Electrical transcription No. 3: Interview with Reverend Irving C. Tomlinson

The remarkable results in the healing of sickness and suffering through Christian Science are becoming more widely known each day. With the earnest desire to make you better acquainted with this healing ministry you are now invited to listen to an autobiographical sketch which has been approved by The Christian Science Board of Directors of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Occasionally there may be found among members of the Christian Science faith one who was formerly a clergyman and whose history is interesting. Reverend Irving C. Tomlinson of Boston, now a Christian Scientist of long experience and a member of The Christian Science Board of Lectureship, was recently asked to give a brief statement of how he came to be a Christian Scientist. Mr. Tomlinson said:

The question is often asked me, What led you, a Christian and clergyman, to give up your former church affiliation and take up Christian Science? The answer is, in brief, that I was first led to investigate the subject of Christian Science because of its extraordinary results.

I had been a clergyman for ten years; my father was a clergyman before me. I had been very happy in my work. In my last pastorate I had been instrumental in sending an inebriate to a so-called cure. One of the parishioners said one day, “If you had done nothing more in the five years of your pastorate than to help that man to sobriety, that work alone would have justified your labors.”

Something I read in my Bible that night set me to pondering. It was the 17th and 18th verses of the 16th chapter of Mark, which read: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Here was a teaching and a command of Jesus! I was impelled to look into this subject and my investigation awakened me to the good works of Christian Science.

Incidentally, while talking with the wife of our old family physician, I found her interested in Christian Science. She had been an invalid and was healed not by medicine, but by Christian Science. While I was engaged in the discussion of Christian Science with this physician's wife, a young woman came into the room,—a former acquaintance of mine. My only remembrance of her was that she never was interested in anything serious or worth while. Conversation with her showed her now to be a serious, earnest, devoted student of Christian Science, of the Bible,—and deeply concerned in helping others. This change in the mentality and character of these two old friends made its impression. Looking further into the subject of Christian Science, I was taken to the home of a man who had been a chronic invalid confined in his home for eleven years, so crippled that he could get from chair to chair only with the greatest difficulty. His family were Christian Scientists, but he had refused to have anything to do with this teaching. At last, in sheer desperation, he asked his daughter for Christian Science help. After the first treatment he began to improve in a marked degree. He finally got his complete healing, re-entered business and became the supporter of his family instead of a drag upon it. The transformation in this man's physical condition was so pronounced that it gave me a deeper interest in Christian Science.

A brother clergyman, who also was investigating the subject of Christian Science, told me that he had been afflicted for many years with a serious trouble, and that the reading of the textbook of Christian Science, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, resulted in his improvement. He had said, “If it heals me, I shall become a Christian Scientist.” Later on he told me that for a time he had given up the reading of the textbook and that his progress in healing stopped; but he afterwards resumed the study, was completely healed, and carried out his intention to become a follower of Christian Science.

For many years I had been a student of the Bible, earnest in striving to interest others. I learned that Christian Scientists are also students of the Bible; that not only do they read it regularly, but they accept it as a textbook on healing. It makes them long to be better men and women, and gives them a sense of dominion along all lines, so that despair vanishes, gloom takes its flight, and radiant expectancy becomes their attitude toward life. If they are troubled with sickness, they look forward to health; if a friend meets with misfortune, they know that Truth will bring victory; if times look dark, they expect them to improve. Another thing I noticed is their confidence in good, in God. They not only believe there is a God, but they know it; they not only expect to be better, but they know how to be better. Their reading, their studies, their companionships, their ideals, improve. They are not satisfied with the discordant, and they know that their heritage is freedom, joy, and peace. Thus they expect blessings, and their hope has its reward.

You might ask by what means they are bettered. It is well known to what extent fear seems to be a part of men’s lives. If the day is pleasant, they fear there will be depression; in fact, much of life seems to be centered around fear. My observation proved that Christian Scientists are largely freed from fear; and with fear absent, worries vanish. Fear and anxiety flee before confidence and hope.

For example, clergymen are much concerned with people’s doubts: they doubt the sincerity and honesty of their neighbors. Doubt, doubt, doubt, seems to be the atmosphere in which they dwell. In Christian Science doubts take flight, trust abides, and Truth understood puts to rout all doubt.

