The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-15

of the board of directors OF the Mother
Church of Christian Science OF Boston;
lectured to a large audience in Associa-
tion Hall, Y. NJ. G. a. building last
evening, his subject being christian
Science, What 1t Is Not and What It
Is" Mr.. Tomlinson handled the subject
with great ease and fluency and spoke
as follows:
christian Science, What IL is Not
and What IL Is" was announced by Mr..
Tomlnson as the subject OF his lecture,
and he spoke as follows:
Before beginning this lecture, may
tell you how / came TO be a Christian
Scientist? The majority Of this Faith
have entered through the door of heal
ing. After long years OF suffering. after
trying all schools of medicine. they have
been fully healed by this divine method.
Feeling the force OF Its power. the non
est and grateful can do nothing else but
accept il and strive TO live IL. Sucn,
however was not my experience.
came into Christian Science not because
OF my own healing, nor because OF the
healing of any friend, but because after
a long and painstaking investigation
became thoroughly convinced mat
Christian Science was the religion or
the Bible. the theology of Christ Jesus,
and the philosophy of common sense.
Then there was nothing for me 10 do as
an honest man, but To Withdraw from
"a fellowship i dearly loved, and fully
accept and strive TO attain the hgh
ideal of Christian Science. i was so
slow myself i'm grasping and accepting
this Truth that 1 have a fellow feeling
for all who have not yet made 1t their
possession. While still an active cler-
gyman, j had copy OF Science ana
health on my table six months, Dut
j could not understand IL. have passed
through all the preJudices, am aware
of all the misconceptions, l have raised
all the objections that come Ia others.
/ know from actual experience that
there is not an argument or objection
raised against Christian Science that
further study and research does not
fully and completely answer In that
period OF doubt and misconception L
should gladly have listened 10 true
account of this healing religion. None
of US desihe to misunderstand or mis-
Judge any cause that has commenced
itself to n large number Of intelligent
men and women. We all say. as does
every unprejudiced person, II this is
really the Truth j want il. AT least
your presence indicates that you are
grateful for the privilege of hearing
from an authorized source exactly what
Christian science is, not and what II ls.
The theme is too large 10 he fully
treated I'm a brief address. "A few silent
points only can be touched. To gain
fair estimate on Christian Science one
should read the text book Science and
Health, with Key to the scriptures,
and the other works Of its author, Rev.
Mary Baker @. Eddy.
Christian Science is rejected by not
a few because, they ignorantly classify
if with mesmerism, spiritualism and
theosophy. 1t is not the purpose OF
this lecture TO pass Judgment upon any
of these systems of thought. II is but
fair to say. however. that among the
followers of these systems of thought
are many honest seekers for Truth. To
know that Christian Science rs neither
mesmerism, spiritualism nor theosophy,
YOU have but to ask one of the well-in
formed followers of these systems.
They will tell YOU that Christian Sci
ence is not only unlike these systems,
but is the opposite of each and every
one Of them. In nothing is Christian
Science like in everything is IL unlike
mesmerism, spiritualism and theosophy.
Some would easily dispose OF Chris
tan Science by calling it a fad, and
they declare that IL will end when the
new wears off, But a very slight
knowledge will show that Christian
Science is not a foolish fad. but very
serious fact. Christian Science has
been before the American public for
more than 80 years Ii has $50 worship
ing congregations. with "A half "A mil
lion believers in this country and in
Europe, and is rapidly spreading into
all parts OF the civilized world. Its text
book Science and Health" has passed
through more than $50 editions OF 1000
copies each. and by this method a mill
lion and more persons have been re-
stored from sickness to health. Surely,
with a careful thinker and honest in
vestigator, snap of the finger cannot
dispose of a cause so widespread, so
deeely rooted and so beneficent.
The time has passed for rejecting
Christian Science on the ground that it
is Goddess and intidel. Christian Sci
encc can point TO much ripened fruit.
and must be judged by it's fruit. Many
who are not Christian Scientists are
ready TO say that il makes neighbors
better neghbors. husbands better hus-
bands. and wives better wives. 1t i'm
culcates honesty. virtue temperance
and brotherly kindness. and IL helps
men To be holier healthier and hap
pier. Some other reason for rejecting
Christian Science must now be found
than that it is dangerous TO good NOR
ais.
Some Of the objections to Christian
Science do not deserve even "a passing
notice. but surprising as IL may seem.
there are those who assert that Chris
tian Science is the fantastic doctrine
t1dl All HlchttSS u bHlN IMAGINATION,
that cold i'm the head Is cured by tell
ing patient chat he has no head that
"A Christian Scientist would say 10 "A
stranger during Western blizzard
that there is no storm. and that all ~
as calm as a day I'm June. OR again that
~ IL the doctrine that husbands and
wives were never married and that their
children do not belong 20 the "a
teaches that nature * nothing and
that all art Is error. IL is needless TO say
that this is Caricaturc, and has not even
the semblance OF fact. Christian Sci