The Lectures

with contributions from Emma Oldfield, Emma C. Kirk, Walter A. Dimick, George Millard Davison, Milton B. Marks, Josephine Cooper

Garden City, Kan. (Society).—William W. Porter, lecturer; introduced by Mrs. Emma Oldfield, who said in part:—

A French writer has said, "The ceaseless unrest of this weary world is the unvoiced cry for God." The mission of Christian Science is to give to the world a better understanding of God, that we may acquaint ourselves with Him and be at peace. A gentle, tender woman, Mrs. Eddy, in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902, said, "Our heavenly Father never destined mortals who seek for a better country to wander on the shores of time disappointed travelers" (p. 11). Through her consecrated life and her love for humanity she has established through The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., a board of lectureship, and one of its members will speak to us tonight.

Norristown, Pa. (First Church).—John Randall Dunn, lecturer; introduced by Mrs. Emma C. Kirk, who said in part:—

When Jesus was tempted of the devil in the wilderness and commanded to turn stones into bread, he said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." In Paul's epistle to Timothy he says, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." As Christian Scientists we too are trying to divide this word and apply it to every problem,—to poverty, sin, disease, and death.

Oregon City, Ore. (First Church).—Bliss Knapp, lecturer; introduced by Senator Walter A. Dimick, who said in part:—

Jesus the Christ said in his Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." This utterance was applicable to Mrs. Eddy. When her discovery was made known to the world, she was reviled, she was persecuted, she was sworn against falsely; yet she rejoiced and was "exceeding glad," she redoubled her efforts, she pushed onward and forward to tell her new message to the world, and great was her reward in heaven, harmony. What has been the result? From a little gathering in Massachusetts this religion of Christian Science has grown and spread with a strength and rapidity heretofore unknown to the religious world. In a half century it has practically encircled the whole world; its growth has been phenomenal. The day is fast disappearing when its followers are criticized and called freak religionists. Its doctrine of truth, love, and harmony is fast winning the hearts of mankind. It has stamped out sin; it has relieved suffering; it has changed the lives of men and women, and has lifted them out of despondency and want into peace, happiness, and prosperity. It is recognized by thinkers as a genuine, permanent religion. The Master said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." The same is true of Christian Scientists,—by their acts, their lives, and their examples we know that they derive from their religion only that which is good.—Enterprise.

Brooklyn, N. Y. (First and Second Churches).—Willis F. Gross, lecturer; introduced by George Millard Davison, who said in part:—

Dwelling as we do in a world where we seem to be surrounded by much sorrow and woe, we often think that if we could see Jesus and feel his healing presence, we would find balm for all our bruises. An angel once brought the message, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy;" and today we are repeating this message to you. The age of healing did not pass away when Jesus and his disciples finished their earthly ministry. Christian healing continued for over two centuries, after which it gradually fell into disuse. Then it lay dormant for ages, till at last Mrs. Eddy's pure life and perfect consecration enabled her, through earnest work and deep spiritual understanding, to discover and again make available for us the Principle of divine healing.

Chicago, Ill. (joint lecture).—Virgil O. Strickler, lecturer; introduced by Milton B. Marks, who said in part:—

The one thing needful in our lives is divine guidance, and Mrs. Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has used these simple but inspired words about God: "He ... guides every event of our careers" (Unity of Good, p. 3). It matters not whether one's problem seems to be a sick body, a bad moral condition, a domestic tangle, a load of sorrow, or a discouraging business outlook, infinite Mind, God, knows the one right solution for it, and we have the promise that "no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

Pasco, Wash. (Society).—Dr. Walton Hubbard, lecturer; introduced by Mrs. Josephine Cooper, who said in part:—

The heart of humanity is hungering for something it has not yet attained; it is reaching out for something that will satisfy its longings. We are all united in one common desire, namely, to gain happiness. We are all desirous of getting that which will comfort us when in sorrow, heal our diseases, enable us to forsake our sins and to overcome our weaknesses, for that in short which will meet our every need. We all admit that such a possession is worth striving for; that it is indeed, to use the psalmist's words, "more to be desired ... than gold, yea, than much fine gold." Christian Science shows us that these blessings may be obtained, and that the way to obtain them is to know God better.

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Testimony of Healing

Freely I have received, freely I would give

July 7, 1917

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