Page:The Origin of Christian Science.djvu/30

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The Origin of Christian Science.

natal preparation for Christian Science. It is not my purpose to meddle with the Quimby question. Whether or not Mrs. Eddy was influenced by P. P. Quimby does not affect the contention herein made. One thing is certain, Quimby was not the originator of the principles of Christian Science. That Mrs. Eddy got many of her ideas from him is well established.[1] But I am concerned with the original source of them. If Quimby had them where did he get them? To answer this question is the problem.

And let it be stated without further delay that Christian Science is a system of ideas or philosophic principles. A philosophic system is a body of doctrines or a collection of conceptions that are logically related and interdependent. Let no one hastily conclude that Christian Science is a jumble of notions thrown together by a fanciful and unsystematic mind, or, as one puts it, “unorganized speculation”.[2] It is speculation but not unorganized speculation. Many are bewildered when they attempt to understand Christian Science and are offended at what appears to be glaring inconsistencies. I do not deny that it contains irreconcilable inconsistencies. But many of the inconsistencies complained at are only apparent and are the result of not understanding Mrs. Eddy's standpoint. If we grant her principles we must grant

  1. Cf. several articles in McClure's Magazine for 1907 by Georgine Milmine, especially the one in the Feb. No.
  2. Rev. O. P. Gifford in Review and Expositor, Vol. VIII No. 2, p. 196.