Article February 14, 1914 Issue

The Lectures

with contributions from Clara Shepard, Charles Lynd Cowan, William Irvine

Long before the opening hour, the entrance to the auditorium in Collins street was thronged by the first comers of an audience of thirteen hundred, who listened with rapt attention to William R. Rathvon's lecture on Christian Science. The lecturer was introduced by Theodore Fink, member of a city law firm, who in the course of his remarks said that he had much pleasure in taking the chair, and as the Melbourne Christian Science church had followed the practise of selecting a chairman from outside its ranks, he was not speaking from the platform of Christian Science, but as one of Melbourne's citizens interested in hearing an authoritative exposition of Christian Science from one who came so exceptionally qualified for the task as the lecturer of the evening. Mr. Rathvon was not a self-appointed missionary to Australia; he came entirely at the invitation of the several Australian churches of the Christian Science body. He had had many years' experience in Christian Science work, and was a member of the board of lectureship of The Mother Church in Boston, U. S. A.

Mr. Fink went on to say that, whether Christian Science or any other religious belief, however firmly held, could be the means of conducting all evil of every description, including physical and mental ailments, to the edge of the universe, as it were, and dismissing them into void, remained to be demonstrated. He understood that it was claimed for Christian Science that such effects could be accomplished through the acceptance and practise of its teachings, and it was with these large claims that he understood the lecturer would deal. Doubtless much had to be done in order fully to understand the influence of either mental or religious attitudes upon bodily health, but there was an increasing tendency, alike in the medical profession and among the churches, to give patient attention to mental phenomena and their relation to health and disease. Some people regarded religion as an instrument of consolation and succor, others as the ultimate expression of the reality of things; and as he understood that the Christian Science religion claimed to satisfy both of these great needs of humanity, he was sure Mr. Rathvon's address would be listened to with profound interest and attention.—Correspondence.

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