Article September 19, 1914 Issue

The Lectures

with contributions from Mr. Emmons, John H. Schaefer, John D. Works, Etta M. Ousley, S. W. Frierson

The Opera House was well filled by an interested audience, who heard a fine lecture on Christian Science by Virgil O. Strickler. The Rev. Mr. Emmons of the Universalist church, in introducing the lecturer, said:—

It is one of the pleasant privileges of a clergyman that brings me before you this evening. To cooperate with the officers and members of a sister church in advancing the cause of our common Master, is always a privilege and a pleasure. In these days, when true Christian men and women are more and more seeking to lay aside their sectarian prejudices, that the Master's work may be more efficiently performed, it is especially advisable to draw nearer together, to unite in those services and relations that emphasize harmony and establish our mutual understanding of matters that are vital to the fulfilment of our faith and duty. When we walk apart, in the isolation of our particular Christian point of view, we confine ourselves to an area of thought and life that will ultimately become unproductive in its ability to supply us with the spiritual sustenance which we as spiritual beings must acquire if we are to maintain and develop our spiritual consciousness. But when we refuse to be limited by the boundaries of our own particular belief, and open our minds and hearts to the divine rays that shine through and vitalize other conceptions of God's truth as held by other people, we prepare ourselves for a more abundant entrance into and realization of life.

The Christian life, if it be true, is not a life which stagnates, but a progressive life, moving forward day by day toward larger relations and more significant services, under the inspiration of the "Spirit of truth," which, we are told, will guide us "into all truth." And to the extent that we learn of the truth, shall we be able to free ourselves from the partial and false conceptions by which so many followers of the Master order their lives. Because of this it is essential that we be on the alert for all the intimations of Truth with which life is so replete, that we may indeed be led into "all truth." A wise teacher has said that "there is no religion higher than truth," and I find myself in hearty accord with that statement; for it is the essential basis of our conscious relations with God, and the pursuit and understanding thereof quickens and expands our consciousness to its uttermost divine possibilities, leading us at last to conscious at-one-ment with God.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

About seven years ago I was ill with a very puzzling liver...