JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, S. A.

William D. McCrackan, M.A., member of the board of lectureship of The Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, United States of America, gave two very interesting lectures on Christian Science in the Masonic Hall, Jeppe street, on the evenings of the 12th and 16th of October. The hall was well filled with eager listeners on both occasions, and the lecturer received a sympathetic hearing. At the close of his addresses he was greeted with expressions of hearty approval. On the first evening J. L. van der Merwe, mining commissioner, in introducing the lecturer said in part,—

On behalf of the Christian Science organizations in the Union of South Africa, I have great pleasure in extending to you all a hearty welcome. We are here this evening to listen to a lecture upon Christian Science. Now, Christian Science is not a new religion. It is the religion of the Bible. It starts with the God of the Bible as the only cause and intelligence. It teaches us how to understand and demonstrate the truth of what the God of the Bible has said about Himself: "I am the Lord, and there is none else." This was later on emphasized by Jesus in his reply to one of the scribes, who asked him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus answered, you remember, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord." This is true from all eternity; it was true when Jesus uttered it; it is true now that Christian Science is demonstrating it.

Christian Science teaches that there is only one way to understand the truth of the Bible, and that is by demonstrating, by living it. Now it is evident one person cannot live for another. It is an individual work. To live the truth of the Bible means reformation. In Christian Science, reformation is the taking up of the cross; it is the going through Gethsemane; it is the climbing of Calvary; it is the overcoming of all materiality; it is the way that leads to the understanding of God, when we shall see Him as He is.

Christian Science is encircling the globe. The Bible, and its key, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, are going through it together as two missionaries, and wherever they enter into a home, there hypocrisy, envy, hate, malice, sickness, and discords of every sort are dethroned, destroyed, and love, peace and joy, health, happiness and harmony enthroned and demonstrated in daily life as the grand realities of man's being.

On the second occasion W. P. Grimmer, attorney-at-law, in introducing the lecturer, referred to the immense advances that had been made during the past centuries in material science, and how almost every new step therein had been bitterly opposed for many years by the settled belief of the time. He instanced, among others, the long and bitter struggle before the views on astronomy known as the Ptolemaic system yielded to the Copernican. The life-story of Galileo was typical, and illustrated the fact that all the material science we now possess was attained only through centuries of struggle between the settled beliefs from time to time of the majority, and new views advanced by despised minorities. All future knowledge would no doubt be attained in the same way.

We had been so taken up with material science during the past century that it never entered our minds that there was, or could be, any other science. But this accepted position is being challenged, and people are coming forward to maintain that there exists, and always has existed, a spiritual science, the rules of which are as true and exact as those of mathematics, but that it can only be attained by unlearning much of the accepted beliefs of the day. To this new knowledge there is being and will be applied the test: Does it work, and can it be demonstrated? and according to the result is its present and will be its future.

In the fifteenth chapter of Gibbon's "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," we read that throughout the first three centuries of the Christian era, all Christendom claimed and believed that the spiritual knowledge which the Foudner of Christianity brought was daily curing in their midst all manner of disease. It is of supreme importance to Christians and to all others to know whether in this regard all Christendom was under a delusion or not. If the four gospels are to be accepted as correct, it is clear that what Gibbon speaks of were the signs which Jesus said would follow all who believed his teaching, and if the signs have ceased to follow, it is time to revise the belief. The lecturer comes before you on behalf of a body of people who conscientiously believe that the signs spoken of by Gibbon did follow the early Christians, and that the knowledge which was available to them is also available for the people of today, and as such I have the honor to introduce him to you.—Sunday Post.

CONCORD, N. H.

A large audience, thoroughly representative of the capital city, and including many from outside Concord, heard the free lecture in First Church of Christ, Scientist, Thursday night [Oct. 19] by Bliss Knapp. Allen Hollis, Esq., introduced the speaker in the following words:—

It is an honor, as it is a pleasure, to be selected by this church to introduce the speaker who will address this meeting, and it may be fitting, in connection with the introduction, to say a few words bearing upon the value of these lectures to this church and the public as well.

Every change in the existing order of things, whether in art, science, business, politics, or religion, meets with opposition. This opposition results principally from a human dislike to change—a desire to be let alone; but active and violent opposition must be expected from those whose interests are threatened or whose settled convictions are disturbed. Thus it happens that every form of progress has to struggle for the right to exist. The ready weapon for these antagonists of change is misrepresentation and misunderstanding; and these can be overcome only by truth. Public discussion is the most effective means of combating error and supporting truth. The spoken word carries with it the personality of the speaker as no printed page can do; and Christian Science has owed its wonderful progress largely to those who have come forward to speak in its behalf.—Concord Patriot.

ASHEVILLE, N. C.

Judge Clifford P. Smith delivered a lecture on Christian Science at the Auditorium yesterday afternoon [Oct. 21] to a representative audience of about four hundred and fifty persons, notwithstanding the threatening weather. George S. Powell presided, and in introducing the lecturer spoke in part as follows:—

Some of the perplexing questions to humanity are these: What is man? What is the source of his being and what is it that governs his thoughts and acts? Is it God, Spirit, or is it matter? When we can answer these questions correctly we will be able to prove the truth of the Master's promise when he said: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The purpose of these lectures is to give those who do not read the literature an opportunity to get a more accurate knowledge of Christian Science, and to bear testimony to the facts regarding the life and work of its Discoverer and Founder, Mary Baker Eddy, in her consecration to the teachings of Jesus.

