Article December 25, 1915 Issue

The Christian Science Lesson-Sermons, to which a correspondent...

S. T. Downs—Indianapolis, Ind.

The Star

The Christian Science Lesson-Sermons, to which a correspondent has referred in uncomplimentary terms, are compiled by a committee selected especially for the purpose, and embrace twenty-six different subjects. These Lesson-Sermons are published in The Christian Science Quarterly, and consist of a golden text, the responsive reading, and six sections of correlative passages from the Bible and the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, and it is quite evident that the critic's opinion is decidedly at variance with the opinions of the "swarming crowds" to which he refers.

Every one knows that the Bible requires consecrated thought and contemplation, and it is therefore reasonable to suppose that a text-book explaining the Bible, as does the Christian Science text-book, should require study and a reasonable effort to put its teachings into practice before its real significance can be grasped. A very large majority of those present at the Christian Science Sunday services have given diligent thought and study to the Lesson-Sermon during the week preceding, and the citations often from the foundation for much research. It is not unusual, as a matter of fact, to find individual Christian Scientists who put quite as much study and work on the Lesson-Sermons as many ministers give to their Sunday morning discourses. It is not strange, therefore, that one who attends a Christian Science service for the purpose of getting material for criticism, or out of idle curiosity, should fail to get the full significance of the Lesson-Sermon.

The critic voices the erroneous notion that those who attend Christian Science services are seeking physical healing only, because a very large majority of those who turn to Christian Science do so for relief from some form of suffering after all other means have failed to give the help desired. There is a sentiment shown in nearly every testimony of Christian Science healing, however, that while much gratitude is felt for deliverance from suffering, it is the spiritual uplift and moral regeneration accompanying Christian Science study and ministration which call forth the most gratitude. It is found, then, that the major portion of those in attendance at Christian Science services have learned in a very practical way the value of the Master's injunction, given first place in Christian Science teaching and practice, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," and they yield cheerful obedience to it.

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