At Iola, Kan.

There was a large attendance at the Iola Opera House, Thursday evening, October 24, 1901, to hear a lecture on Christian Science by the Hon. William G. Ewing of Chicago. The audience was very attentive throughout the lecture. The speaker was introduced by Major Forest, a prominent lawyer of Iola, in the following remarks:—

Friends:—From time immemorial, covering all past known ages, among all nations, tribes, and clans—whether in the snow-capped frigid, the mild and genial temperate, or the jungles of the torrid zones of the earth, as far as discovered, from the lowest known intelligence to the highest of intellectual attainments, the great problem, "If a man die, shall he live again?" has been propounded, discussed, and answered, according to the environments and intelligence of the respective localities. We find implanted in every class of human beings a desire to worship something animate or inanimate, real and tangible, or mythical and spiritual, but always as merely typical of something beyond.

In the fulness of time, by direct inspiration from the Creator, the world received the old dispensation through the prophets of ancient times, and later, the new dispensation of the meek and lowly Nazarene, through his disciples, thus giving to the whole human family that book of books, treasure of treasures, the Holy Bible, which from Genesis to Revelation, is accepted by Christian people, the world over, as the divine as well as the revealed law of Almighty God; as the guide of our faith and the rule for its practice; and all Christian people recognize it as their duty to search the Scriptures. This is one of its admonitions; it is the duty, as well as the highest privilege of every one, to search the Scriptures diligently and honestly in order to ascertain the truth.

The members of the profession of law, of which the gentleman who will address you this evening is an honored member, are, at the very threshold of their studies, taught that "Law is a rule of action," and that the whole subject of the law is divided into four general divisions; i.e., 1st. The law of nature, which is defined by all the old and eminent law writers: Littleton, Coke, and later by Blackstone, "as a rule of action prescribed by the Creator, and discoverable by the light of reason." 2nd. The Divine or revealed law imparted by God Himself, as contained in the Holy Bible. Then follow the two other classes, that of "Municipal or Civil Law," and the "Law of Nations." The profession is further taught that no law, however formally passed and approved, can have any force or efficiency if it contravene either the law of nature or the Divine law, before defined. Hence, I say, this the common law of England being of full force and effect in Christian United States of America, except as modified by statute, and in this respect, I assure you, it never has and never will be modified, stamps this as a Christian nation, and its foundation is the Holy Bible. As a nation, it has never sought to evade, but on the contrary has stamped upon its coin, "In God we trust."

These general principles and suggestions are known, and I think recognized, by all; but secondary to these arise other questions among which I would suggest: 1st. That while we, as a Christian people, hold in reverence the Holy Bible, and believe it the result of direct inspiration from God, yet we freely accord to each individual the right, as well as believe it his duty, to study the same, and place such interpretation thereon as his honest, conscientious judgment prompts. 2nd. That as a result of these premises, we have various denominations and creeds, each taking the Holy Bible as the foundation, and placing their own construction thereon, all doubtless equally honest in their views, and certainly entitled to entertain such belief, arising as it does from an honest, conscientious search of the Scriptures. It is the duty of all Christian people to exercise the broadest charity for the views of others honestly entertained.

We are here this evening upon the invitation of one of the Christian denominations of the world, the Christian Scientists, one that takes as its foundation the Holy Bible. I have been invited by a committee of that denomination to preside at this meeting, and while I am not a Christian Scientist, and have read but little concerning their doctrine and discipline, yet being fully persuaded, and believing that they are a band of Christians, having the Holy Bible as the guide for their faith and rule for its practice, and honestly seeking for the truth, this is sufficient for me, and I have cheerfully accepted such invitation, and deem it an honor to preside at any meeting where the avowed purpose is to seek honestly for the truth.

As we have with us this evening one who is fully informed and advised as to the doctrines of Christian Scientists, one who speaks ex cathedra, one who is deeply in love with his church and its doctrines, one deeply in earnest and thoroughly honest in his convictions, one who, for the love of his church, has left a lucrative practise in his profession to further the objects of his church, and realizing that you have come to hear him, I will not further trespass upon your time or his.

Therefore, I take great pleasure in introducing to you my friend, Hon. William G. Ewing of Chicago, Ill., who will now address you.—Correspondence.

At Rochester, N. Y.

