THE LECTURES

with contributions from George L. Putnam, J. W. Sparks

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.

Francis J. Fluno, M.D., lectured July 22 to a large audience in the Christian Science Hall. Dr. Fluno was introduced by George L. Putnam, Second Reader of the local church, who said,—

I feel that nothing could so thoroughly epitomize the spirit of our times or illustrate its breadth of mind better than this assemblage, for doubtless many of you know but little of Christian Science and are not favorably impressed with what you believe it to be; nevertheless you have come in a calm and judicial frame of mind to listen to a correct statement of this great Science that is now agitating the thinking world as it has not been agitated for nearly two thousand years.

The Jews of old gathered each week for centuries to read in the Scriptures of the healing and saving power of Jehovah, and how He had helped and healed His children through the consecrated ones of every age, but when Jesus the Christ walked in their midst proving the truth of these very Scriptures (not by argument nor by human reason, but by living witnesses), and proving it so conclusively that even the multitudes were compelled to see and believe that God was in fact the "Great Physician," the Father "who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases" (mental, moral, physical), still the Pharisees of his time were not convinced, but met it all with the scoffing remark, "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."

I thank God that the time is fast passing when we are willing to accept such a disposition of this great question of the practical healing power of God—a power manifest in some degree wherever this life-giving stream of divine Love could find a channel, from the earliest ages until the present day; it was manifest through Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Elisha, and the prophets sang of its glory. This healing power revealed itself as the clear "river of the water of life" through our Saviour, healing and cleansing all who came in touch with it, and it flowed on through the early Christians for nearly three hundred years after the Master's ascension, until the love of gold and pomp and power choked the channel and the river ceased to flow, and the darkness which was to last over fifteen hundred years set in.

Some forty years ago a loving American woman rediscovered this healing truth and called it Christian Science, and that the race is eager to understand somewhat of the Principle underlying this healing power is manifest here to-night.—Correspondence.

CENTRAL CITY, NEB.

The Hon. J. W. Sparks in a letter to the Christian Science Sentinel says,—

On the evening of June 25th I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Bickness Young deliver a very scholarly address on the subject of Christian Science. I also had the honor of presiding and introducing the speaker. While I am not a member of the organization yet I must confess that the argument of Mr. Young was very convincing, and seemed to me faultless. It is now my conviction that a better understading of the teachings and application of Christian Science on the part of the general public would evoke less criticism. Personally, I have felt greater interest in the subject since I read the life of Mrs. Eddy and the account it contains of her early sufferings and her most remarkable cure. The organization at this place while small is composed of a band of most faithful workers, among whom are some of our most worthy and influential citizens. But the audience who had the rare treat of listening to this lecture was quite large and very appreciative. I am very thankful to the organization of this place for their kind invitation to preside at the meeting; for indeed it was a lecture which it was worth one's while to hear.

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