Article October 2, 1909 Issue

THE LECTURES

PORTSMOUTH, N. H.

with contributions from Edward H. Adams

Portsmouth Herald

About six hundred people gathered at Music Hall Sunday afternoon [Sept. 5] to listen to a lecture on Christian Science by Prof. Hermann S. Hering. He was introduced by His Honor Mayor Edward H. Adams, who said in part,—

Somewhere I have read that a long time ago, in an ancient church, there was an old organ which no one had really learned to play upon. Occasionally some one would sit before it, draw out its stops, and awaken its harmonies, but as yet no one really knew the great wealth of music that it contained. One day a master teacher entered the church and, sitting down at the organ, as many had done before him, drew out its stops and touched its keys. Immediately the people were hushed into silence, as they heard the old organ first sign and weep, then thrill with passion and shout for joy. They said among themselves: "Can this be the old organ we have had so long, and never knew its power before?" From that time onward, it was the ambition of many to reproduce the harmonies which had been awakened by the master touch, and whenever the best of them did their best, the others listening would say, "That sounds like the master's playing."

This human life is similar to the organ, with its complex mechanism, its hidden harmonies, its possible discords. Many teachers have been successful in drawing out and developing some of its best powers; but a long time ago, in a little hamlet of Palestine, there appeared one called "Jesus the Master." He declared that in himself was to be the fulfilment of all the prophecies. He associated with men, taught them, labored with them, revealed unto them the beauties of a human life in action. He told his disciples to do the same work that he was doing. His commission to them was, "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Since that time, it has been the ambition of many to reproduce in thought, in word, in action, the life and teachings of the Master, and whenever men do their best we say: "That action was Christlike. How much that sounds like the Master's playing!"

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