Carol Norton, C.S.D., of New York City, delivered a lecture on "The Rise and Progress of Christian Science," at the Lyceum Theatre, Rochester, N. Y., Sunday afternoon, November 17. Mr. Norton was introduced by Rev. W. C. Gannett of the Unitarian Church, who spoke in part as follows:—

It seems to me, friends, that it is a part of the higher religion of our new day to be able to recognize the essential religiousness of systems of faith and thought that are not one's own. It would be a very pitiful sort of Judaism that should say to the Christians of Rochester, "You are not fit to worship the Father in heaven with us, because you make a God of one whom we have to call our teacher, or prophet, or Rabbi." It would be an equally pitiful kind of Christianity that should say to the Jew, "Although you gave us our Psalms and our Prophets, you are not fit to worship the Father in heaven with us, because you call your teacher or prophet the one whom we call a God." It would be a very unhappy sort of Rochester, filled, as it is, with our differing kinds of churches, if each church, looking askance at its neighbor across the way, should have a feeling toward it that would be represented by the gesture, "Avaunt!"

Now here is a new candidate coming among the religions for our consideration, our interest, our sympathy. It comes with a good name that combines in itself two things that stand high in our thought,—Christianity and Science. It marries the names, and calls itself "Christian Science." It comes with certain features about it that seem strange to us of the outside. It comes with a strange philosophy, that apparently denies the existence of the ache and the pain and the gloom, and perhaps of the sin, which all seem so tragically real to most of us. It is a new faith, relatively speaking, a young faith, and so it is possibly too early to ask of it those credentials which we do ask of all the older faiths of the world: "How much do you love your fellow-men? what new form of service have you invented, or secured in a larger realization? this culture of the soul, which we recognize as real culture,—how deep down does it go into unselfish living? how much have you, in your new system, of that love of man which gives up everything for him?

Perhaps I may hope that Mr. Norton will take up some of these questions and answer them; for these, and other questions like them, we of the outside feel rising in our minds as we think of the words, "Christian Science."

But I repeat, it is a mark of higher religion of our day to be able to recognize the essential religiousness of systems of thought and faith that are not our own. And now, on the other hand, leaving aside all these criticisms or wonderings over Christian Science, here is this fact: that within a generation thousands of people brought up in the churches of the common Christianities have for the first time realized the fact of a God living in their midst—living in their own individual being, living in the society around them to which they belong. Thousands of persons baptized in the every-day churches, trained in their Sunday Schools and Bible-classes, received into church membership, have for the first time, I say, realized the fact of a living God,—thanks to this new faith; and any faith that can say that for itself, and prove it by the devotion of its adherents, is essentially religious,—one with the highest or lowest church of the outside. Of course it is one with them; for that faith in the living God, is it not the essence of all religiousness? Not only that, but this new faith says, "In virtue of this new grip on the hand of God [for it amounts to just that]—in virtue of this new grasp on the Spirit, we claim,—and we offer abounding testimony to make good our claim— that men are healed of all manner of diseases." We may, or may not, believe the whole of these claims, but there is a vast array of them gathering before our eyes and often within our own thresholds.

Now I say, shame on the church, and shame on the minister that does not esteem it a privilege to introduce an apostle of this faith in the living God, this faith by which so many of our friends are getting the hold of God's hand. Shame on the church or the minister that is not glad to stand by the side of one of its apostles and say, "God speed you in your apostleship!" and to give him welcome in the name of the people who are to listen. And therefore it is a very real pleasure that it falls to me (who, let me say, gave fair warning to the inviter that I should have to speak frankly in order to represent myself truly on this platform), it is a very real pleasure that it falls to my lot to introduce to this Rochester audience on this Sunday afternoon, Mr. Carol Norton, one of the official board of lecturers upon Christian Science; one of the official apostolate; one of the men who are going about the country in this Pauline way (Paul took a synagogue, we take a theatre) to announce to the public the principles of their new faith.

I have the pleasure to introduce Mr. Carol Norton.

Correspondence.

At Omaha, Neb.

Edward A. Kimball, C.S.D., of Chicago, delivered a lecture on Christian Science, in the Boyd Theatre, Omaha, Neb., Tuesday evening, November 12. The subject of the lecture was, "The Cause and Scientific Cure of Disease." The theatre was crowded and the large audience listened very attentively.

Mr. Kimball was introduced by Mr. C. W. Chadwick, who spoke as follows:—

Friends, Ladies, and Gentlemen:—In behalf of First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Omaha, I extend to you all a most cordial welcome.

You have been invited here this evening to listen to an official lecture upon the subject of Christian Science by a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Boston, Mass.; frequently referred to as the Mother Church of our denomination; and knowing how thoroughly practical this gentleman is in his presentation of the subject, I can assure you that your time will be profitably spent.

Your presence is indicative of a desire to know more of what Christian Science teaches, and if you have come with hearing ears, you will not go away with any sense of disappointment.

Some of you may think you are opposed to its teachings. If such be the case, let me encourage you from the outset to lay aside all prejudices and misconceptions originating from mere hearsay testimony upon the subject, and to listen reverently to the simplicity of its logic as it will be presented to you by the speaker of the evening. Christian Science is more than a theory to be grasped intellectually; it is practical Christianity, and to understand it aright is to love it and to live it; and all mankind would love it if they only understood it.

