Article October 16, 1915 Issue

That was a very generous and at the same time sagacious...

John Oxendon

The Buffalo (N. Y.) Commercial

That was a very generous and at the same time sagacious act on the part of the ever esteemed and exemplary Commercial, to wit, its publication in so thorough a manner of Professor Hering's address on Christian Science at the Teck Theater. It was worthy of the Commercial and must have been highly appreciated by our local Christian Scientists; nor can there be any doubt of it. For my part, I was so interested in the perusal of the address that I was moved to revive a lately broken habit of attending the Wednesday evening services at the Christian Science Church on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and North Street, that really fine and notable architectural structure which reflects so much credit upon its founders and builders.

Now what is there in Christian Science which so attracts and appeals to earnest men and women of a high order of intelligence and social reputation? For there can be no question of its doing so, and of doing so most effectually and beneficially. To me, as I looked over the congregation of clean, sane, earnest, and cheerful faces, and noticed the general appearance of those present, it appeared self-evident that there must be some strange, potential, and yet subtle and most beneficent underlying principle, or spiritual magnet, which thus drew together in such consonance such numbers of serious yet cheerful and well-balanced minds and kindly hearts. . . . The men are manly and the women lovely, because so sane and human. It seems then that there must be, as I have observed, some deep underlying, animating, and dominant cardinal and potential cause. I think we must admit that it is faith combined with common sense and a devout spirit, for Christian Science would actually seem to read and spell and mean Christian knowledge. It is a practical interpretation of the Christian spirit and of Christian teachings.

And yet I, who affirm so much and frankly believe it, am not a Christian Scientist or a professed member of the Christian Science church. I simply attest my admiration and respect for those who are, and to the Christian Science church as a potential, beneficent, religious factor, and a sound, reforming, and regenerative one. As such it fills a great human void and need, and should be joyfully and gratefully recognized by all earnest and liberal Christian people. Then again, there is this much to be said in behalf of Christian Science; viz., that it not only plainly comforts and cheers all who sincerely believe in its precepts and teachings, but it also stimulates and promotes frugal habits, sane living, and sound understanding, as well as fortifies racked brains and distracted minds, and comforts and revives oppressed nerves and troubled hearts.

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