Imperial Valley press., May 03, 1926, Page 3, Image 3

About Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current

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|[onday, May 3, 1926
1 LECTURE ON
'CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Entitled
CHTdISTIAN SCIENCE:
A. POSITIVE FAITH
By JOHN J. FLINN, C. S. B
,cmjer of the Board of Lecture
si-ip of The Mother Church, The
First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston,
j Massachusetts
♦ Given Under Auspices of First
Church of Christ Scientist,
• El Centro
To those healed through the writ
es and teachings of Alary Baker
'lily, or through the understand
g and demonstration of her sto
ols — to those healed, as was T,
hen everything else had failed,
hen even the last faint glimmer of
nterial hope had fled—Christian
ienre is no mere pleasing abstrae
"ii, attractive philosophy, of bcau-
I'nl idealism, tint, rather, an im
ense fact, something wonderfully
•nr and real, something service
'll*, available, within one’s reach,
ways dependable in times of un-
Ttaintv and trouble, and never
ore so than in moments of great
|,l need.
I am going to assume that those
'•sent who are not of the faith
e profess, are here, nevertheless,
ith the good purpose of learning,
so far as I may be able to pro
■tit so great a subject in so brief
I space of time, why I am tens of
kousands like me, in all parts of
ie globe, have accepted this faith,
jam going to assume that non
ientists are here with the worthtv
jirpose of learning to what extent
that they have heard, disparag
g. or commendatory, of Christian
ience, lie it much or little.—all
[at they have heard of its Discov
er and Founder, of its tenets, its
n't ritiex. its demonstrations, of the
inracter and intelligence of its
enibership, is true or false.
This is uni|iiestionabalv a trying
fe, tin age that is putting to the
st the integrity of human morn
s’ the stability of human pro
ess. The very best in men anil
omen is summoned, as never lie
re in modern times, to rally to the
jdection and preservation of the
iod achieved through centuries of
irnest and decades of enlightened
’fort.
Christian Science, which never
•nds to reaction, nor stoops to pes
mism. is not fearful regarding the
Itimate outcome of any contest be
veen truth and error, between good
id evil, for it knows that God
• igus; but. being practical, neither
it oblivious of, nor indifferent
i, the obligations which present or
issiug conditions involve.
A Time of Unusual Obligation
i We are living in a time when
I litigations of an unusual nature
**lllst be dealt with: in a time which
' ills for the putting aside of nar
iw. petty, parochial views, that we
i mv fix our attention upon those
tilings which lie within the range
f an enlarged vision; we are living
[i an epoch when not to think pos
,lively, broidlv, deeply, and, above
■I. scieiit ificall v and spiritually, is
lit to think adequately or rightly
If the problems confronting hum
ility today.
j There is so much popluar discon
but. so much distrust, so much ilis
litisfaction, so much disturbance of
(nought, nationally and interna
oually so much of rebellious sen
ment and exnression in quarters
here one might naturally look for
-derliness and conservatism; and.
tore im|Hirtant and more startling
I inn all of these, there is so strong
tendeiicv toward insubordina
on, lawlessness, immorality, and
1 ime. that the need of a strong
I irrent of counteracting influence,
jawing outwaid from a spiritual
t mice, is felt deeply by all intel
_-elit observers.
It is seen very clearly not only
mt this influence, to be effective.
us( be spiritual, but also that it
ust come through channels other
mu those through which religious
isl ruction has been flowing, and,
pparentlv. flowing aimlessly, dur
ig man v generations. Leading
erics of the orthodox school in
mope and America have reached
a- point of confessing that what
lev denominate as the ‘Church’ has
,st its hold U]ion the masses, and
inch to their effort is now direet
d toward regaining, if possible, the
onfideiice which they concede has
Icon lost. It is frankly admitted
( i the orthodox pulpit, that the
* • ('hurch, so called, has practieal-
V- failed in these latter days to cope
ith problems of gretest concern to
lie human race. It is openly as
■ rted by theological dignitaries
hat the “Church, ” as administered
,dav. has proved to be powerless
i the matter of stemming the tide
f irreverence, irreligion, ngnosti
ism. infidelity, and atheism.
No Concession to Error
Vow, to confess that evil is more
inwerful than good, that morality
nnnot measure strength with im
morality, that virtue must give way
leforo vice.- that Truth is, nr can
ie. crushed by effor, —consider even
side from religion, and as a pure
v ethical proposition —is to assume
hat ci vili/.nt ion, as dovelo|H*d
I,rough two thousud years of Cliris
ianity, is a failure, and that the
liman race is reverting to pagan-
Mm and barbaritv. Viewed from a
eligious standpoint such a propo
ition is preposterous nnd unthink
ble, since it involves the presump
ion that there is a power greater
linn God. good, in the universe,—
|ji power more potent than ornnipo
cnee.
Christian Science makes no con
-ession to error in anv of its
phases, forms, or manifestations. Tt
l-»es not admit the realitv of evil.
It recognizes no power in the uni
ier"e but God, good. In the midst
if doubt, anxiety, alarm, fear, want
if confidence in church or pulpit,
endership, Christian Science holds
(steadfastly to the conviction, that
|since man is God's child, the reflec
tion ml image and likeness of God,
Ihe cannot be separated from his
j creator, deprived of his spiritual in
heritance by any human belief,
used as a. football bv chance, sub
iecteil to material mutation, or
rendered helpless in the presence of
sin. sickness, discord, d’iseasei, or
j death.
j Christian Science is not at all a
j blind belief. It is not
experiment, not a conjectural creed.
