Recently
a new meaning of the following texts came to me: "First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear;" and "The last shall be first, and the first last.
It
is only when we begin to make some progress in our understanding of Christian Science that we are able to see the immense importance of our Master's words, "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
There
are perhaps very few Christian Scientists, even among those who before coming into Science have found inspiration and help from the study of the Bible, who do not acknowledge again and again the wonderful value of the new teaching as an aid to the understanding of the old truth.
During
a recent extended trip through the far West and Pacific coast cities, it was my privilege to visit and enjoy the splendid system of Christian Science reading-rooms and church services, an experience which has emphasized anew and given me a keener realization of what this work means toward the world's uplift and redemption; With praise and gratitude to God for the gift of one whose spiritual insight, foresight, and unselfed love made this possible, I know that I voice the feelings of many travelers in sending a word of appreciation and encouragement to these loyal and patient workers at the post of duty in every department connected with the publication of our Christian Science literature.
The
good old custom, which still obtains in some places, of a watchman patroling the streets at night, calling out the hours as they pass, and adding the comforting assurance that "All's well," has, I think, a special signification to Christian Scientists.
A recent writer in the Clarion asks on what Christian Science "depends for its potency" if not "upon things material, nor supernatural, nor upon faith.
The point most of us overlook in our adverse criticism of those who resort to prayer to heal disease is that they are for the most part men and women who have looked in vain to the state-favored schools of healing to help them.
If there is so much Scriptural justification for sin, sickness, and misery as our critic contends, why did the Saviour spend so much of his time while on the earth eliminating such conditions from human experience, at the same time declaring that his "mighty works" were in fulfilment of the law and in direct accord with the divine will?
If Christian Science practice were such as our critic indicates, no Christian Scientist could endorse it, but we are glad to say that he has not described adequately the practice of Christian Science.
In
other days of other years afar,To all life's vaunting joys I gladly turned,Mine own self-will, my happiness, the quest—And yet in vain! For this I had not learned:Thou knowest best.
When
Jesus healed the sick on the shores of Galilee, in its towns and villages and by its roadsides, as recorded in the gospels, we can scarcely assume that he did this work simply that the sick might be healed, but rather because it seemed to him a necessary incident in exemplification of the gospel he preached,—a gospel which invariably heals the sick when it is understood and practised.
In
talking recently with the pupils in a Sunday school class on the subject of the commandments, the writer asked these young people of what practical value law would be in human experience without obedience.
We
are told that the common people heard the Master gladly, and when we remember the size of the audiences he addressed, the long distances which the many must have come to hear him, and the frequency with which they followed him from place to place that they might garner all his marvelous sayings,—the ease with which he reached the people becomes apparent, and we are brought face to face with the inescapable inference that, preached in its purity and power, the gospel must ever be irresistibly winsome.
[The following letter is so indicative of the interest and enthusiasm attendant on the campaign for clean journalism as an essential factor in the general uplift of human thought, that we are glad to give it place in our columns.
With a heart overflowing with gratitude, I wish to express through the Sentinel appreciation for the many blessings which Christian Science has brought me.
In the summer of 1904, when in great need of help, everything possible having been done for me, materially, that could be done, during years of wretchedness, I decided to try Christian Science.
One of my daughters was ill since childhood from a supposedly inherited disease; at the age of ten and a half she was at the point of death, and no physician could afford relief.
Christian Science first came to my notice about six years ago, when a friend of mine who had been healed loaned me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs.
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