Asheville Citizen.

PORTLAND, ORE.

In this issue is published in full the lecture on Christian Science delivered by Virgil O. Strickler, last Sunday afternoon, Nov. 5, at the Heilig and in the evening at First Church of Christ, Scientist. I believe Mr. Strickler's message will repay reading. It was heard by between three and four thousand people at the Heilig; in the evening the church was crowded; many rapt listeners stood up, and five or six hundred people had to be turned away. Mr. Strickler was introduced in the afternoon by Federal Judge Robert S. Bean, and in the evening by Howard C. Van Meter, Christian Science committee on publication for Oregon. Judge Bean was heard with attention, and his remarks, which made a deep impression on the audience, were as follows:—

"Your presence here this afternoon," he said, "is an evidence of your interest in the great religious movement of which the distinguished lecturer is an official representative. Any one at all familiar with the religious history of the past or present, it seems to me, must be impressed with the fact that unnecessary attention has been given and is now given to mere controversial questions and doctrinal disputes, and that the controversalists often overlook the vital and important question: Does the movement make for better citizenship, does it make for better morals, right living and right thinking? Whatever tends to these ends should, I take it, be recognized and encouraged by all good people, whether they are able to accept some of its technical doctrines or not.

"The Christian Scientists believe they have such a message. They believe that they have demonstrated by actual experience that, when rightly understood and lived, it adds to the sum of human happiness, joy, and health."

Spectator.

TROY, N. Y.

There was a good attendance last evening [Oct. 26] at Music Hall to hear Virgil O. Strickler expound the fundamentals of Christian Science, laying great stress on its practical side. The Rev. William H. Dodd, first reader of First Church of Christ, Scientist, of this city, in introducing the speaker, referred to the growth of the Christian Science church, saying:—

It is organized in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, Australia. The sun never sets on the Christian Science movement, and if you were to inquire of the members of this church why they believe in Christian Science, almost without exception the reason would be given, "Christian Science found me in bondage to false appetite and set me free," or, "I was suffering, helpless and hopeless, with so-called incurable disease, and Christian Science gave me hope and health. I was one of those 'having no hope, and without God in the world;' Christian Science gave me a sense of love to God and love to my fellow man."

Troy Times.

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Clarence C. Eaton lectured on Christian Science in Memorial Hall, Nov. 5, to an audience of over twenty-five hundred. He was introduced by William H. Howard, president of the church, who said in part,—

In obedience to the Scriptural commands, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you," we are here to contemplate the deeper import of eternal Truth and its application in human experience, as revealed through the teachings of Christian Science. The Master said, "Lo, I am with you alway;" and again, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father."

Christian Scientists believe—yea, they know—that the divine Principle of Life, Truth, and Love, as demonstrated in the land of Judea so long ago by the great Exemplar, has changed not one iota throughout the Christian era of twice a thousand years, and will continue to endure as the ages roll on to eternity; therefore, every Christian Scientist knows that all the true wisdom, power, joy, health, happiness, and saving grace that ever came to humanity, is for us, here and now. Divine Love is ever beckoning us onward to a fuller realization of these blessings,—to a richer experience, to nobler endeavors, to a higher hope, a sublimer faith, a grander reward. The sweetest carol ever sung was, "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men." It ushered in the Christ, Truth, to be made manifest in the lives and deeds of men.

The mission of Christian Science is to revive the teachings of Jesus and the apostles of old, and wherever accepted it is making better men and women, happier homes, is elevating the standard of our citizenship, abolishing caste, reforming the sinner, healing the sick, and teaching neighbor to love neighbor as never before. The teachings and practice of Christian Science, which is enlisting the attention and earnest devotion of countless thousands of happy, thoughtful people all over the world today, who were once in the throes of agony, sin, or despair, may rightfully and profitably engage us this afternoon.—Correspondence.

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

Willis F. Gross delivered a lecture on Christian Science in Scenic Temple, Sunday afternoon [Nov. 5], to an earnestly attentive audience. Mr. Gross was introduced by G. Leonard McNeill, first reader, who spoke as follows:—

Christian Scientists are always glad of an opportunity to tell others of the reason for the hope that is in them. They have received many blessings from the teaching and practice of Christian Science, and wish to share these blessings with others. Many persons who are now earnest and faithful Christian Scientists, were at one time bitterly opposed to Christian Science, or I should say, they were bitterly opposed to what they believed its teachings to be; but after experiencing or witnessing the healing ministration of Christian Science, they were awakened to some realization of the meaning and magnitude of this movement. This led to careful investigation and the gaining of a sufficient understanding of the Principle to enable them to prove for themselves the truth of its teaching. Then they saw that what they had opposed was not Christian Science, but simply their false conception of what it teaches.

Cambridge Chronicle.