Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-10-04
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE; OR
DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL.
Subject of Lecture by Rev. w. p. Nc
kensie of Cambridge at Broadway
Theater.

On Sunday afternoon at 8 o'clock
there was a gathering of several hun
dred at Broadway theater to hear the
lecture by Rev. w. p McKensie of
Cambridge, a mmeber of the Christian
Science board of lectureship of the
First Church of Christ, Boston, who
unrer the auspices of the local branch
of the Christian Scientists spoke on
Christian Science; or Deliverance from
Evil. He was presented by Rev. W.
L. Swan in brief Introductory remarks.
A synopsis of his address follows:
Christian Science comes to give sub
stance to the good that many have
hitherto hoped for, and the assembling
of large audiences to listen to lectures
upon the subject indicates that many
have an intuitive expectation OF find
ing their hope satisfied in harmony
with Christianity, and also in accord
with science.
Christian Science has for its text
book, or instruction manual, a book
first published in 1875 by Mary Baker
G. Eddy and entitled Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures"
The author is now known to the world
as the woman who has given to this
age the true idea Of God, and as the
philosopher and thinker who has revo-
lutionized the sense of Christianity
from theoretical to practical, so that
scheme for future world salvation
is changing to the primitive conception
OF Christianity as means for reveal
ing to men on earth the goodness OF
God in healing and salvation.
In her book there are over eight hun
bred citations from scripture. hence
we may see that her exploration OF the
Bible in seeking the foundation for
Christian Science was thorough; but
it is to the students of it's pages that
the significance of the title, Science
and Health with Key to the Scrip
tures,' is made apparent; for they find
an inspiration for earnest and practi-
cal study of the Bible.
The question presented to every man
is really this: To what do you give
power? EVIL or good Christian Sci
entists, by virtue of their experience,
are confirmed optimists. They have
seen healing accomplished where hu-
man love and human skill had given
up hope. They have seen apparently
incurable bad habits changed. They
have seen bitterness and cynicism and
cruelty melt away and kindness and
joy and gentle courtesy take their
place. They find that their faithful
application of the teachings of Chris
tian Science to all the problems OF life
have brought so many solutions and
proofs of the power Of good to over
come evil that they can foresee the
ultimate triumph of good and, ''for-
getting the things that are behind"
they press forward in the direction of
that goal.
Evil Not a Beneficent Reality.
Some teachers who are selfess and
sincere argue that moral evil and
physical pain are not only realities,
but benefcent realities. But it is his
vision Of hot h., IN
to be meek and the reformer to be
fearless, and in that vision physical
pain and moral evil have no part. The
beauty of the vision of God was given
to us in Christ Jesus, who said: He
that hath seen me hath seen the Fa-
Their" ! never heard 1t argued that
his goodness and power to bless had
any other source than the Father God
with whom he was one. He was rec
ognized as the expressed image of
Gods character, but who would say
that the hypocrisy of the Pharisees
the envy of the priests. the treachery
of a disciple, were agencies in forming
the Christly nature Why, then, will
men argue for the beneficent reality
Of evil? If evil works good, then its
agents are our benefactors.
1t ought to be universally clear to
human comprehension that evil in be-
lief constitutes condition of perverse-
ness or reversal from which conversion
must be gained before what is true
and normal can be known at all, or
man be apparent as the likeness of
God. Jesus represents the Son of God.
Judas presents the reversal of true
manhood or integrity, and in that con-
dition of mind misrepresents both man
and God. 1t ought to be clear, also.
that the process of overcoming evil
with good is not a struggle with ad-
verse environment. but a contest with
wrong habits of thinking. The kingdom
of heaven must first be established
within. Goodness or goodness must
dfsplace ungodliness or godlessness.
Sin.