OAKLAND, CAL.

William R. Rathvon delivered two lectures on Christian Science under the auspices of First Church of Christ, Scientist. At the first, Macdonough theater was crowded to the doors, a large number being seated on the stage. There were more than two thousand people present, who gave close attention to the lecture. In introducing the speaker, ex-Mayor John L. Davies said in part,—

It makes but little difference to the followers of Mrs. Eddy what the general public believes about the teachings of this most remarkable woman of this century. We must admit that the cause of humanity has been greatly strengthened by the reforms that have come to the homes of hundreds of thousands of men and women who have been healed of sin, disease, poverty, fear, and intemperance through her teachings. I might ask the Christian Scientists who are present this evening what it was that induced them to investigate Christian Science, and I venture to say that two thirds of them would answer, "We were healed mentally and physically."

Any one who has carefully read the life and works of this pure-minded woman cannot but sympathize with her in the desperate struggle and opposition she had to contend with, endeavoring to establish a religion which would follow in the footsteps of the divine Master and Teacher of men, who said on many occasions, "By their fruits ye shall know them;" also, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." She lived to see this truth established in every part of the civilized world; she lived to see the board of lectureship established, which sent the speaker of the evening to the far West to show us the way; she lived to establish the cleanest daily newspaper the world has ever seen. The Christian Science Monitor of Boston is an inspiration to all who read it. No sensations, no scandals, can ever be found in this great newspaper left by her to her followers.

The second lecture was delivered in the church edifice at Franklin and 17th streets, and every available seat in the church was occupied, while many stood during the lecture. Elmer McBurney, former president of First Church, in introducing Mr. Rathvon, said in part,—

In this age Christian Science is teaching men that their liberty, their freedom from sin, sickness, and death, depends on their willingness to know the truth about God. We are here tonight to find a better acquaintance with God than we have ever known, a better understanding of the healing interpretation of His word.—Correspondence.

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

A lecture on Christian Science by Bliss Knapp was given at the Hippodrome. The introductory remarks of Wayne C. Jones, first reader of First Church of Christ, Scientist, under whose auspices the lecture was held, were as follows:—

To the shepherds of old on the Judean hills the angel message, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," proclaimed the coming of the Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth, whose mission was to free mankind from the bondage of sickness, sin, and death. Jesus' life-work revealed man's unity with God; he taught sublime truths, and his understanding of divine law enabled him to heal the sick, cast out evil, and raise the dead, and to his followers he said, "These signs shall follow them that believe." Today, through the gospel of Christian Science, we witness the second coming of Christ, Truth, with its ministry of love lifting human consciousness out of the beliefs of sickness and sin, fear and superstition, confirming the words of the Master when he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." The teachings of Christian Science are in accordance with spiritual law, giving us a practical scientific knowledge of God which enables us to do the works that Christ Jesus said we should do through his name. The experience of thousands all over the world testifies to the healing efficacy of Christian Science, proving that the word of God is no less able to heal today than it was centuries ago.—Correspondence.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR.

Judge Clifford P. Smith delivered a lecture on Christian Science in Sarah Caswell Angell hall. The lecturer was introduced by Leonard J. Gringhuis, president of the Christian Science society of the University of Michigan, who said:—

Thousands of people in all parts of the world are giving thanks to God for Christian Science; for through it they have been healed from all ills, as well as from sin and sickness. They have found Christian Science to be a demonstrable religion, a practical religion, one that they can use every day of the week and every minute of the day. Christian Science teaches that God is infinite, that He fills all space, that He is not afar off, but is always present; and because God is always present, Christian Scientists have found Him an ever-present help.—Correspondence.

FRANKLIN, MASS.

In the presence of a large audience in Odd Fellows' hall, Frank S. Leonard gave a most interesting lecture on Christian Science. He was presented to the audience by Will S. Johnson, who said in part,—

We are all seekers after the truth, the truth that Jesus taught, and which he said would make men free. Christian Scientists believe that a revelation of this truth has come to this day and generation, and if we may judge of their faith by their works, both spiritual and physical, then indeed truth has come anew to mankind. All fair-minded and well-informed individuals admit that Mrs. Eddy has formulated and established a wonderful system of metaphysical healing; also that there is a growing and impelling desire among a multitude of people for further knowledge regarding the basic principles and power of Christian Science.

Woonsocket (R. I.) Call.

NEW YORK, N. Y.

Rev. William P. McKenzie, lecturing in Fifth Church on Christian Science, was introduced by H. Cornell Wilson, who said in part,—

It may prove of interest to you to know that in the course of my experience in Christian Science I, like a number of others, was asked by Mrs. Eddy to assist in her home in relieving her of numerous and pressing details which were crowding upon her time and attention as the great movement of which she was the Discoverer and Founder continued to grow and spread throughout the world. It was therefore the privilege of those who were called to serve the cause by helping Mrs. Eddy in this minor way to witness her reliance upon God, as she brought her spiritual and scientific understanding of Christianity to bear upon the problems daily confronting her.