The prayer of our church is that this evening's lecture may be the means of quickening many a slumbering thought from its dream of life in matter to the contemplation of the God of Spirit, who, in the language of Scripture, "forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." May it cause us all to think and to think right.

Our first authorized public lecture given under the auspices of our church was from this platform in the spring of 1898, and by the same distinguished lecturer who will address us to-night.

It is again our happy privilege to have him with us to testify of an enlarged faith and understanding, gained from obedience, patience, and experience.

Friends, I now take great pleasure in introducing to you the speaker of the evening, Edward A. Kimball, C.S.D., of Chicago, whose theme will be, "The Cause and Scientific Cure of Disease."—Correspondence.

At New York, N. Y.

Rev. Arthur R. Vosburgh, C.S.B., delivered a lecture on "Christian Science is Scientific Christianity," in the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, New York City, Sunday afternoon, November 17. Mr. Vosburgh was introduced by Mrs. Laura Eathrop, C.S.D., First Reader of the church, who spoke as follows:—

My Friends:—No revelation, more pregnant with good to human consciousness can come to it than the possibility of demonstrating, with mathematical certainty, that God is what the Bible represents Him to be.

God has always been omnipotent, omnipresent, almighty, the all-in-all of the universe; but to be in very deed a refuge in every time of trouble, this must be capable of proof.

Christ Jesus, the world's greatest teacher, came to bring full salvation; then surely it must be possible to obey all his commands if his teachings are understood. The fact that all these commands have not been obeyed has not been from lack of desire, but from lack of understanding. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," said Jesus; but how can we know the Truth, how can we say what is the Truth, unless it be demonstrable.

This is an age of inquiry, an age of scepticism. Christianity must now be something more than sentimentality. The hungry, unsatisfied heart, reaching out for a more intimate acquaintance with its Father-Mother God, can no longer be satisfied with promises of a solution of all problems beyond the grave. The teachings of Jesus must be made applicable here and now, to every need of the human heart. It must be proved that the God of the Christian is more powerful than the god of the materialist, if we would satisfy the awakened thought of the twentieth century.

We believe that Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, in her inspired book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," teaches how to do this. Our lecturer this afternoon will make clear to us that Christian Science is indeed Scientific, therefore provable, Christianity.

I have the pleasure now of introducing to you Rev. Arthur R. Vosburgh, member of the Board of Lectureship of the Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Boston, Mass.—Correspondence.

At Denver, Col.

Edward A. Kimball, C.S.D., of Chicago, lectured at the Broadway Theatre last Sunday afternoon (November 10). The theatre was filled and many of those who desired to attend were not able to obtain admission.

The speaker was introduced by Mrs. Frances Mack Mann. She said:—

Before time was, there went forth a command from the Eternal, Infinite One, "Let there be light." It was obeyed and "there was light."

Down through the ages as the children of men have risen above earth's discords in thought, they have caught glimpses of this glory celestial, and attempted to express it in poetry, music, and art. Abraham hears its sweet strains as he sits in his tent door at eventide and listens to the angels. Jacob sees its glory at Bethel as fear is transformed into love for his brother. David feels its impulse divine and sings his pæans of praise.

History records that the primitive Christians so reflected this light that the sick were healed and the dead were raised. It was lost. But to-day there has come to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, a great light.

There has been written a book which contains the lost chord and has revealed to mankind its Principle.

He who is attuned has caught its pure rhythm, and commences to step to its stately measure of "Peace on earth, good will to man." "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one." We have had given to us heralds of righteousness, messengers of this coming light. We have one with us to-day in the person of Edward A. Kimball of Chicago, a member of the Board of Lectureship of the Mother Church, who will now address you.

The Denver Post.

At Barre, Vt.

A fair-sized audience gathered at the Opera House last evening (Thursday, November 14), to listen to the lecture by Rev. William P. McKenzie, C.S.B., of Cambridge, Mass. The lecturer was introduced by F. A. Walker, president of the local Christian Science Church, in the following words:

Friends:—The lecture this evening is given under the auspices of First Church of Christ, Scientist, of this city, and on behalf of the church I bid you a hearty welcome.

The lecturer is a member of the Board of Lectureship, established by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., for the purpose of correcting wrong ideas of Christian Science held by the general public. People oppose their own misconceptions of Christian Science and not what Christian Science really is; for through the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures as given by Christian Science, the sick are healed and the sinful reformed and regenerated.

It gives me pleasure to introduce to you Rev. William P. McKenzie, C.S.B., of Cambridge, Mass., who will lecture on "Christian Science, the Gospel of Love."

The thoughtful attention given by the audience indicated the interest taken in the subject.

The Barre Daily Times.