The Lectures

with contributions from H. Cornell Wilson, Irving B. Dexter, E. B. Hager

Boston, Mass.

Prof. Hermann S. Hering delivered a lecture on "The Science of Christian Healing," under the auspices of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in the Church Edifice, Falmouth, Norway, and St. Paul Streets. He was introduced by H. Cornell Wilson, first reader, who said:—

You have been invited to listen this evening to a lecture on Christian Science. Lectures on this subject are given by members of the Christian Science board of lectureship of The Mother Church, and constitute one of the means Mrs. Eddy adopted for bringing a correct statement of Christian Science to public attention.

There are other ways, also established by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, which make it easily possible for the investigator to gain a correct understanding of this teaching. These ways are found in the church services on Sunday and the Wednesday evening testimony meetings; the free public reading-rooms, maintained in communities where there are Christian Science organizations; and the publications of The Christian Science Publishing Society, chief among which are five periodicals, including a daily newspaper,—The Christian Science Monitor. With the lectures, these various means provide opportunities whereby misconceptions of Christian Science, which may prevail in the public thought, can be corrected.—The Christian Science-Monitor.

Manila, Philippine Islands

Virgil O. Strickler lectured on Christian Science in the gymnasium of the Y. M. C. A. He was introduced by Irving B. Dexter, who said:—

The desire to find the kingdom of heaven has been inherent in mankind throughout all ages. As the world advances in civilization this desire becomes more intense. Generally speaking, man has throughout all time bravely struggled with the ills that beset mortals on this plane, hoping to find the kingdom of heaven somewhere beyond the grave. Tonight we shall listen to a lecture on Christian Science, a religion which declares the kingdom of heaven to be a present possibility.

Thousands of men and women from all parts of the civilized world are daily expressing their gratitude for deliverance from sin, sickness, want, and various other ills of suffering humanity, through the practice of its doctrine, and are bearing testimony to the efficacy of its teachings in the achievement of happier, better, and higher lives. This, together with its phenomenal growth during the last fifty years, has made it the center not only of universal interest but also of much unjust criticism by those who do not understand its tenets.—Correspondence.

Ashland, Ky.

The lecture on Christian Science given by Jacob S. Shield at First Church of Christ, Scientist, was largely attended. The lecturer was introduced by the Hon. E. B. Hager, who spoke in part as follows:—

Those of this audience who belong to the Christian Science church, as perhaps those who do not, know that I myself am not a Christian Scientist. My knowledge of its influence and beneficence is purely local, and my information concerning its teachings is distressingly limited. Yet never having been dominated by prejudice against it or blinded to the good that the Christian Science church has accomplished in our midst, I have not failed to observe that its influence has been for the best in ameliorating suffering and in ministering not only to the spiritual but also to the physical well-being of its votaries.

The progress and growth of Christian Science has been marvelous. Whether it is because other churches are losing their influence upon the people, or whether it is because the Christian Science church has healed the spiritual wounds that the other churches could not reach, is unimportant to consider. The fact remains that Christian Science is growing at a rapid rate and extending its beneficent influence over every part of our globe. It is not a faith of the ignorant and unthinking, but is the faith of intelligent, refined, and prosperous people, from whose countenances constantly radiates the happiness they enjoy in their faith and the physical and spiritual health it produces in them.

The purpose of the Christian Science church, as I understand it, is to relieve the suffering and the sorrowing, to redeem them from their sins and heal them of their diseases. That seems to have been the mission of Christ Jesus on earth; and if this new faith in carrying out its purposes even approaches the great good accomplished by him upon whose faith and teachings it has been established, it will have rendered mankind an inestimable service and will have established itself firmly in the hearts of the people. Is the faith accomplishing its purpose? I am not fully informed; but every day we read and every day we hear of some wonderful healing of the sick which has been accomplished by the Christian Science faith, and some wonderful regeneration of the sinful that it has brought about.

Teachings that can accomplish these results are certainly entitled to consideration, and to the respect of thinking men and women, whether or not they adopt them for their own.

Ashland Independent.

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