Introducing the Lecturer

MILDRED SPRING CASE

The giving of a Christian Science lecture is an important and far-reaching event in a community. It is like a spring seed-sowing. And though the harvest may not be immediate, whenever the rich, fruitful seeds fall on good soil the harvest is ever sure.

The introduction of a lecture is a welcome, helping the listeners to open their hearts to receive. It is a preparation intended to make them more responsive and receptive. As was John the Baptist to Christ Jesus, so is the introduction the forerunner to the message concerning the healing Christ, Truth, which is to follow. It is like a wedge which slightly opens the casement, revealing just enough light to make the audience eager for the full radiance. It is the link connecting their thought and that of the lecture; for the introducer, being of the same community, is at-one with the listeners; and being a follower of Christian Science, he is also at-one with the lecturer and his message. And those in the audience, because of their feeling of fellow-citizenship with the introducer, will let him take them by the hand and lead them to the place where they, too, may behold the view.

As in every other phase of work in Christian Science, it is by being unselfed that the introducer best presents a helpful message. It is by full, deep gratitude for Christian Science in his own experience that he best gives forth his words of good-will. It is by drinking deep at the fountain of infinite intelligence that he is made ready to give forth a healing introduction to the lecture which follows. However great his human ability to speak in public, however well-known and honored he may be in his community, however splendid has been his success in healing through Christian Science, if he does not seek in humility and sincerity, in yearning and obedience for the message God has for that particular occasion, the words he speaks will be, to use Paul's words, as "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

To introduce means to lead into; and by having first traveled the path himself up to the mount of vision, the introducer can best lead others along the same spiritual highway into the inner sanctuary. Only by consistent denial of error within himself can he acknowledge his allegiance to God, and by sincere, humble reaching out for Love's abundant outpouring can he have a cup that is overflowing. It is the overflow of which he should give, never requiring to drain his own spiritual, thirst-satisfying cup.

The Bible is full of beautiful passages which indicate the type of receptive thinking that best catches the message from God. That message travels on the wings of prayer and humility. Like the Psalmist of old, the desire of the introducer should be, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." With that prayer in the heart, how sure will be the expression, how strong and full of healing will be the few simple words of the introduction! With this humble seeking, the unfortunate circumstance of an introduction that sounds like a lecture in itself, or an expression of one's own opinions, could never occur. "And the Word was with God," and there alone can it be found,—the Word that heals, and uplifts, and makes ready the thought of the listeners.

On page 454 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy has written: "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action." This is Truth's promise to all those who seek the guiding of the Father; and when it is over and the experience has been one radiant with God's ever-presence, both for the introducer and for those receiving the message, he may turn in gratitude to the Giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift," knowing that God Himself has prepared the hearts of the listeners for the seed-sowing which is to follow,—"for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever."

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