Article June 21, 1913 Issue

THE LECTURES

with contributions from Frank L. Dodge, John Charles Thompson, J. W. Doorly, Warren O. Evans, Esther B. Dickey, Emerson B. Gorsuch, R. Lee McCulloch, Arthur J. Arwine, Nathaniel Dyke

A lecture on Christian Science was delivered at the Christian Science church by Frank H. Leonard. He was introduced by Attorney Frank L. Dodge, who said in part,—

This has been an eventful year, filled with many tender, sacred memories,—a progressive year in state, industrial, and religious affairs. Recently, one of the foremost citizens of our state, according to a newspaper report, said that perhaps it would be wise for religious bodies to adopt a uniform style of dress or costume which would have a tendency to attract people to church. The people of the Christian Science church have not adopted any uniform style of dress, and yet the seating capacity of their churches is usually filled. Shall we reason from cause to effect? Some good church people say that life is like the torrid hour, burned by the wind and sun; that it is a narrow veil between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. Christian Scientists seem to have the conception that life, truth, and goodness are eternal and are of God.

This is a utilitarian age. It is asking of every institution the same ruthless question, "What are you good for?" Nothing escapes this stern but reasonable question; old and hitherto respected forms of government, great corporations, political parties, religious creeds and churches,—all are being called upon to answer it. What answer does Christian Science make to it? It is significant of this twentieth century spirit that it does not accept words as its answer; it requires facts, deeds; and the answer that Christian Science makes is in its deeds. It is not a religion for Sunday only, and of churches whose walls and arches are gorgeous within; its followers are known as practical, everyday followers of Jesus of Nazareth, striving to do the work which he did and commanded his followers to do, and they have one standard test of their Christianity,—"By their fruits ye shall know them." It is a religion of the home, the workshop, the office, the street. It enters every legitimate phase of life, and helps every worker to do his work better, and it gives him the health, strength, wisdom, and inspiration wherewith to do it better than he ever did it before. In the words of its Founder, it "always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494).

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