It is not based on legendrv, tradi
tion, superstition, or fear of future
punishment; it is a demonstrable
faith that proves with mathemati
cal dearness and certainty, to cap
able and honest investigators, its
claim as a. Science. Christian Science
is an understanding of infinite in
telligence, and of man's relation
j ship to the Supreme Being, omnl-
I present, omniscient, and omnipotent
| divine Mind, It is an apprehen-
I sion and understanding of God
which admits of no limitation, ques
tion. nor doubt with regard to llis
all seeing wisdom, llis all-inclusive
power, llis all-embracing Love. Tt
is living the conviction that God
made everything that was made;
that Be mail** everything good;
that all of llis creations reflect
Him, and, thereffre, that nothing
unlike Him. infinite good, can lie
real. It is an absolute acknowledge
ment and a positive assertion, sup
nnrted by living truth, that flic
• •od of the Bible- our God —gov-
erns and controls the universe and
all that it contains, visil Ie and In
visible, including man. and that
there is none other beside Him.
A Neglected or Ignored Duty
Tt is always difficult, sometimes
impossible, to follow the arguments
of those good Christian people who
feel it to lie their duty to attack
Christian Science, or to follow the
reasoning upon which their argu
ments are based. The remarkable
thing is that so few of them. In
view of all that thov are learning
in these times regarding the failure
of orthodox doctrines and teachings
to meet the present and urgent
needs of the people, are able to see
that the healing of the sick, suffer
ing. and sorrowful, no matter liow
long neglected or unemployed, is
one of the most important func-
Gnns of tin- Christian religion, and
that there can be no human reser
vations, restrictions, nor limitations
when man is leaning upon the pow
er and merev and love of God.
These good people profess unnues-
Goning allegiance to the New Tes
•nment and absolute loyalty to the
words nndworks of Christ Jesus, vet
they find fault with Christian Sci
ence because it brings these words
mid works down to the twentieth
i-ci'hirv, nnd makes them as actual
and as useful to the men, women,
and children of our dnv. as thev
were to men, women, and children
in the time of the Galilean Prophet.
Truth admits of no conditional ex
pression nor acceptance. That which
is almost, or nearly, or partly true,
is not true. Christian Science is truth
the whole truth, and nothing hut
I the truth. Here it takes its stand.
It abhors loose thinking, loose rea
soning, and loose talking; it is in
-as little need of putronizing com
mendation as it is of patronizing
apology. Inasmuch as it is based
upon divine Principle, nothing short
of admission of its absolute truth
will satisfy. This is why it is so
frequently called upon to correct
well-meaning but mistaken remarks
by those who think they are speak
ing kindly of it.
Take, for instance, statements of
many doctors of divinity and mauy
doctors of medicine, than whom, as
a rule, there are no more conscien
tious men in the world. It is no
uncommon thing to have them con
cede a great deal to Christian Sci
ence. Some of them go as far as to
admit openly that Christian Science
has real merit; others, that its right
to recognition as a protective and
healing agency has been established;
others recall instances, occurlng
among their friends, even in their
own families, where Christina Sci
ence has brought about physical,
mental, moral, and spiritual results
of a remarkable nature; still others
advise certain of their patients,
whose cases have resisted medical
treatment, to “try Christian Hci
fi'ic." There are pastors of otlin
■ Inx churches and practitioners of
medicine, not a thousand miles from
here, who frankly tell those sitting
under them in church, and those who
vi it them for advice, that w hot peo
ple need is more Christian Science
in their daily lives. Yet, nearly al
ways, these acknowledgments are
made, and these indorsements are
voiced, with some qualification.
Christian Science is all right, they
snv, when it does not go too far.
They would not like to be caught
saying that mathematicatul science
is all right when its practice is not
carried to excess.
Uncompromisingly for the Tnith
Four thousand years of material
istic training in the medical calling
might account somewhat for the
st lib bo m ness with which doctors
cling to materia medicu; but two
thousand years of training in Chris
tianity, tlic Founder of which never
used a drug in healing, should think,
to have been sufficient, one would
think, to have weaned the clergy
from the pharmacopoeia and depen
dence upon the prescription tablet.
It is a deplorable fact that minis
ters of the orthodox churches, or
dained to practice the Christian
faith, s!pp far short of doing so, in
that they neglect or ignore the in
junction of the Master to his disci
ples and to all who should follow
in his footsteps to heal the sick;
and it is even more deplorable, that,
failing in the observance and per
formance of a plain duty themselves,
they question and attempt to be
little, the demonstrations of those
who, through full observance of the
commands of Christ Jesus, actually
repeat in very large and growing
measure his nurvelous work.
lu undertaking to divide and
thereby to evade, a great and a sa
ered duty, these ministers livne re
served to themselves eare of the
sinners, while relegating to the doc
tors vpspopGbilily for the care of
the sick. Is it necessary to dwell
in any detail upon the results of this
peculiar arrangement ?
la dealing with recognized sn
cnlled physical laws, or with what
are called physical phenomena,
neither doctors of divinity nor doc
tors of medicine hestitate to accept
the scientific truth. That is, they
do not question the law of gravita
tion, the law that controls the diur
nal revolution of I lie earth, the law
that regulates the orderly motion of
the planets, or the basic laws that
determine - the rise and fall of the
tides. They accept unqualifiedly
the law of mathematics. How much
less shouhf they question, or at
tempt to limit the operation of di
vine Principle, which predicates the
omniseence of the Maker of all
la w!
