Article September 23, 1916 Issue

The Lectures

with contributions from DeWitt McMurray, William A. Wheatley, Melvin S. Nash, Dyer B. Lake

George Shaw Cook delivered a lecture on Christian Science at the Dallas Opera House. He was introduced by DeWitt McMurray, first reader, who said:—

All down the ages every thoughtful man has asked himself with greater or less frequency questions like these: Whence did I come? Why am I here? Whither shall I go? And like Job, he has propounded the age-old inquiry, "If a man die, shall he live again?" In his desire to know more of God and the truth of His being, man has endeavored to take the advice which Eliphaz gave to Job, "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace;" and so he exclaims in his earnest longing, "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" But unless man seeks God aright, his efforts are fruitless, and so in his disappointment he asks with Zophar, "Canst thou by searching find out God?"

Unless God is sought for spiritually He cannot be found. If He is sought for in the material universe, the search is in vain. Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth;" and the apostle James exhorts, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." Those who worship God in this way, and who seek Him thus, realize with Paul that it is "in him we live, and move, and have our being." It is they who are able to answer the all-important question asked of the Master by Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea,— "What is truth?" It is they who have the understanding of the sweet assurance given by him who taught the truth to the poor and lowly on the hillsides of Judaea and along the Galilean shore; who spake as never man spake, whose voice was as soft as music, whose manner was as gentle as mercy, whose deeds were deeds of love, when he said to the Jews who believed, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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