Philadelphia, Pa.

Clarence W. Chadwick, who lectured on Christian Science, was introduced by Thomas E. Boland, who said in part:—

Christian Science is teaching and demonstrating only what Jesus taught and demonstrated long ago. Great numbers of people are receiving a truer sense of the universal brotherhood of men and the common fatherhood and all-power of a loving God, are finding finding from fear, relief from sickness, and release from sin through the precepts and ministrations of Christian Science, because these ministrations and precepts bring a clearer understanding of our one Father and a deeper insight into the meaning of the Bible.—Correspondence.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Francis J. Fluno, M.D., who delivered two lectures on Christian Science in Loew's Theater, was introduced at the first lecture by A. L. P. Hunter, barrister and solicitor, who said in part:—

We are here because we are seeking for the truth; and we are agreed, I think, that in the Bible, the Book of books, the truth about God and man is to be found; and the people are studying their Bibles more diligently and with greater understanding today than ever before. This is to a large extent due to the light that is thrown upon the Scriptures by that excellent commentary, the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by a remarkably fearless, spiritually-minded woman, Mrs. Eddy. The effect of the study of this book has been to reestablish the Christ-healing in this age, and thousands of hopeless sufferers have been cured of their sicknesses and have had their doubts, fears, and discouragements dispelled.

We are living in a practical era. You cannot interest business and professional men in religion today unless it is practical. Any system of religion which is endeavoring to reduce Christianity to a scientific basis, so that it can be used by all of us in solving the trials and problems that confront us daily, should be encouraged.

At the second lecture F. C. Raney said:—

If the element of fear could be eradicated from human consciousness, the millennium—at least a millennium—would not be far distant. Fear may well be indicted as the most paralyzing and destructive suggestion that can enter the mind. It makes the little child afraid of the dark, and will send a regiment of stalwart troopers tearing to the rear in senseless rout. Its baneful touch leaves the mother in trembling agony for her absent boy, when he needs the protection of her courage and confidence. It shuts the doors of banks in the faces of terror-stricken depositors, and tacks sheriffs' notices on business houses. It is the father of panics. It strangles courage and spreads over the world a withering curse. If Mrs. Eddy and her followers had done nothing more than wage relentless war on this universal bogey, they would not have lived and labored in vain. The world needs more men and women who are unafraid.—Correspondence.

Gary, Ind.

Seldom has there gathered in this city so attentive an audience as that which listened to the lecture on Christian Science by Bicknell Young. The spacious hall of the Commercial Club, where the lecture was given, was completely filled. The lecturer was introduced by Frederick W. Carr, managing editor of the Gary Tribune, who spoke in part as follows:—

To many of you the subject of Christian Science is not familiar; to many others in this audience it is the burning bush of mount Horeb, healing sickness and sorrow in desert places. These latter are witnesses that the hope of the ages has at last been realized in the discovery of the greatest of all sciences,—the Science of Life. Since the beginning of time men have sought it. Indeed, with so many striving to gain an understanding of the laws of life and so many millions on the globe, the wonder is not that these laws were discovered within our own day, but that they were not discovered before. Yet this discovery of the ultimate science must come some day. That question born of man's unhappiness, "What is truth?" had to be answered some time. That it has been answered, and truly answered, well-nigh every hamlet of the civilized earth bears testimony in at least one made happier, healthier, better.

Christian Scientists, while rejoicing in the apprehension of the "pearl of great price," do not obtrude this discovery upon others. But to those who care to hear they are always happy to give the reason for the hope that is in them. They are also solicitous to disabuse the public mind of various misconceptions which have arisen regarding this teaching.

Correspondence.

Portland, Ore.

Prof. Hermann S. Hering delivered three lectures on Christian Science for First Church. The introductory remarks of F. Elmo Robinson, first reader, were in part as follows:—

Nineteen hundred years ago there appeared upon earth one who healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease, reclaimed the sinner, and even raised the dead without recourse to material means. He did not claim that these redemptive works were possible to himself alone, or in his generation alone, but rather that they were evidence of a perpetually operative divine Principle which could and should be universally understood and demonstrated throughout all ages. He said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." For three hundred years thereafter the healing works of the divine Christ were performed by his followers; then the vision of the Christ, Truth, gradually became dimmed through adherence to mere doctrine, form, and ceremony, until, as one historian has said, "the church became a strange mixture of Christian show and pagan vice." The healing sense had departed.

It is perhaps not strange that the reappearing of this Christ Science in our generation, after so many centuries of devotion to creeds and dogmas, should not be readily understood, or that some should fancy that this Science denies the atonement, the divinity of the Christ, the virgin birth, the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord, the inspiration and sufficiency of the Scriptures, and the necessity of prayer. As a former clergyman, for several years I myself entertained some of these misconceptions of Christian Science teaching, but I now know, after some years of close study and demonstration of Christian Science, that no people believe more implicitly in the divinity of Christ, the divine inspiration of the Bible, and the efficacy of prayer, than do Christian Scientists.

John F. Carroll, editor of The Evening Telegram, in his introduction said:—

During twenty-five years of active newspaper work I have been brought into intimate contact with Christian Science, and have enjoyed close and sometimes confidential relations with its teachers and with those who have exemplified its teachings in the pews. I have seen it pass through the bitterest stages of criticism, then of toleration, until now it enjoys world-wide recognition and the fealty of thousands upon thousands of the worthiest men and women I would care to know. For a score of years and more I have seen it exemplified in my own home, under the acid test of everyday needs, and have known it to emerge serenely triumphant from the sadness, sorrow, and irritating exigencies which confront an average American household.

While the fundamentals and essences of Christian Science have so far eluded me, I feel that with even better grace than one of its adherents I can pay to it the tribute of my respect and admiration for the many worthy things it has done, for the efficacy of its teachings, for the delightfully high standard it maintains in its own membership, and for the high ideals which the church itself teaches and which its members so blithely maintain, to the wonder and perhaps envy of the struggling outlander who often falls so far short of them. On such an occasion and to such an audience as this, the usual overflowing Christian Science audience, I could not say less than was in my heart to say.

The introductory words of Miss Caroline Barnes were in part as follows:—

I am sure the one motive that has brought us together this evening is the hope that a better understanding of Christian Science will give us a better understanding of God. Mrs. Eddy has defined Christian Science as "the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony" (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 1). The primary purpose of Christian Science is to bring to the world the healing work which our Master declared his followers should do, but which was dormant for centuries for lack of faith.

Jesus once asked those Jews who believed not on him, "Why do ye not understand my speech?" and answered his own question by saying, "Even because ye cannot hear my word." All through the Scriptures we find this demand for understanding. The Christian Scientists all over the world are demonstrating the fact that they do at least in part understand the words and works of Jesus by healing all manner of disease and all kinds of sin, thus being obedient to his teaching, his example, and his commands: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel," "Heal the sick."

Correspondence.