The Lectures

Kalamazoo, Mich.

The Rev. George Patterson of the People's Church, in introducing Col. William E. Fell, who lectured on Christian Science, said in part:—

Slowly we are coming to see that every religion is a divine response to human need, and every faith is somebody's way to God. I have a respect that is closely allied to reverence for any individual or group of individuals dedicated to an unfaltering belief in the inherent goodness and gladness and perfection of life. I think life is better and richer and finer because Christian Science is here, and this to me is the test of religion.—

Chicago, Ill.

The lecture on Christian Science given by Jacob S. Shield at Valentine's Hall, under the auspices of Thirteenth Church of Christ, Scientist, drew forth a large and very attentive audience. Willard Moffatt, who introduced the speaker, said in part:—

The members of our church know that they have found in Christian Science the truth about God and man, and about those phenomena called human life and the material universe. Christian Science makes no claim to be anything other than the pure and complete religion taught, lived, and demonstrated by Christ Jesus. In common with other Christian denominations, we look upon the Bible as the record of revealed truth. We have no substitute for the Bible. The textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, is a lucid and comprehensible commentary on the Bible, and it casts so clear a light upon Holy Writ as to make practical for daily living the rules and precepts of Christianity. Having thus found the demonstrable remedy for the inharmony, sin, and disease of human life, we desire that all may share its blessings.

Leavenworth, Kan.

At the Lyceum Theater Bliss Knapp spoke on Christian Science. He was introduced by Lieut. P. H. Clark of Fort Leavenworth, who said in part:—

Enterprises of all kinds are judged by their results. Manufacturing processes, invention, laws, methods of business, indeed every activity, every department of life, is appraised and valued in accordance with the results it produces. And here it may be pointed out that no department of activity invites more searching inquiry and examination than does Christian Science. The amazing growth that has spread this movement around the earth is due to the superb fact that Christian Science fulfils its promises. It is remarkable that with sincerity and persistence any one can gain a working understanding of Christian Science; and in the degree that it is understood, in that same degree is it available for daily use in the solution of the problems of life.

Greenwich, Conn.

William R. Rathvon, who lectured on Christian Science, was introduced by the Rev. Charles Taylor of the Second Congregational Church, who said in part:—

Christian Science has restored some of the principal doctrines of Christianity which have been neglected by the Christian churches, and it has brought into Christian consciousness the emphasis which Jesus himself put upon one side of his gospel. It has also given to us a world of theology in its perception of God, and made Him really a Father, Spirit, the healer of human ills.

Christian Science has brought to Christendom a very great message, essentially the message of Christ Jesus, the Founder of Christianity. It has made hundreds of thousands of Christian people all over the world study the Scriptures, not only with interest and understanding, but with the purpose of making practical application of them in every-day life. The Christian Scientist evidently feels that he cannot get the blessing that Christian Science holds for him unless he studies the Scriptures, for in them he believes he has eternal life.

Three things I covet for the Christian churches generally,—the consciousness of the presence and goodness of God as a Father, as a Friend, and the almighty power of God toward all that come to Him. Those who study His Word know that therein is the secret of the fountain of life. I hope these three great gifts may become more general among Christians everywhere.—

Bloomington, Ill.

A large audience heard George Shaw Cook speak on Christian Science at the edifice of First Church of Christ, Scientist. The introduction was made by F. G. Morgan, first reader, who said in part:—

There are many of us here this evening who would not be present were it not for the fact that Christian Science, in its practical application, has healed us of so-called incurable disease, as well as of chronic sin. At the same time it has taught us more love for God and man, and caused us to become earnest students of the Bible, which, together with the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, is our daily companion.

Boulder Creek, Cal.

A lecture on Christian Science was delivered by Dr. Francis J. Fluno at Odd Fellows' Hall to a good-sized and very interested audience. Judge Isaiah Hartman introduced the speaker, saying in part:—

Christian Science is demonstrating Truth daily, hourly. The great world of suffering humanity is longing for freedom, reaching out for a practical religion that will free them from burdens which seem greater than they can bear. Many thousands are daily testifying to wonderful healings and other benefits which they have received through Christian Science. Health, happiness, and long life are conditions much to be desired and sought after, and the three are usually found together.—

East Aurora, N. Y.

In introducing Prof. Hermann S. Hering, who lectured on Christian Science in the Millard Fillmore Theater, the Hon. James W. Persons, referee in bankruptcy, said:—

I believe I am perfectly safe in the statement that there never has been a time when men were giving such serious and earnest consideration to religion as they are today. Men everywhere are seeking to find a religion by which they may live and which will help them in their daily lives. Our friends the Christian Scientists say they have found that religion. I speak as one who is not a Christian Scientist, but I am sure that all of us have had occasion to observe that peace and power in the lives of Christian Scientists which we desire. This gives us a great interest in this religion and makes us especially anxious to hear more of it.—

Anderson, Ind.

A lecture on Christian Science was delivered by Clarence W. Chadwick at the Grand Opera House. He was introduced by Stephen Metcalf, who said in part:—

The search for health is the universal quest of mortal man. To attain health, to regain it when lost or impaired, to maintain it, to live in the constant enjoyment of its manifold blessings, are considered the most satisfying of individual achievements; yet disease in multitudious forms is seen on every hand. Sickness, pain, contagion, pestilence, hopelessness, and incurability seem to be the common lot of mortals. If the every-day experience of the majority of mankind in the matter of health is to be taken as the true status, then disease, with all its attendant conditions of wretchedness, misery, and despair, is the inevitable fate of humanity.

Happily, however, this is not the God-decreed fate of the human race. Long ago a Bible character found a perfect rule for health and longevity, which, had it been put to general use all down the ages, would have banished sickness and enabled men to fill out the full measure of their years without the abatement of physical strength or the loss of mental vigor. This good man was Caleb, of whom we read in the book of Joshua. At the age of forty years he was chosen by Moses for the responsible position of advance-guard of the children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness, and he preceded the wearied hosts into the land of Canaan and espied out the land for them.

And now hear Caleb's proclamation made forty-five years after he was chosen by Moses for his difficult and arduous task: "And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, . . . and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me." All this good fortune came to him, Caleb declared, because he "wholly followed" the Lord his God. The rules and regulations of the sanitarians, the hygienists, and the medicine men all through the centuries cannot compare with this simple rule of health and long life as given to the world for its guidance by this valiant and God-fearing man of the olden time.

It is peculiarly the province of Christian Science to illustrate Caleb's rule of health and longevity. It seeks to have every member of the human race in perfect accord with the law of God, good, and thereby to free the human consciousness of fear and hate, and anger and selfishness, and all discordant states of mind and body, and thus to establish the at-one-ment of man with his creator.

In conclusion, I shall briefly outline my own growth out of materialistic beliefs: From Paine to Jesus Christ; from Colonel Ingersoll to Mrs. Eddy; from the "Age of Reason" to the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures;" from "Volney's Ruins" to the Bible; from "The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors" to the meek and lowly Nazarene, the one and only true Saviour of men; from agnosticism to a saving realization that there is one God who is All-in-all; from sore bodily afflictions that had rendered life a constant misery and burden for many years to restored health and usefulness; from the midnight of doubt and hopeless speculation into the morning dawn of spiritual illumination; from a world of chance, guesswork, and negation into the sunlight of the spiritual universe, where doubt has been dispelled, fear has been eliminated, and man is no longer the foot-ball of merciless conditions over which he has no control; and where hope, joy, gladness, Life, Truth, and Love make existence on this plane of thought a daily welcome because of its beauty, happiness, and wholeness.