Ministers of the gospel, in partic
ular, shaiild be more careful in any
criticism which they may pass upon
Christian Science, since
Scienetists are simply putting into
practice, what all the orthodox
Christian churches have been openly
professing, preaching, and teaching
through the centuries—the ability
and willingness of GoGd to help
those who pat all their trust in Him.
Christian Science means trust —un
limited, absolute trust in God.
Christian Science a Positive Faith
Christian Science is a positive,
-Kiqoq.iK p.iRMO| .q>nji|( ,: s(i ill ‘pun
tie theology, a radical faith. As
its Discoverer and Founder never
deviated from Principle to win the
favor or to avoid the censure of
those bound up with other religions
doctrines, neither do her loyal stu
dents unj followers make concession
of anv kind either to popular or so
called scholarv beliefs in the reality
of matter. Tiiev stand firmly, ini -
movable, up “the scientific state
ment of being,’’ found in the
Christian Heir n c e textbook,
“Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures, by Mary Baker
kiddy (p. ItiH.;
Now, Christian Science is true
frnmthc first to the last word of this
fundamental declaration, from the
first to the last word of our text
book. Let it be borne in upon the
t bought of everyone present that
f there is no room nor [dace for com
piomisc here. If Christian Science
be not in absolute line with one in
variable, immutable Principle ar
all points, then, to use the words of
Paul. ''ls our preaching vain," and,
.moreover, to paraphrase slightly the
language of that great apostle, we
uho have accepted Christian Science
are the most hopeless and most mis
erable fo people. To go further, if
if further it would seem possible to
go, if Christian Science is not alto
gether true, if the healing power
of the Christ be not present yester
day, to-day, and forever —if the
( lirist be not risen—if spiritual re
generation be not within the reach
ol suffering hlmanity to-day,
through a higher understanding of
divine law, then, we have been pro
claiming our healing in Christian
Science from the very housetops —
we who feel that we have been re
stored in Christian Science to
health, pence, and happiness- -aI'* 1 '*
either duped by the greatest of all
illusions, or we are false witness”*.
But we who have been healed by
Christian Science-we who have been
healed slowly or healed instan
taneously, but in either case, healed
permanently - and we who have
pi act iced Christian Science in the
healing of others- who have seen
in our own and in the lives of
those about us, unmistakable mani
festations of the Immanuel, or God
with us —know from experience, ob
servation, and demonstration, that
when the Principle of Christian
Science is intelligently. honestly.
(Hid seient if iitallv employed., it
never fails; it cannot fail, because
it is of God.
Unassailable Propositions
There can lie no questioning the
logic of Mrs. Eddy's propositions in
Science and Health that the impos
sible never happens. and that
“whatever blesses one, blesses all
(Science and Health, p. 20(1.) Most
of us have learned in on rown expe
rience that Truth manifested rad
iates beyond the bounds of our owe
• ision, even bevon dtbc bounds of
our imagination. Our reasoning
facilities teach 11s. even if our spirit
pal intuition be dull, tiiat it f hrist
inn Science beats in one instance
through the intelligent application
of divine Principle, no limitations
can lie placed upon its healing
power. The operation of Piilieiple
ian indeed be applied to every hu
man need—to government, politics,
business, economics, labor, sociology,
education; when properly applual,
Fhinciple must, as it docs, perform
marvels of healing in general as
veil as in individual cases.
Here would seem to be a propel
place to touch upon the unwarranted
and gratuitous insinuation that
Christian Science is neither Christ
inn nor scientific. The man who
first said this, was apparently more
Concerned about the fashioning of
what he thought might prove a clev
er nnd a catchy epigram, than about
e.xpicasing the truth. '1 he saying
was picked up and is still repeated
here nnd there, by persons wholly
without knowledge of the facts,
but from first to last it has impress
ed only the unthinking and the
prejudiced. Let us see. The term
Christian Science was employed by
Mnvyßnker Eddy to designate the
scientific system of divine healing
which she discovered and founded.
Nothing could be more appropriate,
logical., or justifiable than th •
choosing of this name, since from al
most the very beginning of her
studies in divine metaphysics she
held it to be basic that “all Science
is divine’’ (Science and Health, p.
126.) a position which is supported
to-day by growing numbers of the
world's iiest thinkers. Again and
again not only in the Christian
Science textbook “Science and
1 led It), with Key to the Scriptures,
but in all of her other writings, does
Mary Baker Eddv take occasion to
pay humble, deep, and loving trib
ute to Christ Jesus. The Manual
of The Mother Church, written by
Mrs. Eddy, which embodies rules
and by-laws for the government of
the Christ ian Science -'-rran iz.'H ion
is imperative in demanding of those
appointed to speak in nclialf of
Christian Science that they shall al
ways speak reverently of Christ
Jesus. It seems incredible that tiny
i.ne even slightly acquainted with
the doctrines of Christian Science
should fail to see that they are in
absolute accord with the funda
mentals of Christianity.
