Article July 25, 1914 Issue

The Lectures

with contributions from Harvey Iserman, Oscar Ford, E. H. Hilt, Fred W. Indermille, Glenn D. Smith, John G. Axtman, Frank A. Burling, L. H. Long

An audience filled the edifice of First Church of Christ, Scientist, to hear the lecture on Christian Science by Bicknell Young. The speaker was introduced by the Rev. Harvey Iserman, former pastor of the Presbyterian church of this village, who said:—

I esteem it a privilege to take even a small part in what is known as the Christian Science movement. When Christian Science was first brought to my attention, my attitude toward it was one of prejudice not unmixed with ridicule. My knowledge of it was founded principally on hearsay, on criticisms by noted theologians and brother ministers; and having been brought up most strictly in the old orthodox mode of worship, I was perhaps more conservative than most of my brethren. However, before preaching a sermon against Christian Science (as I had been requested to do) I determined to make a study of it, just as I would with any other science before attempting to pass judgment, making every effort at the same time to lay aside all prejudice against what I then thought was a dangerous new religion. After a careful study, and after testing its teachings on the true touchstone (the Bible), I came to the conclusion that the theologians and my brethren, whom I respect and revere, were like myself not really criticizing Christian Science, but what we thought Christian Science to be.

I find that the teaching of Christian Science is not new. It is as old as the centuries, being based on divine Truth. Its concept of God is free from all material limitations, for it presents God as infinite Principle, Love, Truth, Life, being omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent in all the fulness of His infinite personality. Christian Scientists worship the same God our fathers and mothers did; they study the same Bible without changing it in any way; in fact, they are eager students, searching systematically for the spiritual truth. Every day and in every land they are studying the same selections from the Bible and the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures;" they follow the same Saviour, and firmly believe that the Christianity he taught in Nazareth and Jerusalem is for all time, that it can never change in statement or in proof, and that it will be known by signs which he said shall follow: "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." This explains their undivided allegiance to the command of the Master to teach the truth and heal the sick.

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