The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-24
GIVES A MESSAGE
Clarence A. Buskirk Discusses
Christian Science.
Was Formerly Attorney General
Of Indiana.
REASON FOR HIS FAITH
Show the Efficacy Of Prayer in
Sickness.
MOdus Operandi Can Not Be
Explained.
REASON FOR HIS FAITH

Sunday afternoon Clarence A. Bus
kirk of ST. Louis addressed large and
appreciative audience at the Grand
opera house on the subject Of Christian
Science In his opening remarks he
stated that it was in 1875. or thirty
one years ago. that the first Christian
Science text book was printed It's ap-
pearance was very humble and OBJ
scure- Its message and mission
seemed 10 be in opposition TO the
tablished religious organizations
Now things were very different A
very large and respectable number of
the medical and clerical professions
have been very kind and lndulgent to-
wards it. Mr. BuslSirk spoke eloquent
ly and his audience followed him
closely He was formerly attorney
general of Indiana
Christian Scientists sometimes are
asked to explain the mode of opera
ton. or modus Operandi by which the
prayer Of faith can affect the BODY so
as to overcome physical sickness.
EIrSt. let me say that when any process
can be recognized as an accomplished
fact. any failure to comprehend or ex-
plain its mode Of operation does not
tend, in the least. to falsify such fact.
For example. Mr.. Edison admits that
he is so far short of satisfying explana-
ton of the marvels accomplished
through his electrical inventions that
he is wholly unable to tell US even
what electricity is. He finds that what
we call electricity works along certain
lines in certain ways; and he employs
his inventive genius accordingly. He
invents or discovers a process; and il
becomes a boon to humanity notWith-
standing that he may be unable to ex-
plain its mOdus operandi in answer to
the Ultimate questions respecting it.
Is it to be expected that any one can
fully explain the modus Operandi Of the
NV NIL T-f "a
under the operation of the laws which
govern us, has provided that the
prayer Of faith can overcome physical
discords2 Yet there are some consid-
erations which may throw some useful
light upon the subject. The Office of
prayer is to change man, not to change
God, or influence Gods ways, or inter
fere with the operation of Gods
eternal laws. When we pray Alright we
are communing with the true and only
God, when we pray Alright our
thoughts. aspirations and emotions
climb to the very highest tablelands
they are capable of reaching. Why
should not the benefits be manifested
in all ways, and who can presume to
measure or limit these benefits2 Why
is 1t not easily believable that in the
divine relations forever existing be-
tween God and man there are eternal
laws under whose constant operation
prayer cOnfers benefits, whose scope
and activities no one has any basis for
q thing because in our ignorance we
are unable fully to comprehend it. We
have no more right to deny that prayer
can heal the sick merely because we
fail to see just how it can be done,
than we have to dispute that an acorn
grows into an oak merely because we
may not be able to explain Why it
should not grow into beech tree.
There is no unbelief so egotistic and
stubborn as the unbelief Of ignorance.
The missionary finds It impossible to
convince the ignorant islanders of the
tropical seas where frost is unknown
block of ice. The islander does not
see how it can be done and so smiles
in self satisfied incredulity.
The power of prayer has been dem
onstrated In human experience
throughout history as an incontestable
fact Facts are better than theories;
better than the theoretical unbelief of
the Islander concerning Ice, better
than the theoretical unbelief of the
skeptic concerning the power of prayer.
That under the operation of the benef-
cent laws Of divene Intelligence the
prayer of one person can affect another
person is likewise an incontestable
fact in modern science as well as in the
pages of the Bible.
Sometimes the members of other
Christian denominations put to US
question like this: If our prayers are
unavailing in physical sickness, how
can you Christian Scientists (they ask
expect US to have any faith In your
prayers in like cases2
When the apostle declared that the
prayer Of faith shall save the sick. he
was not theOrizing. but was speaking
from his own knowledge of the healing
of the sick accomplished by Jesus and
His followers He spoke of things which
he knew as facts the same as you speak
of facts which come under your own per-
sonal observation So, when Christian
Scientists declare that cures Of physical
sickness are being wrought now by fol-
lowing the Christ process Of healing the
sick. they are not theOrizing. but speak
The cures to which they are testifying
so abundantly all over the civilized globe
are already historically and incontestably
proven, like the cures OF the era of Jesus
and of the early Christians for over three
hundred years after Calvary
IF the Christian Science prayers are of
proven efficacy in overcoming physical
discords. and if. on the contrary, the
prayers of some other Christian demon
nation admitted by its members to
be inehectual IN Ike cases, surely then
it is entirely fair to urge that those who
thus pray Intellectually must somehow
pray amiss, however, fervent and sincere
they may be- And il is our duty as Chris
tians, and lovers of suffering humanity,
to strive to discover the explanation. and
TO strive likewise to free our minds of all
bias and .prejudicate opinions in making
the search
Christian Science teaches us that we
must appeal to God as spirit. and not
to any manlike God; and that we must
not appeal to a supposed God whom We
regard the author Of evil in any OF
KS phenomena. such as sin. sickness. sui
fering. and their like II God be not the
author Of evil, and we appeal to a sup
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