Investigation also showed that Christian Scientists are largely freed from the demon of hatred. Understanding that God is Love and that man is the child of Love, hatred loses its claim to power; and peace and brotherhood reign. Careful study showed that Jesus’ words, “Ye shall know them by their fruits,” as recorded in the seventh chapter of Matthew, are fulfilled in Christian Science.

In the course of my investigation I attended a service in the original Mother Church of Christian Science in Boston and found myself seated with a former member of my old denomination. At the conclusion of the service my comment to him was that it was a very good congregation but that this kind of service would never hold for any length of time the large number present. His reply was that they had begun holding services with an attendance of 800, which steadily increased to 1200. And, by the way, its present Sunday morning congregation in the large extension of the original Church is about 3500, and there are more than 2600 branch churches throughout the civilized world. It is obvious that the church services that have largely brought this growth about are different from the old order with which I was familiar. This service, instead of being a sermon preached by one of magnetic personality, consists of readings from the Bible and from the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy. Instead of one preacher there are two Readers, usually a man and a woman. I noticed the interesting fact that every member seemed to be provided with a lesson help which included the references from the Bible and from Science and Health that constituted the Sunday service, and I learned that during the week preceding the members had studied the Lesson-Sermon for that Sunday. They told me that the more they study during the week, the more they get out of the lesson on Sunday. They informed me that at these services they find inspiration and joy in church attendance, and as a result they seldom miss a Sunday service or a Wednesday evening meeting.

I learned that the Wednesday evening meetings, after short introductory readings from the Bible and Science and Health, by the First Reader, are given over to testimonies of healing and expressions of gratitude from those present. I attended these meetings and found that many kinds of diseases had been healed; that the people were interested not only in healing the sick, but in healing the sinner. These meetings showed me that this religion is practical. It is not only helpful in sickness but is of aid in daily activities. The business man, the farmer, the housewife, all make use of it to their great advantage. From every service members leave inspired and uplifted, and with a greater sense of peace for themselves and love for their neighbors.

You may wish to ask me, Do you feel as enthusiastic now about Christian Science as in the beginning? and if so, why? The answer is that continued acquaintance with Christian Science has only given me a firmer conviction of its mission and a stronger appreciation of its good works. All the new things I now know about it have only increased my regard for the movement and for its great Founder, Mrs. Eddy.

I have learned that Mrs. Eddy established the organization on a spiritual foundation, which lessens discord and increases unity. The entire movement is governed by the Church Manual, written by Mrs. Eddy. The Manual provides for lectures, literature, Committees on Publication, and other activities, as well as the central Board of Directors. The membership gives loyal adherence to The Mother Church and the Church Manual, and the growth of the movement is in proportion to the members' understanding and practice of the religion founded by Mrs. Eddy.

Along with the other outstanding activities which Mrs. Eddy inaugurated must be noted the establishment of a great international daily newspaper, which she called The Christian Science Monitor. In the opening years of the twentieth century, there was a great call for a good, clean, daily newspaper. Mrs. Eddy's answer to this call was The Christian Science Monitor. While it has had many problems to meet, it has been on the whole a success from the beginning. Its subscribers encircle the globe, and it is recognized as one of the leading newspapers of the world. In addition to this daily paper the movement has quarterly, monthly, and weekly publications, each of which has a large subscription list.

As one of the most gracious blessings of my life I count the privilege of an intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Eddy for twelve years, during which I enjoyed the rare opportunity of serving her. I was a member of her household and one of her secretaries for the last three years of her labors among us. I found, as a result of this intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Eddy, that she was wise beyond any other Christian Scientist, and why she had the complete confidence and love of all Christian Scientists. It is not surprising then that Christian Scientists are loyal to their church and obedient to Mrs. Eddy's teachings.

Perhaps you ask how you can investigate this subject. Nearly every city has its free Christian Science Reading Room. Everyone is welcome at these Reading Rooms, where he may read Mrs. Eddy's textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” which gives a complete exposition of her teachings. The Sunday services and the Wednesday evening meetings are open to all; lectures are without admission fee. There is no subject which can be more easily investigated than that of Christian Science.

You have been listening to a talk on Christian Science, authorized by The Christian Science Board of Directors of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

If you desire further information on this subject, you may write to The Christian Science Board of Directors, at Boston, or you may write to the station to which you are now listening. This program has come to you through the facilities of the World Broadcasting System.