Article January 25, 1908 Issue

THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

CAPT. D. D. BAYNES

Nearly nineteen centuries have passed since Christ Jesus said. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." This call is as much for us to-day as it was for those to whom it was actually spoken, but who can truly deny that to many who have passed beyond this world's stage, and to many still upon it, those words have seemed only a cruel mockery. Why has this been so? Was the speaker jesting with humanity? Did he say what was less than true? We have only to study his life as recorded in the Gospels to feel at once that the one who lived that life never could have mocked the sufferings of humanity, nor have been associated in any way with falsehood. Then may it not be—nay, it must be—that humanity has not understood his words. How often have men and women read and heard that tender and pathetic call, and if it has raised any response in hearts laden with sin, and disease, has it not been lost in the cry, What, who, and where art thou, that we may come unto thee? How are we to find thee?

Christian Science has come to answer this cry, not by offering the lifeless stone of creed, dogma, ritual, and ceremony, but with the living bread which come down from heaven. The message of Christian Science is truly the echo of the words of Jesus. It must be that or nothing. As we learn of it we begin to know, in a sure and certain way, what, who, and where the Christ is, and to prove that we have found the Christ by doing the works which the Master did. In the measure that the student of Christian Science understands and practises its teachings, does he possess the Mind of Christ, and in that degree is he able to demonstrate that Christ, Truth, is with us always, as Jesus promised, healing and saving to the uttermost all who come unto God through him, and thus only can and does the student prove that he who spake as none other, neither mocked men nor deceived them.

While Christian Science may not appeal to the class who think they "need no repentance," nor to those who discern not the necessity for the Christ-healing, it has everything to offer to that vast throng of weary seekers for relief from the burdens of sin, sickness, and sorrow, among whom are many who have abandoned hope of relief this side of the grave, perchance also in the unknown beyond. To such Christian Science says that ignorance of Truth alone holds them in the bondage of disease and sin, and keeps them from enjoying the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Thousands of men, women, and children are to-day rejoicing in having proven, through Christian Science, in greater or lesser degree that saying of Jesus, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free;" and the freedom offered is not confined to liberation from sin alone, but includes emancipation from every form of error and fear, under which "the whole creation groaneth." If any one doubts this he can learn his mistake by attending the services held in the Christian Science churches every Wednesday through the year, where he may hear, week after week, intelligent men and women joyfully testify to the benefits they have received from Christian Science. Some will say that they were once sick, and like the woman whom Jesus healed, had suffered many things of many physicians, and were nothing bettered but had rather grown worse, but that they have through Christian Science found health, and how to keep in it. Others, while gratefully acknowledging the kindly ministrations of doctors and nurses before coming to Christian Science, will declare they have found a more excellent physician in Christ, Truth. From the one-time godless and hopeless will often come the statement that they have, through the light shed on the Bible by "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," gained such an illumined understanding of God, Christ, and man, as to be able truly to say that they have been called out of darkness into God's marvelous light. Many of them who were earnest communicants in other churches will say that they have found, through the teaching of Mrs. Eddy, that which, without robbing them of anything good, has lifted them from blind belief without works into spiritual understanding with "signs following," and that they have thus been enabled to give an answer to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them. The reproach which is sometimes voiced against Christian Scientists, that there are no poverty-stricken among them, and therefore it is only a religion for the rich or well-to-do, is explained and refuted at these meetings by those who testify how that from poverty and anxiety as to ways and means of supply for their daily needs, they have been enabled through Christian Science to demonstrate the truth of St. Paul's words to the Philippians, "God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

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