The Lectures

with contributions from William A. Morse, Chalmers M. Hamill, Moses E. Clapp

Roslindale and West Roxbury, Mass.

The Hon. William A. Morse, in introducing Virgil O. Strickler, who lectured on Christian Science in Highland Club Hall, West Roxbury, under the auspices of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Boston, spoke as follows:—

When I first came to West Roxbury about twenty-five years ago, there were but few persons here who had manifested the slightest interest in Christian Science, and those few were charitably criticized by their kindly disposed neighbors, who were confident it was only a matter of time until they would return to the fold they had abandoned, wiser and somewhat humbled by their peculiar waywardness; but this, like many other human prophecies, has come to naught.

My attention was first called directly to the subject of Christian Science some eighteen years ago. I was then senator from the Cape district and a bill was presented for an enactment which would have completely prohibited the teaching and practice of Christian Science. I was surprised to find that the passage of the measure was urged not only by certain influential members of the medical profession, but by active members of churches of almost every denomination. In those days the Christian Science movement certainly had its hours of danger, but because it was based upon divine Principle it has developed and extended by virtue of its inherent truth and the benefits following its application, until it has become as firmly established in this commonwealth, where it had its beginning, as the law itself. It is now rapidly monopolizing many members of those same denominations, as well as occasionally taking over some progressive and conscientious members of the medical profession itself. My interest later was much intensified by having the great privilege of knowing the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and hearing from her own lips of what she had done and was doing for the cause and its advancement. Since that time I have read and heard much about it, and I state a fact that is known to all,—that no person who has sought Christian Science with an open, impartial mind can now be found who is not its advocate and friend.

As I understand it, the one great spiritual truth that distinguishes Christian Science from all other religious teachings is that the divine Mind can help men in their troubles from sickness as well as in their troubles from sin. There is a science of the intellect that has indeed made wonderful progress, and in its sublime research and philosophy has measured the ocean, has almost counted the sands of the earth and calculated and classified the stars. Knowledge of these facts brings little comfort to struggling humanity, weary and heavily laden with difficulties and despair; but there is a science of the heart and mind that brings joy, peace, and sympathy, that casts out fear, weakness, and despair, and enthrones in their place strength, courage, and harmony; and the great Metaphysician that brings these things to pass is the divine Principle of Christian Science as made known by Mrs. Eddy and her faithful followers.

Correspondence.

Terre Haute, Ind.

The Hon. Clarence A. Buskirk, who lectured on Christian Science at First Church of Christ, Scientist, was introduced by Attorney Chalmers M. Hamill, who said in part:—

There is a field of production that cannot be termed industrial or economic. For our present purpose we may style it spiritual production. It is perhaps not unfamiliar doctrine that each human being is in itself an instrument of production, and that its product is the impression which that life, as a spiritual entity, makes and leaves on its surroundings. As in industry, so in spiritual production, one of the great elements is education. The religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus the Christ must, as I see it, become more and more a scientific exploration into the recesses of the infinite Mind. Christian Science has made admirable advances in that direction.—Correspondence.

St. Paul, Minn.

Bliss Knapp, when he spoke on Christian Science at First Church of Christ, Scientist, was introduced by Senator Moses E. Clapp, who said in part:—

It may not be amiss to step beyond the limits of a mere perfunctory introduction and say that as Christian Scientists, realizing that God is the author of all that is, of all that is real, and that all of His works are good, we are forced to turn to a source outside of and not of God for that which we see and call "evil." As Christian Scientists we are not so much concerned with the origin of evil, for if it cannot be attributed to God, if it is not of God, then it is not a reality, in the light of God's purpose, and is not a part of God's work. Therefore, we say in this sense, there is no reality in evil. Real as evil may seem, it is real only to our mortal sense, and as we understand that it cannot be of God, that it cannot be real as part of God's work, as we realize its nothingness, it disappears. Thus, for the destruction of sin and sickness—for Jesus said, "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?"—we turn to a realization of the allness of God and the perfection of His works.

Many suppose that physical healing is the ultimate purpose of Christian Science. This is natural, perhaps, because the healing of sickness is more tangible than the destruction of sin, if we use these terms distinctively. But Christian Science is a religion which deals with sickness and sin, with all forms of what we call "evil," and destroys them through the knowledge and realization of their unreality, as not being of and from God.—St. Paul Dispatch.

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