Bridging a Theological Chasm
With the kecness an 1 the clear
ness of spiritual vision which mark
I all the tninking and speaking and
I writing of Mary Baker Eddy, she
I is able to differentiate between the
1 mini, Jesus, and the Christ, the di
vine idea; and thus, to the satisfac
tion of Jew and Gentile alike, she
has permanently bridged for mil
lions, a theological chasm that had
for centuries yawned menacingly be
fore ttie eyes of confused aii,| be
I wildered humanity. Thus has sin*
j e ,aided h|" followers. Jews and
(unities alike, as she has written
in the tenets of Christian Science
I (Science and Health, p. HI”,) to
I ‘ aeknowledo-o '.od • (lore one su
preme and infinite God.’’ to <fac
knowledge Ills son, one t lirist. ’
and to subscribe linderst andingly
and whole-heartedly to those dec
j li.rations of the Christian Science
faith which fix Christ lesus indel
ibly in the thought of all who accept
! and strive to follow her teachings,
las the Wnyshowcr, tlie IJedeemer,
the Savior of humanity.
There is still existent iir some
' quarters a certain amount of irri-
Itation because Christian Scientists,
to use a common phrase, ‘‘make so
i much of Mrs. Eddy.’’ This allega
tion will have to be admitted.
Christian Scienet ists do make much,
very much, of Mrs. Eddy; blit a
1 simple rcson for it should be suffi
! cient for anybody who will give the
j lining relationship between Seicn
j lists and their levered Leader, a
little careful consideration. Christ
jinn Scientists make so much of Mrs.
Eddy because she lias bee lithe means
of making *0 much of them, because
through her lias come to them a
new hope, a new and better under
standing of God, n new and better
understanding of their relation to
God. and to each other --because her
teachings have opened to them a
| ill w concept ion of and a new incen
j live in life —because her discovery,
(her writings, and the influence that
j has giine out to the world through
1 her students an dtheir pupils have
I made great numbers of them new
! men and women.
As Ancient as the Ancient of Day :
The Principle of Christian Scienet
j be it understood, is nothing new. It
j has never been claimed by Mrs.
j Eddy or by anv of her recognized
(students to be new, but,o 11 the con-
I tiarv. to be ns ancient as the An
| cient of days. It has existed
i through the eternities. It has been
| known to certain of God's people
j throughout all ages, and it was
I known more clearly, and practiced
more widely and successfully, by
| Jons tin,) his disciples than by an I
! that has preceded them, or by any
that followed them, down to the
time that the divine light of revela
, tion shone into the consciousness of
j a woman, wearied of scholastic
I theology and sophistry, in a modest
i New England home.
Apparently lost for centuries, the
I Science whereby this Principle could
lie put into operation as a tangible,
[ practical, usable, workable agency.
' for the benefit of humanity here and
j now. was rediscovered by Mary
l Laker Eddy. This is her claim to our
giatitude, our affection, our rever
ence. Her great task, the greatest
that woman has ever been called
upon to perform, was to proclaim
and demonstrate, convincingly, to
a doubting world, her marvelous re
velation. In her own simple but
In nut if ul language, she tens us when
and show each of her steps was tak
in. She left nothing .11 mere a*
serf ion. Slieproved li y demonst ra
tion every declaration which she sit
down in writing. This she was en
abled to do through the spiritual
illumination of the Scriptures which
preceded, accompanied, and followed
her own remarkable healing, and
through her dependence upon the
Bible thenceforth for instruction and
direction.
, Just as the Discoverer and Found
crer of Christian Science places the
Bilile first at all times; just asslie
looks to it and clings to it at all
times for inspiration and for
strength; just as she has given it
liist place in the services of the
church which she instituted and es
tablished, so do all of her loyal fol
lowers solemnly subscribe to the
tenets she has given that church,
the very first of which reads: “As
adherents of Truth, we tako the in
spired Word of the Bible as our sot
taient guide to eternal Life
(Science and Health, p. 467.) It is
entirely within reasonable bounds
to say that in no other class or de
nomination of professed religionists
jr the Bible esteemed more highly
or studied rnor regularly, closely,
earnestly, or intelligently, than it is
among Christian Scientists. The
Christian Science textbook, Science
an dllealth, is an exposition of the
Bible, a “Key to the Scriptures,’’
and tis such, it has already unlocked
for millions, as it shall unlock for
countless millions to qome, inex
hausiblc treasurers of spiritual wis
dom and understanding.
Tnith Spurned by Orthodoxy
Christian and orthodox in her en
vironment through childhood, girl
hood. and young womanhood; Chris
tian and orthodox in research and
thought throughout her long years
of study to fit herself for the work
to which she had been called. Mrs.
Eddy was moved by no impulse to
overturn the faith of her Puritan an
cestors, but, rather, to buttress it
with the supports which it lacked
end which, she intuitively felt, were
obtainable through a higher and
holier understanding of the Fcrip
ti.res.
It was her foil dand cherished
hope that the established Protestant
ehurehes, at least, might be led to
tnvosfigato intelligently her d'v
covery, and to accept the proofs
which she was prepared to offer in
support of the philosophy to which
THE IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS
I (Ins list'dvorv movit.'iblv pointed:
.»n<l it w;is oily when he advances
were rejected, and even spumed, in
I quarters where thev should, have
been welcomed, that she had re
course to another vehicle for the
dissemination of the truth that had
l been revealed to her.
If Mary Baker Kdd.v had not
achieved in other ways the highest
human recognition that can be ;m*
corded a woman; if cold convention
ei a studied and nurture,| prejudice
would deny her the exalted place she
; has won in the world as ihegreat
|< st of its reformers since the Xax
| arene, the liberal and enlightened
thought of mankind would, novel'-
j thelesa, inevitably award her a
1 place in the temple of fame for the
m rvicp she has rendered the cause
i of religious freedorn.
