The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-28

ri An interesting lecture was delivered
under the auspices of Fourth Church Of
Christ, Scientist, Of this city, at the
metropolitan theater yesterday after
moon, Clarence A. Buskirk, formerly at
torney general of Indiana, being the
speaker and Christian Science his topic.
Mr.. Buskirk was introduced by: Abbot
Edes Smith of this city, in the follow
ing words:
Abbot Edes Smith, Introduction.
In an ancient fable we read: can
IS old man had many sons, who were al
ways falling out with one another. He
had often vainly exhorted them to live
together in harmony. One day he
called them round him and, producing a
bundle of sticks, babe them try each
in turn to break it across. Each put
forth his strength, but the bundle re-
SISTED all their efforts. Then, cutting
the cord which bound the sticks to-
gether, he told his sons to break them
separately. This was done with the
greatest ease. See, my sons,' exclaimed
he, tthe power Of unity. Bound to-
gether by brotherly love, you may defy
almost every mortal ILL, divided, you
Twill fall prey to your enemies. -
When mankind learns we'll the lesson
Nof unity, and when all not only say,
Lord, Lord,' but honestly and loving
5,ly do unto others as they would have
others do unto them, the millennium will
$be near at hand. What, then, is the es-
sential nature of this vital unity, and
how practically can it be attained7
iS The Apostle Paul has said: "Other
(which is Jesus Christi Absolute
truth known and lived is the only pos
sible basis of that true unity which will
ultimately unite all men in one band Of
brothers, one in deed as in word.
There is hardly a sect Of philosophy
For Of religion which has not tried to
<solve this problem by insisting that all
must join that particular sect, and too
often the accepted method has involved
the abuse and persecution Of other
4sects. Yet the Apostle Paul declares
The letter killeth, but theSpirit giveth
life" Without unity of heart, unity Of
form is worse than useless-it is a hol-
low mockery. Where there is no unity
of heart, the uniting Of the churches of
all the different denominations would
only cause "Confusion worse con-
founded' and would APPLY exemplify
the aphorism of Mrs. Eddy, ''To work
together is not always to cooperate,
@but sometimes to co-elbow."
~ Evidently, therefore, mere unity of
form and Of organization is not the true
criterion by%which TO test unity in
fact; and [ regret to add that this
is sometimes true even among churches
of the same denomination. -@%.#
# Must we admit, then, that unity is a
chimera, a myth, and that the millen-
sium is utopian, never to be reached on
all men, all denominations may co.
operate under the golden rule for the
attainment of true unity9 ''.''
Y The apostle John tells us of "The
true Light which hghteth every man
that cometh into the world" and he
affirms with authority - God is Light
and IN Him is no darkness at all. !" Like
Paul, all mortals see this Light "Thru
9 glass darkly," but everyone, however
debased, who follows and is true to this
light as he sees it, is doing his very
best to reach the common goal Of man
kind, where all shall "Know even as
also they are Known and where al
shall be Of one Mind, having the
sssame Mind which was also in Christ
Jesus,o unified by the Truth which
makes man free. =
Only as men approach the light OF
Truth do they draw nearer to one an
other. This light Of Truth as he sees II
is man Is highest Interpretation Of the
voice Of God speaking to that man
1t is his conscience. Even If one g con
science be darkened, the man who re-
fuses to follow it Is false to his highest
sense Of right and is therefore bao
man; while the man who is true to his
conscience, mistaken tho it be, is a goo6
man. Next to obedience to his OWL
conscience, therefore, one q highest duty
is to strive to enlighten his conscience
BY learning Of Him s'Whom to know
Alright Is life eternal''; and in truth
God reveals Himself to every man wht
honestly seeks to obey his conscience
fS IRo pSttlIHASt HAS oe11oJ h0s S1oPS VI {
good man are ordered by the Lord. !.
Tho he fall, he shall not be utterl,
cast down; for the Lord upholdeth hin
with His hands, n
Jesus said: "This is life eternal, tina
they might know Thee the only tru
God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has
sent. In Gods word we read: "Y
shall seek me, and find me, when y
shall search for me with all you
heart. = True unity, therefore, is t,
unite with our whole heart in seekin,
to know God and in striving to liv
the truth 50 learned. Thus, and thu
only, in the spirit Of the golden rule
can we truly be in unity with all men
unity based on Individual liberty o
conscience. The apostle James has wei
said: uWhoso looketh into the perfec
law of liberty and eontinueth therein
he being not forgetful nearer, but
doer Of the work, this man shall b
blessed in his deed A broader trut
than he realized was spoken by the ia
NOUS American who proclaimed !" Lii
erty and union, now and forever, on
and inseparable. -