RICHMOND, ENGLAND.

Bicknell Young lectured on Friday last week [Feb. 10] to a crowded audience at the Castle Rooms, Richmond, on Christian Science.

Captain Baynes presided, and in introducing the lecturer referred to the late Mrs. Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, who by the publication of her text-book, Science and Health, had helped many thousands of people in different parts of the world to understand its meaning. He thought they must agree with him that the world was far from what it might be if they could eliminate those causes which bound man to suffering and sin, and it was wise to discuss the way wherein mankind might be relieved from that suffering. Proof was not wanting that Christian Science had come to the rescue, and that its claims were supported by practical demonstration. If he had found much that was difficult in Mrs. Eddy's book, he felt that this was due to what was wrong in his own mind and not the fault of the book. He asked for Mr. Young a sympathetic hearing.—Surrey Comet.

CHAMPAIGN, ILL.

A well-attended lecture on Christian Science was given at Walker Opera House Sunday afternoon [Feb. 12], under the auspices of the Christian Science society of Champaign. The lecturer, Frank H. Leonard, was introduced by G. W. Carothers, who said in part,—

Ten years ago I was a very sick man. For fifteen years I had scarcely known what it was to be free from pain. A number of physicians, most of them grand men, had done all they could for me. I had gone to sanitariums, mineral springs, and had taken many kinds of patent medicine, and yet I continued to grow worse. In the year 1900, while traveling through Michigan, I met a friend who I knew had been very sick. He said to me, "I am well, and Christian Science has healed me." Four days later I secured a copy of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. I began to read this book in the afternoon and continued to read most of the night. The following morning I realized that what I had read had done more toward healing me than all the medicine I had ever taken, and from that day to this Christian Science has met and destroyed every disease condition that has presented itself to me.—Champaign News.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

William D. McCrackan, M.A., member of the board of lectureship of The Mother Church in Boston, Mass., delivered an address on Christian Science, under the auspices of Second Church, before an audience that completely filled the Salt Lake Theater in this city last night [Feb. 12]. W. I. Snyder, a prominent member of the Christian Science church of this city, introduced the distinguished speaker to the audience, saying:—

There is perhaps no subject today upon which the general public talk so much and with as little accurate information as a foundation, as upon Christian Science. One of the purposes of this and similar meetings is to correct these erroneous impressions as to the fundamental basis of Christian Science. If we begin with a foundation upon which all can agree, and use this position as a premise, and if the argument proceeding therefrom is without fault as to sequence and is therefore logical, the conclusion reached should be equally self-assertive and harmonious.

I take it that all Christians, and many others who do not profess to be Christians, do not hesitate to acknowledge the existence of a "great First Cause," or, in other words, God. Christian Scientists not only share in this belief, but they go a little farther, in seeking to know God. Many religiously inclined persons, if asked in what form God exists, would either hesitate to hazard an answer, or, adopting the orthodox statement of the Bible that God created man in His own image, would say that the likeness must be equally reversible; therefore God is like a man.

Christian Scientists believe that God created man in His own image, but that it was the spiritual man who was so created, and that this has no reference whatever to the material body. All of us who had Christian mothers were told in our childhood a few things about God which, while clothing Him with man's likeness and consequently his attributes, it was impossible for us to understand. We were told that God is everywhere; that God is love; that He understands our innermost thoughts; that His all-seeing eye is constantly over our actions; but did we understand how this could be so? I for one did not.

Christian Science teaches us all these things, and also teaches us how to understand them. If, as we believe, God is divine Mind and divine Spirit, pervading, controlling, and directing every part of the universe, including man, then it becomes easy to understand that the spiritual man is the image and likeness of God, and that Principle, Life, Truth, Love, infinite goodness and power, which many regard as the attributes of God—are God Himself. Mrs. Eddy, our revered Leader, teaches us that a part of the work of Christian Scientists is to assist men to a better knowledge of God; likewise to follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ, the great Wayshower, and to heal the sick, sinning, and suffering of the world.

I believe that all Christians will agree with us that Christ healed all manner of sickness, besides reforming the sinful and comforting the sorrowing, but they say, and many believe, that this Christian healing practised by Jesus belonged exclusively to that age and not to this. Why should this be so? Why were the health, morals, and comfort of God's children any dearer to Him then than now? Christian Scientists believe that God is with us now just as He was then, and that by understanding God, believing in Him, we may accomplish here and now all the results which Jesus accomplished; for he said: "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."

If any of the claims made by Christian Scientists, including the words of the speaker who shall address you this evening, strike you as extreme, or too good to be true, please remember that Christian Science asks you to believe nothing—except what can be proved true. Paul's words may be safely followed: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."—Herald-Republican.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL.

That there is a wide-spread interest in Christian Science was demonstrated by the large and representative audience of the best people of the city at the Opera House last evening [Feb. 16] for the lecture by Bliss Knapp. Robert Fitch, a former Santa Cruzan, came down from San Francisco to introduce the speaker. His remarks were in part,—

In all open-mindedness, most of us will admit that any science, any religion, any belief which uplifts or tends to uplift humanity, or to make easier and finer the life of a single human being, is a thing decidedly worth consideration. Without going into the deeper religious aspects of this Science, let me tell you briefly what this movement which has been growing for nearly fifty years means. It teaches us, and guides us to what should be our ultimate aim, perfection. It is founded on broad fundamentals of right thinking, right living, of doing the day's work with the absolute belief in the ability, desire, and certain willingness of a divine Providence to guide and direct us to sure success. It teaches us that there can be no evil in the real man, because man is made in the image of God, in whom there is no evil.

Christian Science does not attack other Christian beliefs. It does not deal in criticism of any existing practice or form of belief. It goes no farther than to teach right thinking and right living, trying to bring love rather than fear to the forefront, trying and many times succeeding in bringing happiness and joy of life to humanity. If it can do this for even a few, it has served a great purpose. At least it warrants serious consideration, and in the interest of the greatest good for the greatest number we should pull down the fence of intolerance, all sense of superiority or bigotry, and give this new idea, this new teaching, called Christian Science, the privilege of examination before open-minded, clear-headed, thinking people.—Santa Cruz Surf.