The Christian Science Manual
alone will stand as a perpetual
I monument to the inspired wisdom
j of Mark Baker Kddy. Only recently
j has it impelled one of the most
remarkable legal decisions in sup
port of religious iinrniii itv from
civil interference. ever handed
i down 1> a court of supreme juris
| diction in the I’nit oil States or in
.'illv other country.
It has taken centuries to bring
! about, ti c separation of Church and
State, b\i ii in the degree to which
I . ,
, tins divorcement is at present, rocu
igllizeil ;: 11 ( I enforced. Tile M.'IUUtl
| o fThe Mother t'hurch, The First
Chureli of Christ. Scientist, in Bos
1 ton, M nssielinsetts. written by M.arv
Baker Eddy, is destined to become a
[model for legisliit ion ill nil eo'intries
ilesirious of protecting religion from
j state legiil.'it ion or politico! tiled
! dlillg.
Testimony At First Hand
Lawyers, | believe, will agree
with me tlmt there is nothing in tin
j line of testimony that goes fnrthei
with court or jury than that which
jennies freely and at first hand. It
was this testimony that gave
strength to the preaching of the
Apostle Haul—that down to our time
gives *0 mill'll weight to llis epistles
j Christian Scientists do not feel hurt
1 nor offended when the right of their
[revered Leader to so much rcengni
tion and gratitude is questioned, for
j they attribute such criticism to lack
lof understanding of the facts
They would rather, indeed, come in
to personal contact with the vigor
j mis. (ndi'ist, outspoken, honest
doubter, than with one who is over
| ready to accept superficially cvcrv
j thing that is offered, without look
! lug for proof, and without proper
consideration or investigation.
The more questions an holiest ami
earnest inquirer asks in Christian
Science, the more proof lie demands;
the more determined he is to “find
out for himself,'' the 11. ore promising
I convert and better church member
and worker lie becomes eventually
, Christian Science is never attacked
by those who have studied it intelli
gently, open mindedly, and thor
oughly: it is assailed only by those
[ who take a casual and prejudiced
; glance at it, who read Science and
Health as they would an ordinary
1 book, running through it as they
would through a volume prepared for
popular entertainment, and not for
| serious and egreful study. 1 11 a word,
Christ| in , Sciciup' is invariably
| attacked by those who do not tinder
| stand what it teaches, what it aims
to do for humanity, nor what it ac
complishes. It is safe to say, on the
other hand that an overwhelming
| majority of those who accept Christ
ian Science, are persons who are
piepared to give a reason for the
faith and the hope that is in them.
. They are persons who have taken
j nothing on hearsay, who have not
been unduly swavej by the influ
ence of others; who do not conjee
tore, who do not surmise, who do
not guess; who do not merely be
lieve; but who have won uiidor
: standing from experience and dem
onstration, and who have become
convinced, beyond a doubt, that they
1 know.
Paul knew, lie had hail personal
experience with the regenerative
j power of Spirit. He drew and con
vince,] great audiences everywhere
because he was able to give testi
j moiiv at first hand because lie
' could speak out of fullness of pei -
. sonal, actual, human experience;
I because he eoiild tell of a mental
[change that, with the quickness of a
lightning flash, |tiransformed • his
character and enabled him to put
| off forever the “old man with his
deeds.” There are tens of thou
[sands of Pauls in our day through
out the world —-tens of thousands
|of persons, that is, who have been
[turned often with the quickness ot
j a lightning flash, through Christian
j Science, from wrong to right think
j ing, healed of sick and sinniTig be
liel’s, released from pernicious ten
dencies, relieved of slavish habits,
liberated from bondage, and restin'
ed to the liberty which belongs to
till of (ion s children; and these are
ever ready and willing to give di
rect testimoiiv to the healing power
[of Life, Truth and Love, as deni
oiistrateil in Christian Science, and
[ti offer heartfelt gratitude to Mary
I Baker Eddv, who le,| them by her
teachings from darkness into lighL
The Paramount Mission of Christian
Science
It must never be forgotten that
Christian Science is engaged first
and last, and all the time, in the
task of restoring to the world the
Word and continuing tho works of
Jesus Christ; that its highest mis
1 sion and its greatest joy is to labor
unceasingly for the bringing back
of primitive Christianity in all its
puritiy, simplicity, an,) grandeur,
and to reestablish, ill a world sore
ly in need of it, that assurance of
present day salvation fiotn error
an,] its consequences, which the Mas
ter promised to all who would keep
' bis commandments. He came
with healing in his thought, with
healing in his voice, with healing in
Lis touch —with healing in hie. heart
--and he went about everywhere do'
ing good, vet sorrowing in his labor
of love over the ignorance and per
versity of men. Now, as in his day is
Word through Christian Science, is
healing till manner of disease and
all manner of discord, yet Christian
Scientists know that, as in Jesus'
iliiy, tlic healing of physical ailments'
js ;i moans, rather tlm:i an end.-
Because of tin' stiffness of tlicir j
nocks anil the rebelliousness of tlioir 1
will, in our times as was the case!
twenty centuries ago, the groat inn |
jority of human beings must lie ini-j
|uessO|| l>/ some tangible evidence,!
