Article September 7, 1899 Issue

A Common Sermon in an Uncommon Way

Putnam Journal

One of the peculiarities of the Christian Science Church is that the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker G. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, are the only preachers, and the same sermon is preached in all the Christian Science churches, all over the land, on the same day, and usually at or about the same hour. Thus a Christian Scientist knows before going to church what the sermon is to be about. Another striking peculiarity in this church is that the audience is expected to, and very many of them do, study the sermon through the week very much as a preacher should. Such auditors never become sleepy during the service and gain more thoughts from, and see more beauty in, the sermon than those who fail thus to study and fit themselves for the reception of the Truth declared and proclaimed. To some it might seem that such a sermon would not create much enthusiasm; but not so, as in quite a large number of cases people have been healed of their diseases by listening to such sermons.

Wherever a Christian Science Church is organized, the regular order of service is observed. Ordinarily the sermon has five or six divisions, each one bringing out some particular thought.

For instance, the subject of next Sunday's sermon is "Spirit," and the first division brings out very beautifully that Spirit is God, and that God is All-in-all, and there is but one God, therefore there can be but one Spirit. The second division brings out the thought that Spirit and its formations are the only realities of Being. The third division brings out and clearly proves that Spirit is Substance.

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