One might spend much time telling of the sweetness, the tenderness, and motherliness of this dear woman. Much time might be devoted to relating facts concerning her wonderful grasp on the world's problems and her ability to deal with them wisely and lovingly. Still more time could be consumed in picturing the majesty of one who, under the government of God, was leading this world-wide movement of Christian Science. But it is not concerning these that I wish to tell. I would like to mention a particular daily incident which greatly impressed me. It was this: Mrs. Eddy began her day by summoning about her the members of her household, and in a manifest spirit of meekness, prayer, and confidence, she turned to the Word of God for the day's directing. Taking the Bible in her hands, she would open it seemingly at random, after a silent prayer to God for spiritual light and understanding, and there in the light of spiritual intelligence get divine direction, counsel, courage, strength, and assurance, the like of which I had never before even dreamed. Her help, it was plain, was all from God.—Correspondence.

BRIXTON, ENGLAND.

A crowded and influential meeting in connection with the Brixton Christian Science Society was held at Raleigh hall, Saltoun road, to hear an address from Bicknell Young. This was the first public lecture arranged by the local society, and it proved most successful. Mr. H. Benner, in opening the proceedings, said in part, that Mr. Young really needed no introduction, but he should like to be permitted to say that he believed firmly that the teachings of Christian Science were the truth, that truth which liberated humanity from the slavery of sin and from all the evils which followed, without any exception whatever; that it was the teaching of Jesus Christ and his apostles which his followers were commanded to carry out. Jesus and his apostles proclaimed and practised the truth, which Christian Science called upon every one in this age to do. History taught them that humanity had generally failed to recognize its benefactors. As they looked back over the past, they remembered that those great reformers who had appeared in the world had been frequently opposed, in fact, persecuted, and their teachings misunderstood. He need only refer them to the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, to the story of the gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the history of the Protestant Reformation. That misunderstanding and opposition had been due altogether to misapprehension of the teachings and ignorance of the aims of the reformers. Christian Science Irad not escaped that ordeal. The Discoverer of Christian Science and its teachings had been subjected to opposition and misunderstandings, as the result of ignorance. Mrs. Eddy wisely formed a board of lecturers, whose business it was to give a clear exposition of the teachings of Christian Science, so that misapprehensions might be removed, and opposition born of ignorance disarmed.

Clapham Observer.

DES MOINES, IOWA.

A large and attentive audience filled the Berchel theater on the occasion of the semiannual lecture given under the auspices of the local Christian Science church. Mr. I. M. Earle presided, and in introducing the lecturer, Clarence C. Eaton, said in part,—

Nothing in the history of mankind is more interesting than the story of religion. In the crumbling ruins of the earlier civilizations we find the broken temples of dimly remembered or forgotten gods. From his own experience of happiness or harm to him, the primitive man naturally deduced the existence of rival powers of good and evil, or of a supreme power both good and evil, and religion was naturally a form of worship or sacrifice to propitiate such powers or power, and thus avert calamity, present or future. Differences of belief in the identity, number, or form of such powers, and the proper manner of worship, arose and grew into creeds and dogmas, but the belief in the rival forces of good and evil underlay them all, and each successive growth of creed and dogma only served to fetter the thoughts of bolder minds and stifle the doubts born of wider knowledge.

No one doubts that according to their light and training there were many conscientious men, in the days of the great Master, among those who criticized his associations, deplored his alleged desecration of the Sabbath, and crucified him for blasphemy. His greatest offense was his disregard for custom and dogma, and his laying down, as the supreme and only test of all things, religious or otherwise, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Irrespective of names or creeds or methods, whatever in a great sense and in the long run has added to the happiness of humanity, is good; whatever has added to the burden of human misery is evil. There is no other standard of measurement than that given by the Master.

We come tonight to listen to one who claims to represent a new-old religion, new as the latest thought, old as primitive Christianity; a religion that believes the supreme and only power is good, that all intelligence is divine, and that immediately underneath are the everlasting arms.

Register and Leader.

EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL.

Virgil O. Strickler lectured on Christian Science to a large and attentive audience at the church edifice, Washington place and Summit avenue. He was introduced by Homer T. Stephens, local agent of the New York Central lines, whose remarks were in part as follows:—

Christian Science understood satisfies, and it supplies that explanation of the Bible which so many fail to receive from the study of other religions. Christ Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." It is simply to demonstrate this divine truth, as voiced by the Saviour, that Christian Science has come; and it has proven the Wayshower's words to be true in thousands upon thousands of cases of healing from sin and disease.—Correspondence.