suit,aide to their understandings of i
the all important |«irt which spirit
mil law plays in regulating their
lives, their affairs. occupations,
aid circumstances;. in determining
the success of their careers, in solv
ing their minor ns well as theii
major problems. Only thus tire they
brought to recognition of the over
presence of (bid, and to a realization
of the fact, that the paramount mis
s'on of Christian Science is not the
healing of sickness and disease, tint
the destruction of ifnoranci , fear
and sin, whii'p lie tit the root of all
human sorrow and suffering.
rhiistiei' Scientists make no
stronger pretensions of belief in the
Bible than do other professed Chris
tians, but Christian Scientists go
further than belief; they trust and
strive to understand. An,| accord
'ng to the metis ire of their under
standing do they make practi -al ap
plication of Bibb truths and to-hieie
demo list i tit ion. Here is where the
! gloat difference lies. One might
beiie'.e i* , aat liemat ies ferveatly.
ievotedlv. ' o;i finitely, without ev •'
go) ting to ler tha n belie). Mi r
belief won d never sol\*e ;i problem
in figures. ()ue must take chalk,
or pencil, or pen in hand, ami work
tin problem ill in aeec rdti lice wiili
the rule of the science, if aiivtliing
worth while is to be accomplished.
Christian Scientists prove the truths
of the Bible lie understanding and
; demonst rat ion as they go along,, and
bring realization of its prophecies
ami promises into their everyday
i xperienee.
Those Who Hunger and Thirst
It cannot lie denied that Christian
I Science holds universal attention to
l day. So called skeptics and infidels
no less than orthodox Christian,*. ■
alo keenly interested in its doctrines
and its demonstrations. The throngs
of non Scientists which everywhere
j throughout the world flock to
I Christian Science lectures, to Chris
tian Science testimonial meetings,
and to Christian Seiense services,
| afford ample proof of this deep
' and widespread interest. All
classes of people see with thei rown
eyes and hear with their own ears
something of its accomplishments
t for the good of humanity and the
I glorv of God, and are seekit.g to
I learn more about it. And who
| should hinder them in this seeking,
j since wisdom, the understanding of
i man’s true relationship to oianipot
I cnee, is to lie desired beyond all else
I that mav lie sought or attained in
j this world ?
I ‘ ■ Whence then eometh wisdom.’
land where is the place of under
standing?” asks .lob. And he re
| plies; “God umlerstandeth the way
thereof, and he knoweth the place
j thereof. l’or he looketh to the
j ends of the earth, and sect), under
it le whole him veil . . . And unto
! mail he said, Behold, the fear of the
) Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart
j trom evil is understanding. ” Wis
dom is the principal thing, - ’ said
I Soloman in his proverbs, “therefore
I get wisdom: and with all thy get-
Iting get understanding.' ’
To obtain an understanding of
; Christian Science is to obtain an un
| ilerstanding of the one ever present
j and supreme power in the universe.
reverently named God. a term
j which in Christian Science embraces j
j all that is good, and to obtain at the
j same time ail understanding of
inan's relationship to this infinite
Being. Those who are really earn
est in the desire to know God. come
in the right frame of thought, if
| they come to Christian Science as
i little children, trustful, and hopeful,
icceptive of and eager for light, an,|
! determined to profit by it.
It is all-important that a light
| beginning shall lie made. To begin
I lightly is to provide one's self with
.a copy of the Bible and of the Chris
[tinn Science textbook, to study both
I zealously and religiously, and to put
j their teachings into pact ice as fast
las an understanding of them is gain
led. All of Christian Science is con
tained in these two inspired vol
umes.
To study the Bible ami Science
and Health, intelligently a.u,| prof
| it.ably, demands of the student rim
! slant recourse to prayer as prayer is
; understood in Christian Science. It is
a fact, strange as it mav appear to
I those of other religious deiioiiiina
tions, that through Christian Science
many thousands of era nest and de
vout Christian people hav been in
, structod for the first time how to
obtain results from prayer. When
we learn how to pray as Christian
. Science teaches, in that same hour,
we also learn how to help and heal
ourselves and how to bring comfort,
i peace, and healing to others.
1 The Way of Healing and Salvation
Whether we seek understanding
lor hnlii*g in Christian Science, and
I it should be remembered that under-
I standing is possible only through the
; healing of ignorance, self-ofinion,
1 healing of ignorance, self-opinoii.
plicity, trustfulness, and confidence;
we should have arrived at a de-is"
( to go Hie full elngth, to cult all
bridges behind lis; we ,d m
ready to turn our bn ! s on envy,
jealousy, hate, superstition, fear
j evil thinking, evil speaking, evil-do
ing. There must be no more doubt
bo;, shifting, hesitation. Nothing
V.iorti of unjt'iitlitional surrender
will open the door that leads from
, captivity to freedom. The waver
ing, undecided, and unready should
blame themselves only if indulgence
j in these proclivities hinders the work
of the teacher or the practitioner,
defers healing, or sometimes entire
ly prevents it.
| Christian Scientists have come to
i 4 iovv, and measurably to under
i stand. God, through the teachings
: and works of Christ .losiis, the Wav
shower, an,| through the revelation
which Mary Bake; Kddv has given
the world —a revelation which,
among other things,xhas reestablish
ed ill the conseiousness not only of
j her students find followers, but of
vast numbers who may not us yet bo
! included denominationally among
I these, the firm conviction that .losiis
j did not demonstrate the divine povv-.
