From a Lecturer's Note-book

SEPTIMUS J. HANNA

The members of the Board of Lectureship have opportunities for witnessing and experiencing many interesting things. Among many others I recall with especial interest the occasions hereafter mentioned, which I trust may be of interest to the readers of our beloved Sentinel.

Shortly after my appointment I received a letter from a village of about two hundred inhabitants, situated in one of the beautiful valleys of Colorado, saying that there was a little band of four Scientists there and they had concluded to have a lecture; would I lecture for them? I assured them that I would. I was the more willing to do so because the letter stated that two of them were former acquaintances of mine, of whose coming to Science I was not previously aware. I gave them a Sunday, notwithstanding the scarcity of Sundays with the lecturers. I arrived in time to attend their Sunday service and found twelve persons assembled, including one of the two physicians of the place and his wife. The latter were not only apparently interested listeners, but the husband played the organ for them, as he was in the habit of doing at their services.

There were present at the lecture, I was told, one hundred and twelve persons,—more than half the entire population, and, relatively, the largest audience I have addressed.

At Willmar, Minnesota, I was introduced to the audience by the rector of the Episcopal Church, in a pleasant and kindly three-minute talk, in the course of which he said,—

"The nineteenth century goes on record as a unique age. It was a century of philosophical, mental, and spiritual investigation,—a time of searching for truth. It was also an age in which creeds were assailed. Such a time produces agitation. Out of agitation comes life."

Science was introduced here by the healing of a leading merchant who had been given up by all his physicians and friends. He was looked upon, after his healing, as one who had been raised almost from the dead. His case was the means of bringing several of his business friends into Science, and, strange as it may seem, for about two years, only men became interested. The services were conducted by two men readers, and during that time the congregation consisted wholly of men. When I was there only three women had become sufficiently interested to be accounted Scientists.

At Texarkana a lecture was brought about by one man, the only Scientist there. It was held in the Opera House of the two cities and was largely attended, the house being well filled by a representative and most attentive audience, notwithstanding the fact, as the local papers said, that there were several other attractions. The local press treated the occasion in a kindly and generous spirit, commending the zeal and courage of the man who, singlehanded, had been the instrument of its accomplishment.

A pleasant incident here was the holding, at our friend's residence, of the first Christian Science service ever held in the town. Including several Christian Scientists who had come from Fort Worth, Dallas, and other places to attend the lecture, there were eighteen present. A complete service was held excepting only the collection. In the absence of hymnals the three hymns of our Leader were sung, while one of the ladies sang a solo with fine effect, a piano accompaniment being played by her daughter. The circumstances here were unique in other respects. Texarkana is two cities under one name. The state lines of Texas and Arkansas divide the cities,—hence the name. The post office building sits astride the state line, so that it does not matter whether a letter is addressed to Texarkana, Texas, or Texarkana, Arkansas. I slept, while there, in Arkansas and lectured in Texas, crossing the state line between my hotel and the Opera House. This lecture, of course, was given under the special provision of the by-laws permitting each lecturer to give three lectures a year on his own responsibility.

At South Bend, Indiana, occurred the incident already mentioned in the Sentinel, of the two Grand Army Posts of the city attending the lecture in a body, carrying at their head the stars and stripes. No incident of my experience impressed me more deeply than this.

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