Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-02

| them into calamity, all that makes
them, in belief, other than the image
| of God. 1t is the transformation of
| thought from evil to good, from sin to
holiness, from discord to harmony.
| from the material to the spiritual, from
| hell on earth to heaven on earth. 1t Is
/ that change In the individuals con-
sciousness whereby he becomes new
| creature in Christ"
Humanity asks how 1t may reach this
condition, what 1t must do to be saved
Material beliefs say that there is no
way by when men can be saved from
| the evils of this world, no matter what
religion they believe, no matter what
Jesus taught; that the ills of the flesh
cannot be wholly avoided; that the
doom of weakness. pain and decay,
which the belief of matter passes on
mortals, must be realized while early
existence lasts.
Is 1t cause for regret that Mrs. Eddy,
in her discovery of Christian Science,
turned away from these beliefs and
found in the Masters teaching and
works the loving and effective answer
to all the longings and needs of the
race? Is it cause for regret that the
Christian Science movement which she
| founded is awakening anew the hope
of men for a higher life and expert
ence on earth than was afforded in
their former beliefs? Is 1t cause for
regret that Christian Science is dem
onstrating the power of Christianity
to save men not only from their sin but
from all that makes their existence
miserable and wretched?
Christian Science does not treat the
appeal of mortals lightly, it does not
mock their aspirations nor jeer at
their hopes and desires for better
things, but it lovingly unfolds to them
the spiritual truths of Christianity,
1rnHaret n6inR and
plication all their needs may be met.
1t does not dampen a single hope of
men for the life divine. 1t declares
that all Gods laws appertain to life
and health and peace; but that they
have nothing to do with the perpetra-
ton upon humanity of suffering and
death. 1t accepts Jesus life as the
standard of Christianity and as de-
fning what a Christians life and prac-
tice should be, and teaches that in no
other way can one realize the run
value and truth of his Messiahship ex-
cept by following his example.
Why Ignore Practice
No one who loves humanity could
ridicule the intelligent, comprehensive
and practical Interpretation of saliva
ton which Christian Science gives, nor
its progress in demonstrating its eff
fectiveness in delivering men from
evil.
Christian Science does not claim to
have a new or better answer to this
great question than that given by ST.
Paul: believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved" But
this believing is more than intellectual
assent; it is living-a living, practical
reliance upon the truth believed. one
may accept the historical fact that
Jesus came to the world nineteen hun
dred years ago; he may accept the
statement that his life, crucihXion ana
resurrection were for the redemption
of mankind; he may accept all that his
church teaches in this respect, and
therefore reckon himself a Christian,
and yet he may not believe In CHRIST
at all in the sense implied in the apos-
ties words. To actually belieVe |
thing is to live in accordance there
with, otherwise ones profession OF pc
| lief amounts to nothing. Shall we not
consent to have our Christian beliets
| judged by this standard?
| In the ordinary affairs of lie men
conduct themselves in conformity with
their beliefs, whether these are good
| or bad, false or true. One who believes
the atmosphere to be cold conducts
himself accordingly; he clothes himself
and arranges his house in harmony
with that belief. One who believes IN
the power OF money COI00CSS AlAAAhSAA
accordingly; he strives to get all he can
and uses 1t for his needs and pleasures.
We would Judge him insane who had
money In his possession and yet allowed
himself to perish for the necessities or
existence.
why, then, should Christians ignore
or neglect the beneficent power or
Christianity, in which they profess to
believe, and when they stand in such
sore need of what it can 90 for them?
What kind of a belief is that which
/ exalts the omnipotence of God In
theory, but which ignores it in prac-
tice? Should we not attach as full ana
practical meaning to our belief as ap-
piled to Christianity as we do when
spplied to the ordinary things of life.
Why should the meaning Of "believe"
become so perverted when used in
religious sense that it implies little
more than intellectual assent, instead
of that actual believing whose evidence
is found in deeds?
Must Change Belief
Mortals, in their sinful state, are
practising wrong beliefs. That is, they
believe in the opposite of good and live
| what they believe; hence they are SIN
ners. To save such as these 1t is evil
dent that their belief must be changed
in order to change their manner of life.
that they do not believe In nor live It,
that is, to the extent in which they be-
lieve in and live good. Let mankind
reverse their belief in evil, and replace
1t with the conviction of the power and
availability of the truth revealed by
Christ Jesus and made known TO man
Kind anew in Christian Science, and
what would be the effect upon their
experience? What would become of
sin, and its dire results as seen in dis
ease and death, if they believed in good
in the same practical reliant way in
which they do the things which concern
their worldly affairs?
Upon what basis could evil and suf-
fering assert themselves in human con-
seriousness If humanity did not believe
them, that is, If. they actually believed
only in the reality and power of good,
God? BY what other way can sin and
evil be overcome and destroyed and
humanity be saved, except by believ-
ing in good in place of evil; in Christ,
the spiritual divine idea, instead of the
flesh? With Paul's own experience
before us, how can we interpret his
words before quoted except as refer
ring to such a change in ones thought
as to change and control his entire ac-
/; tiou and consciousness?