Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-02

L ilQl0nS
church of today is realization OF the
Masters conception thereof, Why the un-
intermitted shifting of creeds and sym
bols; why these mighty wrestli ags in
every sect? Why such alarm about the
alleged inroads of science upon theological
barriers? Is science Gods voice to TINS
age, or is it q foe to divinity? Why does
the church assume belligerent attitude
because the voice of one, born out OF due
time, like Psul's of old. pleads for con-
1 solidsted church, q Church of Christ,
minus oloeies and parties? IL it Uto-
plain notion that some day all will agree in
religions, as they do now in mathematical
points. and beliefs shall be changed into
convictions through substantial proofs: If
there is to be great church Of the future,
NAV it not be organized in Jesus way? He
never taught creed. He never advised
two sets of doctors, one for the body and
another for the spirit. He received into
fellow ship all who understood him well
enough to live and heal by his word and
M ihod. He constantly required of his
followers. works meet for repentance"
Their love for him must be shown
by their Utility 10 heal the sick and
cast out devils from the mselves and others.
He upbraiied then when they failed in this
effort If he established the Christian church
on this foundation, and his early ministers
preached religion which acc )mplished
these results, by " hose authority has the &C.
lesast cal condition been chang d? Either
this ideal church is forthcoming with real
izat:on of the promised Kingdom Of heaven
at hand" or We are tending rapidly toward
a schismatic condition booing disaster to
religious institutions. Whist is the ,xci'ipg
cause of this distrust of prevailing meth
DDS, rules and landmarks? Perhaps i. is
the outburst of a silent but steady pres.
sure brought to bear during the last two
decades of the generally ignored iotlu nee
of spiritualism, theosophy, hypnotism and
Christian science. If these four witnesses
are allowed a hearing before the tribunal
of public opinion, each individui Il must
conclude for himself whether the phenom.
ena they present shall be dealt with as
fads or absurdities (the creations Of dis
torted brains or minds in their dotage) OF
as indications of powerful agents, not yet
understood, for good or evil. 1t must ais
be decided whether the education of the
young shall include ply siology or psycho.-
ogy, musclar development or mental telt
patty, or all combined. As investigation
honestly proceeds it will be possible to de-
teGt whether these occult powers are
friendly or antagonistic to each other, and
which of them are really good or bad. 1t
must be also consistent whether they are
one in origin and method, as many claim,
differing only in degree. Again it must
be taken into accoun. what they )rtend
for the future when their infancy is cap
able of such Influence. Let the societies
for physical research investigAt, t Ii they
iar III ut fhn 1a;r
continue their work till they can explain
their subtleties to general satisfaction and
show whether from their standpoint the
mind can or cannot pass in and out of the
body at will. Let the hypnotist pursue
his way till he understands the spell he
LAYS upon his subjects and becomes so
skiful til 1t he can always break the spell
at will and prevent any retroactive effects
upon hi, own mind and body by the use
of what he calls his extraordinary git
l. the ardent theosophist prolong hi. at
tempt to find his astral body till succ IS
attends him and he can give to others a
foretaste of nirvana. But above all, let
Christian scientists meekly try to manifest
in life and deed tenth part of what they
teach. Then, and not till then, will the
evidence be accepted. Z ,ch sort of mental
work has jealous opponents and Jealous
J adherents. 1t is as yet impossible to fully
and correctly judge any one of them. The
struggle for supremacy will go on. Let
the sun of i've shine upon the Just and
the unjust. Let the rain of mercy descend
on the evil and the good. Very few of us
really know what is really true and pure
No ievout Christian healer need fear the
final issue. Let us watch the signs of the
times and pray without a.lng. If the
: assumption of mental healing is but a
nineteenth century delusion, it will afford
no solution of the three fold dilemma in
which We find ourselves, and it will die of
its own notLirgness.
But if Christian science be what its
claims aver, then those who march hvpo-
critically or ignorantly under its banner are
still doing homage to the truth, and haply,
even, thus the world may be aide to a
quicker apr, citation of its merit or d-merit.
The writ,r records her deep conviction,
based on fifteen years of experience, that
Christian science, as taught by the origin
ator OF the name, in the book call Science
and Health" will eventually usher in
the kingdom of spirituality upon this
planet; but this experience also teaches
her that, before this higher rel gious faith
can be generally accepted and its promised
results assimilated. il must meet adverse
as well as favorable criticism 1t has al
ready, in isolated cases, been tempted with
the wealth of success, but it must also be
found superior to antagonism, whether
kiodly or malicious. 1t must endure dis
belief and ridicule, for only in perfection
can it ever be est,bli hed immovably. Let
us IT Dice that those who work in it's pame
must be tr ed at all the points, that they
may fulfill the will divine. Thus, and only
thus, can they blossom into the fruits of the
spirit, against which there i, no blight or
law. We are at the beginning, not the end i.
of long warfare with evil; and this war
fare Is not with other people and their be-
iefs, but in our own individual natures,
against traditional errors, heavy fears, mis-
taken duties and mi placed affections.
JOSEPHINE c. Woodbury..