Article January 11, 1908 Issue

THE LECTURES

with contributions from Thomas Arrowsmith Meates, Charles Lorraine Kirtland, E. Howard Gilkey, James P. Gorter

Two thousand people attended at the Brighton Dome, on Thursday evening, Nov. 14, to hear a discourse on Christian Science delivered by the Hon. Clarence A. Buskirk. The lecturer was introduced by Mr. Thomas Arrowsmith Meates, M.A., J.P., who spoke in part as follows:—

I have been invited to preside at this meeting for the purpose of introducing to you the distinguished American lawyer who will address you this evening on the subject of Christian Science. I am willing to confess that I was induced to accept the invitation partly from motives of what I think quite pardonable curiosity, to learn something more of this religion—or what shall I call it—which, after making giant progress in the new world, has within the last few years crossed the Atlantic to extend its conquests in the old. With Christianity all of us are more or less intimately acquainted, and by it we are all more or less consciously influenced. How largely we are influenced unconsciously we realize only when we reflect how intimately the teachings of Christianity are woven into the very fabric of that complex society in which we live and have our being. With Christianity considered as a science probably very few indeed of all this great meeting are acquainted; but it is as a science that we are asked to consider Christianity to-night. That being the aspect in which the Christian Scientists regard Christianity, you can well understand that it is not dependent for its attractions upon those appeals to the emotions, those adventitious aids of banners and uniforms, with which we are familiar in some cases. No. Christian Science appeals to the reason and intellect, and requires study to attain progress in it.

What after all probably will most interest a popular audience such as this, is to hear what can be said of the claims which we understand Christian Science makes, that those extraordinary—may I say miraculous—gifts of healing which form so prominent a feature in the early history of the Christian Church are still at the service of the Children of men, or of those at least who by study and faith are fitted for their exercise. A doctrine which has received the adhesion of so many men of learning and ability is at all events entitled to patient hearing, and in asking the lecturer to address you I can assure him, on your behalf, that he will receive a respectful and earnest attention and that his arguments will meet with full and fair consideration.

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