The Lectures

The Christian Science Monitor

Boston, U.S.A. (The Mother Church).—Frank Bell, lecturer; introduced by Bicknell Young, who said in part:—

I deem it a special privilege, in behalf of the officers and vast membership of this church, to welcome this audience assembled to hear a lecture upon Christian Science. There was never a time when the world so generally recognized the futility of human theories and the consequent necessity of divine facts. While this is the most interesting era in human history, it is also the most anxious. Happenings which formerly required years or centuries now appear, pass, and are forgotten in as many days. History is no longer chronological, but purely eventual. It would almost seem that we are entering upon that experience described in terms of unapproachable eloquence in the book of Revelation, ending with the words, "There should be time no longer."

In a passage equally striking, Mrs. Eddy, in her book, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 125), indicates that the fuller demonstration of Christian Science would reveal an all-inclusive consciousness as the primal fact of creation; and in concluding this passage she adds, "The astronomer will no longer look up to the stars,—he will look out from them upon the universe; and the florist will find his flower before its seed."

Mankind are all the time thinking of something, and Christian Science, revealing the fact that all is Mind, requires that we consider the nature of our thinking, and its possible effects upon ourselves and the race. We have passed through the greatest war of all time, and it is generally supposed that we have entered upon an era of peace, yet the whole realm of human thought is in a state of anxious tension regarding the future. Even the most casual observer is forced to acknowledge that the problems of what is called peace are scarcely less than those of war. It may be that humanity needs to consider and understand the words of the prophet Jeremiah: "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."

One cannot look at a newspaper or periodical without being reminded of the forthcoming Peace Conference, fraught as it is with tremendous possibilities for good or evil. All kinds of suggestions in relation to it are rife, and if they were to be verified in experience in that great body it would be anything but a Peace Conference. The fact is that those who understand through Christian Science the real signs of the times, know beyond peradventure that we are passing through Armageddon, and that we have only left one phase of it behind us. For this reason they see that there is need for them in this hour to heed more conscientiously than ever the admonition of Jesus, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Through four years of experience that tried the characters of men and nations to the utmost, we have had occasion to observe the ceaseless endeavors of mental suggestion to override the rights and liberties of mankind. There is no reason to suppose that these endeavors have ceased with the coming of what is called peace. Indeed, the very word peace often produces that mental apathy which gives a fair field for evil suggestions. If the conflict between Truth and error is to be more or less epitomized at the Peace Conference, then it is more than likely that at those deliberations suggestions will strive to darken counsel, destroy confidence, and annul the measure of victory already attained. The book of Job says, "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them." This has always been the human experience, both individual and collective, whenever Truth was asserting itself in human consciousness. After describing in striking rhetorical figures the supreme efforts of mental suggestion, Jesus said to his disciples, as recorded in Luke, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for you redemption draweth nigh."

It is the peculiar duty of those who understand Christian Science to stand guard prayerfully over the welfare of the world. In view of the gravity of the times it is particularly appropriate and helpful to assemble here to-night to listen to a lecture upon Christian Science, which gives us the demonstrable understanding of the omnipotence of good.

The Christian Science Monitor.

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