1 er to heal for any select number or
■ for a limited period of time. We
jhave his prophecy and promise:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, lb'
I that believeth on me, the works that
1 I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; be
cause I go unto in Father,”
Mrs. ilKdv looked forward implie
itlv likewise to the opportunities
which would come to her followers
tor the accomplishment of greater
demonstrations than any that were
, crowning their efforts in the first
half century of Mind-healing which
her discovery had brought about.
She has plainly stated (Science
and Health, p. 1’48.j “I have never
supposed the world would immed
iately witness the full fruitage of
Christian .Science.' She vvishe,] to
be known only as one who had plant
■ ed and watered His vineyard leav
ing to the years to come, and to
growth in spiritual understanding,
the gathering of greater harvests
than she had been privileged to see.
Man’s Right to Peace and
Happiness
For ages men have been engaged
in n continuous effort to get more
out of life, to obtain a larger mea
sure of freedom, and to find in the
possession of both, that ease, com
fort, content meat, and peace, which;
make up the sum of human happi- |
ness. Bill the prizes sought have!
been elusive. They have lost their i
value even with seeming attain- ;
.meat. for the struggle to capture
them, has, in the main, been ear
vied along on the theory that Imp- j
piaess is something material, and
therefore, something to be pursued i
by pampering the material senses j
and turning loose upon the chase the j
sensual desires.
Not the objective, not tlie tiling j
sought, but the method and purpose
behind the seeking, have been wrong
. I’rosperitv and happiness are coil-'
j ilitions to which we all should as
pire, if only vve strive for them
with right motives and in the right
way. To yearn for those things
which make for the greater com
pleteness of human existence, has
been sanctioned and legitimatized
from the very beginning. God’s
promises to His children have al
ways been represented as in answer
■ to the desire, or prayer, for a high
er understanding of Him —that is.
for a higher understanding and up
! preciation of Life in its full and
| true meaning.
Christian Science teaches that
lack, limitation, poverty, arc among
the errors to lie overcome by ap
prehension and understanding of
the trutli that divine Love is the
source, and only source, of supply.
Christian Science teaches that pov
erty and unhappiness are abnormal,
due to wrong thinking and to wrong
living. Christian Science teaches
that prosperity and happiness are
desirable, and that they are attain
able. when rightly, that is, (when
spiritually, sought.
It is the desire for the spiritual
peace and harmony which constitute
real prosperity and happiness that
i has led advanced thinkers of all
times to be discontented with con
ditions as thev have found them.
There is sometimes a vast differ
ence between contentment and ltap
tdness. To be content with loss
than justice, would mean acquies
cence in injustice; to be content
with less than right, would mean ac
ceptance of wrong; to be content
with anything less than freedom,
would mean complacent agreement
in some form of slavery. Some of
the greatest revolutions of modern
times have been justified on the
ground of man's inalienable right
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness—an assertion of elemen
tal human privilege which all the
world receives today in the light of
a self-evident truth.
Two thousand years ago man's
right to life, in all its fullness, was
proclaimed by Christ .Testis in pre
sence of the presecuting Pharisees
in that beautiful figure of speech
wherein he describes himself as n
Shepherd devoted to the protection
and welfare of his flock. “I am
conic,” he said, “that tliev might
have life, and that thev might have
it more abundantly.'' Again, lie told
those who were striving to harass
and embarrass him, how, by know
ing the truth, they might secure real
freedom. Tn almost his first ut
terance in the presence of the rab
bis, he read from the prophet Ksnias.
the marvelouts passage predieting
the eoming of the Messiah (Luke
-1:18.)
In the first psalm is laid down
tin* basis upon which man mav at
tain blessedness, which is lint an
other name for contentment, pros
lierity and happiness. And Marv
Baker Eddv, the Discoverer and
Founder of Fhristian Science, has
written in “Science and Health
iwtili Key to the Scriptures,’’ the
Christian Science textbook, as the
purpose of her departure from the
I old theologv. an inspiring and an
j impelling desire to liberate the
bndv. by e’nancipating the thoughts
»• (Si-ienc’ and Health, pp.
22<5-:??" >
Those lightly Seek
Shall Find
Multitudes have come into Clirls
tian Science, seeking and finding
health; seeking and finding a larg
er share in the refinements and com
forts of life; seeking and finding
domes*’e tranquillity; business sue
cess; financial ease; multitudes will
centinue to come into Chris; inn
| Science in the hope of gaining the
me’, ♦ a 1 freedom. the eontmtnP'nt
and iiea.-i' they have so"ght else
where in vain, and, if the! ■ purpose
be honest, thev shall not be disap
pointed. But the vast iva. oritv ail
! ' nee in Christian Science because
thev have in progressing step hv
-ten. made everv other eonsideration
secondarv to that of rising in spiri
run 1 underst- tiding and working out
[ tlieb- own '.lvntion. *0 no other
wav than l.v accept’ l g th > nntiv
| ii vi’ations of Christ to come unt i
[him. to liting our burdens and our
problems to him, to ask of the Fath
3
ir. r his iv.in#, believing, anything
we reed —rut something we simply
want —may 'Mvine assist afire Ir: ob
tained along the way to sa’/ation.
