The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-24
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
b Old Churches-False Ideas as to
Power of Healing.

1t is no part of my purpose to prose-
lyte you, or make Christian Scientists
out OF you. That is something you
will ave to do for yourselves. if il is
ever accomplished. My simple mission
is to give you something respecting
Christian Science to think about and
invite your full examination of the
whole subject / shall have fulfilled
my whole mission when 1 have stated
TO you some palpable facts, and your
duty VIII be performed only when you
shall have honestly investigated and
considered these facts.
We i've in a practical age and are
SATISFIED only with facts. The world is
weary of theories, it longs for facts;
1t Is surfeited with arguments, dog
mas and platitudes, and cries out for
facts Christian Science is
THE RELIGION OF JESUS CHRIST
the religion tina He preached, taught
and practiced; or it is not anything
worthy of you thought or mine. If
Christian Science is not this, we want
to know it at the earliest possible mo-
ment; and if it is this, the good people
of the old churches want to know it. I
am sure, tonight, If it nay be. The
greatest difficulty that confronts me in
presenting to you any new phase of re-
ligion, or new thought of God, is our
inherited religious beliefs, our fathers
- - u III dIlSCo-
try we have accepted, without invest
tigatiOn. our fathers belief as our own.
1t is a humiliating confession, and
yet 1T is doubtless true, hat less than
5 per cent. of the millions of professed
believers in the Christian religion are
what they are, not by reason of any
conviction resulting from personal in
vestigatiOn of their relationship to
Cod; they are Presbyterians, Congre-
gationalists. Methodists, Baptists, Epis-
copalians OIL Catholics because their
fathers were. No one thinks it strange
that We should dicard our fathers
thought respecting dress, habitation
CIVIL or religious government, or the in
herent rights of men, n yet the
thought seems to be almost universal
that the child shall think of religion,
think of God. as it's fathers thought,
or not think at all. And yet we know,
indeed, that our fathers questioned the
religious beliefs of their fathers. and
made us happier by it; that their faith
ers questioned the religious beliefs of
their own fathers and made the world
brighter by it. John Calvin question
ed the religious beliefs of his fathers,
and out of the controversy sprang the
Presbyterian church and all of it's
multiplied offshoots that have made
the world better; Martin Luther raised
his mighty voice against the religious
beliefs and religious practices of his
fathers. and the Reformation gladden.
ed the world; the great WesleyS con-
trOyerted the religious tenetS of their
fathers, and the heroic Methodist cir
cult rider began his task of making
sweeter and happier and holier the
humble homes of England and Ameri-
ca. Why should we not have the in
dependence, the intellectual integrity,
to think of God in the splendid light of
today rather than in the bOndS of an
cestral thought?
AS one means of clearing your minds
of the prevailing prejudices of the old
churches against Christian Science, let
ME remind you that there are many re-
1igious beliefs and religious practices,
respecting which you of the old
churches and Christian Scientists are
in perfect accord. For instance, you
and they are in favor of whatever
makes men and women better, happier,
more loving and lovable; you and they
will aid to the utmost whatever Will
lessen the burdens and sorrows of men,
Danish superstition, minimize fear, n
add sweetness and holiness to the home
n home relations; you and they
believe in the one everlasting
God. and Father of all, infinite
in power, wisdom, truth and love,
a divine. iucorpareal, spiritual in
telligence; you and Christian Scientists
alike believe in Jesus Christ. the only
begOtten son of God. born of the vir-
gin mother, who taught in the temple,
preached the gospel, healed the sick,
made the lame to walk, gave sight to
the blind, hearing to the deaf and pur-
ity to the sinful; and with equal fer
vor we worship and glorify this dear,
compassionate, healing Christ, as Lord,
Savior and EXemplar. You also be-
lieve, as we do, that the Bible is the
divineIy inspired revelation of God to
man: that the ten commandments are
Gods laws of requirement n re-
striction. to be ~reSolutely and abso-
lutely obeyed, one not less than the
other; that prayer is both a privilege
and a duty; and with equal loyalty
you and Christian Scientists accept the
great commandment. Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
with all thy mind and with all thy
strength. and thou shalt love thy neigh
whatever you may have thought be-
fore. you know now that you n
Christian Scientists are in absolute &C
cord respecting the essential require
ments of the Christian religion, as you
understand that religion.
MRS. EDDY'S BOOK.
Now let me tell you something Of
what Christian Science is, in the hope
that upon conscientious investigation
We AAAIS ibSO o6ACO dPOAA IAAC
of Christ's religion, as Christian Scien-
fists understand. believe and practice
it.
Christian Science was discovered and
revealed 10 the world some thirty odd
years ago, by the Rev. Mary Baker
Eddy. a native of New Hampshire and
still a resident of that state. The whole
philosophy and practice Of Christian
Science is published to the world in
Mrs. Eddy's book, entitled Science
and Health With Key to the Scrip
lures" The latter part of the title Of
this marvellous book, With Key 70 the
Scriptures is very significant; for q
chief value of Mrs. Eddy's gift to the
world is the light h has thrown on
the real, demonstrable meaning of the
Holy Scriptures. In the meaning or
the Holy Scriptures. In the great eff
fort of her devoted and beautiful life,
as she declares herself, she took the
Bible as her only guide, and God as
her only counsel, n she does not an
nounce any principle, doctrine or prac-
tice of Christian Science that sne dlo
not find, and hat each one OF you'
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