Durango, Col.

A good-sized audience heard the lecture on Christian Science given at the Gem Theater by William R. Rathvon. The lecturer was introduced by the Rev. R. S. Fairchild, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, who said:—

It is a great pleasure to me to respond to the request of your committee that I make the remarks introductory to the lecture of the evening. Known among you as the pastor of the Methodist church, the occasion may warrant a few remarks that are in their nature more or less personal. Though not of your denomination, I assure you that I entertain for your work the kindliest feeling. In this day, when the lines of denominational markings are so dim, the spirit of brotherhood extends over all. It has been my fortune so to have grown up that I can express little denominational preference. Born a Methodist, educated in a Baptist university, affiliated for some time with a Presbyterian choir, spending the first few weeks of my ministry in the Congregational church, numbering among my best friends and most attentive auditors some of the Christian Science faith, it were difficult to express preference.

All denominations have in the past served their various purposes in a great way. At their inception they emphasized different and important phases of truth, but today their streams, as they progress, are found to be uniting, and to be flowing in the same great channel of truth. Every denomination has made its contribution to the great whole, and you Scientists should be very proud of your contribution. The greater truths which you have emphasized and are emphasizing, for the most part have been let lie dormant by others. It has been your mission to help arouse the churches from a negative work to one that is positive and constructive. Your mission has been to try so to fill the world with good things that evil should have no room. With you the text "Overcome evil with good" has been taught with added emphasis. Again, you have brought to the world with increasing attention that man's kingly realm is the realm of mind. Any church that lays great stress upon the texts: "As he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he;" "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall [or do] see God;" "Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; . . . think on these things,"—that church does a great service to the world.

Now, we are all searchers for truth, and are winnowing it from the chaff. I for one am willing to appropriate it from whatever source found. Truth, like pure gold, is the same the world over. Prejudice should never blind our eyes to it. I am sure, therefore, that we shall all listen attentively to the speaker who comes to address us this evening. Durango Herald.

Melbourne, Australia

As a sequel to his lecture before thirteen hundred people in the Auditorium, Prof. Hermann S. Hering addressed a large meeting of business men and women in the Athenaeum Hall during the luncheon recess on the following day. W. Taylor Stone, president of First Church of Christ, Scientist, introduced the speaker in a few appropriate sentences, and the address was listened to with the closest attention throughout. The audience, which included several Christian Scientists, was comprehensive and representative, ranging from office boy and young lady typist to grave and reverend seigniors of the counting-house, financial chamber, and legal and medical consulting-room. The midday address is a new departure in the lecture program of the Melbourne Christian Science church, and the result on this occasion evidenced public appreciation as well as a general interest in Christian Science. The same interest is also manifested in the large attendance at the Wednesday evening meetings, which weekly crowd the Athenaeum Hall overflowing. A press representative, present at the midday meeting, was heard to express surprise that the subject of Christian Science could draw such an audience on the floor and in the gallery, during the luncheon hour, when eminent church speakers, local as well as from the states and overseas, could only get together a scattered sprinkling in the body of the hall. The introductory remarks were as follows:—

The Christian Scientists of Melbourne have invited you here today, not to make Christian Scientists of you, but that you may have an opportunity of being told "the old, old story" in a new and scientific language. The Discoverer of Christian Science, in her book "Retrospection and Introspection," tells us that she named her discovery Christian Science,—"Christian, because it is compassionate, helpful, and spiritual" (p. 25), thereby bringing into the realm of demonstrable truth the Christ-spirit, or Christ-mind. Professor Hering, in his chair at the university to which he belonged, explained and dealt with the intricacies and technicalities of electrical engineering. Today he will tell you how, in the great machinery of business life, you can demonstrate harmony, success, and progress by the utilization of mental or spiritual rules and laws. Professor Hering has not come here of his own initiative, nor has he been sent; he is here on the invitation of the Christian Science church of this city to remove misconceptions concerning Christian Science.

Correspondence.

Pasadena, Cal.

Bicknell Young spoke on the subject of Christian Science at the local church. He was introduced by Elmer Grey, who said:—

Many years ago I broke down completely in health. I had previously known a number of Christian Scientists,—in fact, was doing work for a corporation composed of Christian Scientists at the time,—but I had always felt that whereas my Christian Science friends were very pleasant people to know socially and to transact business with, they must intellectually be somewhat deficient—otherwise they would not be Christian Scientists! So when they proffered me help in my trouble, I refused it, and two years of invalidism followed. I spent months in sanitariums, took a cruise on the Atlantic and another long one to the islands of the South seas. Even after I had partially recovered my health and had broken down for the second time, I would have nothing to do with Christian Science.

I remember going into the office of a Christian Science practitioner and telling her that the only reason I had come to see her was to satisfy the entreaties of friends, and that I did not intend to take the matter up seriously, because I knew what Christian Science was and that it had nothing for me. More months of aimless drifting and fruitless living followed. Then my attention was called to the case of one who had gone through almost the same experience that I had, and who had at last found restoration to health through Christian Science. Now it happened that I had a very high regard for that person's intellect. She was a graduate of Smith College, and when I heard that one of that type had taken up Christian Science and found relief in it, I at once concluded that perhaps, after all, it was not so foolish a matter as I had for years imagined. My prejudice thus removed, I gave it some unbiased attention, and much to my surprise, and also to my great joy, I found almost instant relief.

Now, it is to remove such prejudices as this, and also to tell people something of what Christian Science really is, instead of what some may perhaps think it is, that the Christian Science board of lectureship has been established.

Pasadena Star.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

At a lecture on Christian Science at Palm Garden Park Hall, by Virgil O. Strickler, the introductory words of Norman T. Davy were as follows:—

Certain idealists have said that the highest ideals of the human mind never reach beyond their possible realization. To attain these ideals has been man's unceasing struggle through the ages. All through the Bible we find promises of the realization of these ideals, of man's eventual freedom from evil of every description. We are told that "as he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he." Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;" also, "The kingdom of God is within you." How to ask, how to knock, at the door of the kingdom, and to realize its presence here and now, is the message Christian Science brings to us today.

Correspondence.

Los Angeles, Cal.

A large audience listened to an interesting lecture on Christian Science delivered by William D. McCrackan, at the Shrine Auditorium. Don E. Gilman, who introduced the speaker, said:—

Doubtless many of those present are to hear for the first time an authoritative exposition of Christian Science. To such there may naturally arise the question, What is there about this subject to attract so large an audience? An answer may be found in the words of the Master, "And I, if I be lifted up . . . will draw all men unto me." Christian Science is a "lifting up." It is "lifting" (freeing) men from the bondage of sin, sickness, and despair; it is replacing sorrow with joy, fear with courage, sickness and suffering with health and strength, evil with good. With authority it says to the struggling, strife-torn hearts of men: "Peace, be still." The same works which caused the people to throng the Master and follow him in multitudes, are causing the overflowing meetings and lectures of the Christian Scientists. Los Angeles Examiner.