief and not understanding.”  Is not this absolutely true, and do you not know it of yourself and not because Mrs. Eddy wrote it?  You have established Mind as that which is, and therefore, as all that is, infinite, immortal.  Contrary or opposite to this you have established the suppositional mind as finite, mortal or dead.  Is not the first understanding, and the other mere belief?  Which does Christian Science require?  Mrs. Eddy says, “Christian Science requires understanding instead of belief; it is based on a fixed eternal and divine Principle, wholly apart from mortal conjecture; and it must be understood, otherwise it cannot be correctly accepted and demonstrated.”  It is not possible for you to use, or correctly state, what you do not understand.”

Quoted from pages 125-126 of “Why Am I a Christian Scientist”

by Herbert W. Eustace

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