Article December 31, 1910 Issue

THE LECTURES

with contributions from R. Woolfenden, George S. Haddock, Clarence Guy Robbins

At the lecture on Christian Science, delivered Oct. 30, at the Grand Theater, the lecturer, Bicknell Young, was introduced as follows by the Rev. R. Woolfenden, of Rochdale:—

Christian Science was first brought to my notice nearly nine years ago, by a member of my church, who came to tell me of the wonderful healing of her niece, in Manchester. This girl was a clerk in the office of the Manchester Guardian, where, one day, she fell and seriously injured her spine. The best medical skill was provided, and everything was done to heal her, but she was pronounced incurable, and told she would be a cripple for life. With her parents' consent she had Christian Science treatment, and within six weeks was completely healed and able to return to work, this time taking a situation in the office of Messrs. Baxendale & Co., the ironmongers, where she was well known. Today she is a married woman, happy, healthy, and strong, and doing good work, in Manchester, as a Christian Science practitioner. The news of this case set me thinking hard. It came as a shock to my faith, and led to a rude awakening. On making further inquiries, I found that the father, mother, and aunt of this young person had each received benefit through Christian Science treatment, and were studying the new doctrine in the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. I borrowed the book and read it deeply. As a result I was soon convinced that all my work, as a minister, was like "preaching without practice," which, according to Mrs. Eddy, is "the error of the ages" (Science and Health, p. 241).

I read in this book that "the theology of Christian Science includes healing the sick" (Ibid., p. 145). It was this that drew me to it, for I was sick, and in need of healing, having returned from missionary work in China broken in health and utterly broken in spirit, through a deep bereavement that followed. Christian Science came to me in the darkest hour of my life,—came to prove the truth of Longfellow's saying, that "like the kingdom of heaven, the fountain of youth is within us." The reading of this book had another effect on me. It started a question from which I could not get away, namely, Why can we not do this healing work in our own churches? It took me seven years to answer that question,—seven years, when it might have been answered in seven minutes had one been willing to humble oneself, willing to trust oneself to the conquering love of God, for, as Wordsworth truly puts it, "wisdom is often nearer to us when we stoop than when we soar." Today I know that Christian Science is the wisdom of God, and the love of God, breaking through our doubts and fears; the love of the omnipotent, all-knowing, ever-present God, who "forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases."

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