To gain healing o.- salvation, we
must be read; and willing to aban
don self —-self-satisfaction, self
[righteousness, self-justification. Self
i is the principal obstacle to our pro
i gross in Christian Science. Self
would block the way. We must, get
rid of self —but how? By realizing
that we are nothing of ourselves,
can do nothing for ourselves, be
-1 cause infinite Mind is All-in-all—
|bv throwing up our hands in com
; plete and humble surrender, and de
le la ring, with all the sincerity, enrn
! cstness. and devotion we can cor.v
I mand. “Not inv will, but thine, be
jdone. ” When this point is reached,
j and we are trusting divine Love,
I not partly, but wholly; not eondi
jtionallv. but absolutely, the point
I of healing is also reached, and sab
! vat ion to crown the healing is come.
I For then the glory of God shines
/into the heart of man.
An Active , Virile. Forceful
Religion
There is nothing in Christian
Science that partakes of the puerile,
the weak or the effeminate, as any
of these terms may be offensively
used- Tmt there is everything that
is vibrant with action, vigor, and
force. Christian Scientists, as a
class, are noted for a high order of
intelligence for i-learness of per
ception. for resourcefulness in bu
siness or profession, for earnestness
in the performance of tlicir tasks,
for cheerfulness in their labor, for
hnnpiness in their play.
Christian Science is abreast with
the advanced thought of the age
upon all questions of vital interest
t i 1 iimani*/. Tr is pronouncedly
I, 1 uncompromisingly for the main
tenance of law and order. Tt is
for the upholding and rigid eu
uiieuiirnt of liquor prohibition. F
;is heart an llinnd ’\ ’ h ediicatlin.
| smer it pm vs and w rk c constantly
[for the eli'nlnutiv.i rf all ig’i r
i .on ,■ Tt favors a-el fosters all
I iha i makes fo,- •-•fin s t nt. true ci’’-
| ,ure. pur> tv of the spot on and the
! , v >• ’• i on wie I. i >.urli xv. kindness —
j , -rpiything that is beautiful atm
! edit \mg in art —everything th it
j tends to ininrov’ public taste, pub-
I tic life, and public n,reals,
j ’ihi-oneti i‘s he-dings and teach
! bigs. Christ'f.n Science has already
! elevated the thought and. conse
i oi.ently. tlu chain.'er rf vast nam
\ ;.or- of peoio ■ in all parts of the
] o’ope, and e rv one of flies’, if
j a,. )p doin'; ' is part is spreading
I ho truth, exnrcs.oirc his gratitude.
. *ioi bv intr din » his faith upon
■ o' hi rs. not by engaging in aerimin
i ’'ms controversy, nor by ineltllgirg
Jin useless and fruitless argument.
| but bv living ihat faith and letting
! hi* light shine.
Through the reflection of Life,
Truth and Love, among Christian
sp-teuGc-ts. the omnipotent po-.ver of
God is being more widely recognized
among thoughtful people now than
over before, and there is coming
into the consciousness of the nn
‘ions. s'ow'v b"t surelv. a sense of
rence for the spiritual which
will eventually unify the thought
ns "-"It a* C'o interests of men.
Rich in Blessed Consolations
Christian Science is licit in bless
ed consolations for the struggling
heart, and ftenerous in the granting
of them, and one of the most beno
ficient of these is the assuranee that
wliere tliere is an honest desire
for understanding and healing, and
•i n-pe’*tac willingness to be taught
and lifted out of trouble, help is
always a* band. Those who seek
understanding and help in Chris
tian Science, sincerely and oonfi
lently. do not fail to find it. Xo
hndv need pause Imltinglv at the
door, fearing to enter lest he be
♦bought beneath consideration, or
hevond hone or help. Since Boil
is love, and Bod is omnipotent,
nothing that *-s good can lie impos
sible.
Never lias tliere been a time in
;mU history when men and women
ivo’o in greater need than now of
that elearness of sight, that steadi
ness of purpose, that strength of
diameter—-that probity, perspica
city. and unshakable moral stamina
which are imparted through spiri
tual diseeriiment and spiritual tin
| derst aiding in Christian Science. Tt
i is the mission and purpose of our
I faith to bring the kingdom of Bod
| to earth, bv di.ipeMing the illusion
| that materialism and sers.ialitv can
: satisfy the legit hunt.' human desire
far contentment peace. prosperity,
and happiness. The wreckage all
about us of hopes, longings, desires,
anib'tions. based upon the att.’rn
j ment of worldlv success, for its
own sake, sluin' I constitute an Im
pressive warning to men and women
of. all classes and in all walks of
seea-ty, in this day and generation.
Wrong Thinking and Its Remedy
Wrong think’ng is at the bottom
not only of individual troubles and
sorrows and sufferings, but it is the
cause of all the harrowing evils
that beset the fumilv, the commit
uitv, the nation, and the word at
large. Christian Science offers
right thinking as a eorrectiv* —as
an obtainable, feasible, and. in fact,
as the only possible remedy for this
stupendous evil.
j If the thoughts of humanity were
jin harmoiiv with the divine Mind.
| with the Commandments, with the
i Beatitudes, with the Prophets, with
tlu> teachings of Christ Jesus and
bis disciples, with the Principle of
[Christian Science, as revealed
jthrough and expounded and taught
|by Marv Baker Eddy, the world
would in' speedily freed from fer
ment. confusion, and tumult. Chris
tian Science corrects, exalts, and
strengthens the thought of the com
ill uni tv, the nation, and the world
will be straightened, elevated, and
strengthened proportionately with
tko increase in the number of Indi
viduals who shall claim and win
their natural inheritance of spin
tuni light and understanding, and
who engage in the work of spread
(Continued oil Pugti 0)