The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-31
.DR. M'CRACKAN
 IN BIRMINGHAM
Talks on Christian Science, a
 Relion of Progress"
AT THE BIJoU THEATRE
Hugh Morrow at the Request of
 officers of the Local Church of the Sect


 guished lecturer and author spoke to a large audience yesterday afternoon at the | Bljou theatre on Christian Science-A
 Religin of Progress Dr. McCrackan Is a polished speaker and his address was
 heard attentively throughout. He Is a man high in the councils of Christian | Science, being now a member of the
 board of lectureship of the mother church of the sect In Boston. He is also the au- thor of a number of treatises on phil
 osophic and religious subjects, as well as author of his well-known History of
 the Swiss Republic
 | Dr. McCrackan was introduced by State senator-elect Hugh Morrow. who presided at the request of the officials of the local
 First Church of Christ, Scientist. Dr.
 McCrackan leaves this morning at 10 o'clock for New Orleans, where he has
 an engagement to lecture this evening l pr. McCrackan spoke In part as fol- | lows: 'The message of Christian Science is
 simple and straightforward and re- spends to a universal need It Is not | easily treated as an academic theme. nor 1t is. strictly speaking, debatable
 question, because 1t provides the proofs of it's own correctness, day by day and
 hour by hour, and these proofs are final and convincing. Christian Science does
 more than preach or promise. it fulfls.
 While 1t arouses the noblest aspirations and expectations of mankind. 1t also
 justifies its teachings by definite results Like the good Samaritan. 1t comes to those who have fallen among thieves.
 whom false concepts have robbed of health and happiness, whom material methods have passed by on the other sids, and pours into their wounds the takes them to the inn of shelter, and leaves with them the coin of priceless value which will insure their complete
 recovery and. In time. their complete salvation.
 Religion in Progress
 ."This is an age of practical achieve ment, and Christian Science is In thor ough accord with the demands made for proofs. It lives and grows in favor with the needy of the earth by reason of its fruits. Christian Science makes no claim which it cannot substantiate and SO, in this day of advance In every de- pertinent of human activity. 1t Is de-
 monstrating It's right to be known as the religion of progress
 Not that God, who constitutes the
 basis, foundation. and principle of all true religion. ever changes or pro- gresses; not that the teachings of Jesus
 the Christ, the founder of Christianity.
 need to be revised or the Bible rewritten.
 We read in the scriptures that with
 God there Is neither variableness nor
 shadow of turning, we also believe that the precepts and warnings of Jesus can never become antiquated. and that the Bible of our fathers, the great treasure house of Christendom, when spiritually
 interpreted by Christian Science suf-
 fees for our daily needs. The thread
 of gold which gleams throughout the
 fabric of the Bible will shine forth for
 ever to be apprehended by the receptive
 thought everywhere.
 "So 1t Is not a new Bible which Cnris-
 tian Science contemplates, but one and
 the same Bible, explained in a spirit
 ually progressive manner. It Is not a
 new God which 1t proclaims. but the
 only true God, our Father which is In
 heaven. It makes no attempt at an
 improved Christ, for there is but one Christ, who is in the bosom of the
 Father, perfect, eternal and indestruct- ible. Christian Science Is progressive.
 and makes an advance in religion be- cause 1t throws the strong light of sci ence upon the nature and attributes of diety, upon the teachings and works of the Christ and because 1t picks out from the Bibles makeup the essential imperishable import of it's spiritual mes- sage.
 Christian Science calls upon mankind for a frank and fearless revision of its own beliefs about the unchanging God. His man and His universe. This age. which is not afraid to fly in the face of the sun on filmy wings, Is asked to display the necessary courage to pass l in review the things which pertain to it's own salvation from false gods. Why should not right and just views concern | ing God and His universe be capable of more precise statement7 Why should 1t be thought a thing unreasonable with any one that God can become better understood by the average man than has
 been the case in the past? Why should not the understanding of how to grow | in grace, how to deepen and broaden one's spiritual concepts. progress accord Ii ing to law. And why should not this knowledge concerning the fountain head of all knowledge, the Giver of all good gifts, the absolute eternal prin- ciple of all life. in whom we live, and move. and have our being-why should not this knowledge constitute demon strable science?
 Christian Scientists believe that 1t does: that Jesus pointed out the only true. final and real knowledge when he said, And this Is life eternal. that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' The DiscoveTer
 Tt will hardly be necessary here to in- sist upon tho fact that religion should save the sinner. Whatever may be the doctrines which divide the various branches of Christendom, all are agreed at least upon this point. that 1t Is the natural work of religion. the business of Christianity. to save the sinner. But there is no such agreement regarding the