The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-15
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE,
WHAT IT IS AND IS NOT.


CONTINUED from Page SiA)
what was good and OF God: and there
fore Christian Science is right In az
firming that they have no reality
IL Is charged by some that Christian
Science takes away the Christian God.
II ones God is like himself only on
larger scale then Is IL not favor
rather than otherwise 10 take away such
"A god? II rs even asserted that Christ
ian Science reduces God to mist, De-
cause IL sees God az "a Principle, ana
the solemn charge Is made that christ
ian Science takes away personal Goa
and leaves man nothing To worship.
ON this issue Christian Science Is ready
To be Judged at the bar OF reason.
IL is "A trite saying. that human life
is a. problem to be solved. IL has It's
mistakes to be corrected. and its err
rors To- be cancelled that the true IRE
may be lived. our earth life Is IKE
a song; Il has It's false notes 10 he ell
minated and it's discords To he silen-
ced that divine harmony may appear
and 'ilfe the sweeter be-" Let us to-
gether unfold the meaning of this un-
irversal thought of human existence
In numbers when our vision Is clear
we discern order and harmony. Each
number has its exact value, ana feia-
tion between the numbers IL lnVloiale
and inViolable. You know why TINS IS
so The whole system of mathematics
has it's origin and existence in eternal
Principle. So with music. the mu-
sicians of all countries are I'm practical
agreement upon the fundamentals OF
musical harmony. These notes nave
precise values and harmonious rela-
ton. These notes can always De az
pended upon 10 do their part ana 1ul-
M their obligations. Why these certain
values? WHY these exact relations
81 Ia. IN
i'm music Principle IL the Soul or all.
Transfer the thought now to man. Is
not he as worthy of harmony as music
or mathematics? II is common usage
To speak Of this individual as man
OF no principle. and that as
a man of principle. II is meant that the
first is n man Of no worth. He can
not be depended upon; he Is exact nell
ther i'm what he says or what he does.
The man OF principle is a man OF truth
YOU can put your dependence in him.
His word is as good as his bond" You
know that the man OF principle VIII
fulfil his obligations. and that all ne
does will be good, for Principle is the
Soul OF him; and this Principle that rs
the creator. OF all that truly Is, inns
Principle that is the origin OF all har-
mony. this Principle that Is the Father
of man is none either than God. For
il is written. "All things We're made
by Him. and without Him was not
anything made that was made. And
again. "in Him we live and move and
have our being"
Nor is this all. In numbers and in
music where Principle governs there Is
the manifestation of harmony. Work
ing out your problem i'm obedience 10
Principle your answer will reflect the
harmony Of good. With your fingers
on the keys. moving in accord with
Principle, your expression Will be good;
and man rightly related to Principle,
manifests the goodness of God. This
Principle, then, from which all that
really is proceeds. this Principle which
IL the Father OF all .is God: and this
God we know is eternal Good. There
fore, the true God liz the Principle or
Good I'm full accord with which the
Psalmist siE,gs. "The Lord is good. His
mercy is everlasting" Likewise the
Master said. There Is none Good. but
one that is God" Come now let
us reason together" 1t Is proclaimedby
the misinformed that the Christian
Science God in no God. 1t is affirmed
that this religion that knows God as
the Principle OF Good would rob man
kind OF the Christian God. Bring then
your thought of God before the bar OF
reason and revelation
The highest thought Of God ever ut
tered is this-"God Ia Love" Upon
this theme what elouuence has been
poured forth, what fervent petitions
have been uttered But at this bar
OF reason | ask, is Love only TO be
preached about and prayed at? Is not
Love power for good? And If Love be
power for good. why should not that
power be utilized In works that are
good? Suppose an inventor seeks to
interest "A business man In a new prin-
ciple for motors. Eloquently he
breaches its rare merits. discoursing
long upon it's high qualities. When he
has concluded his preaching he prays
that stock be taken In his enterprise;
but the Thoughtful business man will
ask. will this principle work? Are
there any results TO show because OF
this principle?'
This sensible listener remarks. "Of
what avail eloquent preaching and fer
vent praying II the principle does not
work. One OF the two things IN certain.
either the principle is not understood
or that which has been preached and
prayed about IL not principle" So of
infinite Love, is IL not the vital Prin-
ciple OF that is; for God IN love. But OF
what avail preaching and praying If
there be no works? One Of two things
ia certain. eiehtr the principle is not
understood or the preacher Is without
the principle. hut we know that with
Christ Jesus that the Principle did
work The blind saw. the deaf heard
the lame walked With the Master
Love was an active. ever present Prin-
cipie. and that all might kow who his
true believers were. he said: He that
believeth on me the works that do
shall he do also
There is excellent reason. then, for
saying that our earthly career Is n
problem and song: for az prob
lem and song have their Principle,
40 man has his Principle. As the cor
rectncss OF the problem and the beauty
OF the song depend upon the under
standing of their Principle, 80 the val
Ne and the beauty of the human lfie
depends upon the understanding of
divine Principle. This, then. is the ap-
pointed work of Christian Science to
give To all the understanding OF God.
the Principle of Good. that from human
experience error and discord shall de-
part and eternal harmony appear.
Christian Science has wrought un-
told blessings i'm making God better
known and better loved by man. IL
has wrought no less blessing I'm help
ing him To better know himself and
better love his fcllow-men. We remem-