The Cairo bulletin., 1909-11-29


lecture Giyen at the Cairo Opera
House yester afternoon before large
and representative audience, by Mr..
Bliss Knapp, OF Boston, Mass, one Of
the members of the Christian Science
Board o Lecturesn.p.
The speaker was most happily in
troduced by Hon. Reed Green, who,
in his most impressive and foreeful
manner paid a high tribute to Chris
tian Science. and to Christian Scien-
lists for their consistent and exem-
plar application OF the principles
which they advocate. Mr. Green's in
PRODUCTION prepared the large au-
dienee for the lecturer without invad-
ing IN any way the lecturers field Of
thought and was an added pleasure
to the occasion.
Mr.. Knapp, who has the distinction
of being the youngest member of the
Board OF Lectureship of the Christian
Science Church is a man of most
pleasing personality and address. His
lecture was especially marked for its
logical reasoning and continuity OF
thought and was delivered in an ad.
m!r4ble manner.
The lecture IN part was as follows.
fefore speaking definitely on the
subject of Christian Science. it may
be well for rs to recognize that all
the great religious systems of the
world, that traditions and usage have
handed down to us, are the claimants
TO Il revealed truth. Pure religion is
revealed truth; but whatever may be
the nature oil the revelations. that
which distinguishes the demonstrate
revelation OF Clr5t Jesus from them
all IS .t3 power 10 give health and
life, for Il am como said Jesus,
that they might have life, and that
they mi-At have it more abundantly."
That Is, the abundant vitality Of
Christian truth gives life. For this
reason the educated classes of today
are comins to recognize that such re-
ltglous beliefs as Buddhism, Shintoism
and SO forth, are not so much reli-
Sions as they are PHILOSOPHERS, be
cacse they lack this life-giving ele-
ment that characteri2es Christianity.
It is, therefore, TINS life-giving ele-
ment that lifts Christianity above the
plane Of a mere philosophy into liv-
ing religion. 1t Is the life-giving Gle.
ment thai enabled the Master to heal
the sick aud raise the dead through
the prayer Of understanding, even to
the raising Of himself from the tomb
in what is known as the resurrection.
1t is this fegiy:ag element in
Christianity that Christian Science
interpreta. It does not claim to
amend tAe Bible, but it does empha-
size its pritual meaning, and seeks
to interpret rather than to proclaim
creed a'toge her new. 1t is there
fore a srstem of spiritual teachings
that improves the health and morals
of humanity, Every Christian be
lieves that spiritual teachings should
improve the morals of men, but we
have come to recognize in Christian
Science that these same spiritual
teaching, in their larger more scien-
tific understanding, will so purify the
minds Of men as to heal them OF
physical diseases.
Such q system of spiritual teach
ings that can bring sureease from
pain and sorrow must be truly Chris:
tian Indeed every sincere Christian
has sought in prayer for that same
Christ spirit to help the sinner aud
heal the sick. Christian Science de-
clarcs, moreover that this Christ
spirit acts in obedience to the laws
of Cod and not the laws Of men In
other words, it operates in obedience
to divine law with such precision
and accuracy that it may he under
stood and demonstrated as did the
primitive Christians. Two things
therefore we must understandable
vitality Of Christian truth, and its
law of operation, The one is Chris
wan, tire OthtI must We StltUtllit anu
whoever understands both must be
not only Christian but Christian
Scientist.
Footsteps in Spiritual Discovery.
IT is for us to lay hold of this d.
vine Law and learn how ii operates,
Since it is an eternal law of Truth,
this healing power was not for par
ticular time or period, but must be
an eternal truth that ~ ever opera
tive, and needs only to be rediseoy-
cred and understood to bring a return
of primitive Christian healing, Let
us. then turn TO the prophets and
apostles to learn how they came to
understand for themselves this heal
ing rover ri Cod tlat VIC may emit
late their good wo.:.s The first
thing Il sccVeead was nG, tne law nor
the Christ spirit, but the divine pow
er, Tha FIRST Of lie Oh patriarchs
was reared in the midst of idolatrous
worship. Everybody believed in
Worship % some idol fashioned by
mans device They believed in as
man. differing powers as there were
idol urtu Abraham. the first man