The estimated postal expenditure for both city and rural free delivery service in the United States during the fiscal year beginning July 1 next, will aggregate about $47,000,000.
This
is Thanksgiving Day, and it reminds me that I have never testified in our periodicals my thanksgiving for a share of the blessings of Christian Science.
For
some years the desire has been with me to express my gratitude to our Leader for Christian Science; but with the desire came always the thought of limitation, "How can I find fitting words?
Some
recent experiences and observations have aroused in my consciousness a series of introspective questionings concerning the import and application of the Pauline injunction: "Pray without ceasing," the benefit of which I would lovingly share with the readers of our periodicals.
While
it is true that Christ, working in and through all branches of his Church, brings to light rather than creates life, health, joy, and immortality, it is as misleading for our critic to say, if Christian Scientists "go to heaven," "they were saved before they became Christian Scientists," as it would be for a Christian Scientists to say, if members of other denominations ever "go to heaven," it is because they are such good Christians they are saved in spite of the fact that they are orthodox.
As to individual rights, while Christian Scientists cheerfully grant their neighbors the privilege which they claim for themselves,—their own choice of religion and medicine,—they would not be inclined to lend any special support to any practice which is not demonstrably efficacious.
I Hereby
notify the public that scurrilous letters purporting to bear my signature—letters of evil intent—that I never wrote, never caused to be written, and never saw until they were given to me by the individuals to whom they were superscribed, are constantly being circulated.
Our
attention has been called, from time to time, to certain business enterprises conducted by Christian Scientists which have been exploited in such a manner as to create the impression that our denomination is responsible for them, or that it is in some manner connected with them.
The
genius of mortal mind is wont to express itself unconsciously in self-contradiction and self-defeat, and this is well illustrated in the attitude of the press respecting experiences of persons occupying exalted positions.
With a grateful heart I will try to express my gratitude for the innumerable blessings which Christian Science has brought, and is still bringing to me.
Christian Science has been our salvation in so many ways that I feel I must lift up my voice in thanks to God for this great comforter, which brings peace to all who earnestly strive for it.
My heart is so full of gratitude for the many blessings that come to me through Christian Science, and also for our periodicals and all our literature, that I cannot keep silent.
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