Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-30
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE DEFINED
Not Merely Another Sect, Says Judge
s. ]. Hanna.
TO UNITY RATHER THAN DIVIDE
This II the vital Purpose of the
Teaching hat Proposes to Estab-
fish n Full Gospel Of
christ.

Judge Septimus James Hanna. {. S. d.,
q member of the Board OF Lectureship of
the Christian Science church. for ten years
editor-in-chief of the Christisn Science
periodicals and for eight years first reader
Of the mother church in Boston, lectured
last night at the Boyd theater on mot
Merely Another Sect" Judge Hanna. in
addition to being prominent in the Chris
tian Science church. has had an active
career.
He is a native of Pennsylvania, though
he removed from that state to the west
when a youth. He practiced law for up
wards of twenty Years. held various posi-
lions of trust-Captain of Company II, 13eth
regiment Illinois Volunteers, judge of the
county court at Council Bluffs. city at
torney and during President Arthur adj
ministration, registrar of the United States
land office at Leadvllle, Colo. At the lat
ter place he became interested in Christian
Science.
Not Merely n Sect.
In his address last night Judge Hanna
said:
Many suppose that Christian Science is
merely another sect or a new religious
IanSy, II IL were but another sect, adding
nothing of value to the many sects already
IN existence, there would be no reason why
II should have been established, or why Il
should be perpetuated. There is no need
Of a further multiplication of sects, or Of
lntensifying in any degree the sectarisn
spirit. Better were the number of sects
diminished, and the sectarian. spirit de-
stroyed. The vital purpose of Christian
Science is to unity rather than to divide.
No one can impartially and understandingly
read the Christian Science textbook without
seeing that the central idea of the author
is to carry out and establish a full gospel
of Christ. Her earnest purpose Is to renew
and reuntte, not to distract, the true gospel
clements. If her teaching seems In some
respects to differ with prevalent theories
and interpretations, IL Is only that true
theories and interpretations, and conse-
may be substituted. All sincere Christian
s%trivers, as well as all good people of what
ever religious views, or of no settled rellg-
iouS convictions, desire to know and do that
which is best for themselves and for all
mankind. If there has been in the world
too much religion and not enough of true
Christly living, or Christianity; If there
has been too much of form and ceremony
and not enough of vital Christian activity
II there has been too much of doctrinal
pickering and not enough of practical
application of the true teachings of the
Founder of the Christian religion; II any
or all of this Is true, then surely there
should be a sincere desire for the correc-
ton of these shortcomings.
If a fundamental part OF the gospel of
Christ has been neglected or lost sight of,
then surely all good people wish a rein
statement thereof. If mankind is need
lessly suffering because of any failure
fully to understand and apply the great
precepts of the Bible, then surely all rea-
sonable people must agree that such fail
ure should be supplanted by success, If
1t be possible. If we have wrong concep-
tions Of God, of heaven, of life and death,
of man and the universe. and it Is possible
to correct such conceptions, surely there
can be no rational objection to all we'll
directed and honest effort on that behalf.
Any teaching, method and works which
tend to make life better, brighter, happier,
heller healthier. ANYTHING which aids in
destroying the dreadful delusion OF sin,
with ali of its blighting and cruel conse-
quences, anything which will lessen sick
ness, sorrow, grief, woe. the squalor and
wretchedness of poverty. disease, death and
destruction, should be welcomed by every
rational being upon the earth. If 1t is
possible, them, for, us of today to get more
fully established In us the same mind that
was Also in Christ Jesus, thereby becom-
ing better able to do the works which the
possession of such a mind necessarily i'm
plies. why should we not do so? II Chris
tan Science is in any measure whatever
supplying any lack of the kind indicated,
who, having the best good of humanity
at heart, can consistently say 1t nay?
In conclusion, then, | say that through
Mrs. Eddys consecrated labors, extending
over more than forty years, a fuller and
higher gospel of Christ has been taught
and practiced; and that the wonderful
works thus far accomplished are but har'
bingers of the greater works yet to come
We believe most devoutly that the sur
of righteousness has arisen with healing
In His wings; that the glorious promises
shall sooner or later be amply fulfilled, anc
thai, the spiritual vision of John on PatmoI
shall become a realized verify:
There shall be no more curse.
And there shall be no night there; anC
they shall need no candle, neither light o.
the sun; for the Lord God giveth then
light; and they shall reign forever ant
ever