Editorial December 13, 1913 Issue

"Speaking boldly in the Lord"

Archibald McLellan

Among the authorized activities of the Christian Science church, none is more important than is that of the board of lectureship. No other is doing more to leaven the thought of the world in its inevitable progress from a very material concept of God, man, and the universe, to a better, higher, and infinitely spiritual concept. When Mrs. Eddy established this activity of the church which she founded, she had great hopes for its success, and it must have been a great joy to her to be able to write to the members of this board: "I am more than satisfied with your work: its grandeur almost surprises me;" also, "The Christ mode of understanding Life—of exterminating sin and suffering and their penalty, death—I have largely committed to you, my faithful witnesses. You go forth to face the foe with loving look and with the religion and philosophy of labor, duty, liberty, and love, to challenge universal indifference, chance, and creeds. Your highest inspiration is found nearest the divine Principle and nearest the scientific expression of Truth . . . Meet dispassionately the raging element of individual hate and counteract its most gigantic falsities" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 248).

Because this work is so important, and because Christian Science has been so greatly misrepresented in the past, it is particularly gratifying to learn, as we do from reports received, that the lectures are now being more generally attended by large audiences than ever before. Another gratifying feature is that, because of the increased demand for opportunity to attend these lectures, a great many of the branch churches and societies are providing more than the minimum one lecture a year for which the by-laws call. Many of the churches, indeed, are giving two lectures each year, some three, some four, and some even six.

Through these lectures the public are learning that the doctrines and teachings of Christian Science are not what they were commonly supposed to be, and that the ponderous judgment which has been so often passed upon these doctrines and teachings, namely, that they are "neither Christian nor scientific," is but a high-sounding phrase and not based on either investigation or sound thinking. They are also learning that the belief, which has been carefully fostered for centuries, that the healing of the sick can take place only through medical and surgical treatment, is no more true today than it was in the time of Christ Jesus and his immediate followers. They are finding out that Christian Science is not a religion for any particular class of society, but for all mankind, without consideration of age, sex, or social station. Although it is not possible for the lecturers, in the short time at their command, to teach Christian Science in its fulness, they are clearly demonstrating that it is evangelical in the truest sense of the word. It is not the province of the lectures to teach Christian Science, but simply to clear up the general misconceptions of the subject and prepare a foundation upon which those who are sufficiently interested may build through study and demonstration "the structure of Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 583) in their own consciousness.

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