Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-23
Bicknell Young Explains
Christian Science TenetS
Pay Great Tribute to Mrs
Eddy in Address in Temple Auditorium-Lee c. Gates
Introduces Speaker, Who Holds Close
Attention of Hearers

of London, England, lecture on
Christian Science. Mr.. Young was
introduced by Lee c. Gates and held
his auditors attention unswervingly
delivering not defense of Christian
Science, but an explanation Of what
Science means and what it can and
has accomplished. At his close the
speaker paid a high tribute to Mrs
Eddy, saying the debt humanity owes
her would be better appreciated in the
years to come than it can be today
Mr.. Young said:
y problem contains within itself
the lcans of its own solution. This
fact quite as true of life as of bust
ness or any other human endeavor.
In the effort to solve the difficulties in
human existence generally accented
theories of religion and science have
considered Affections legitimate and
inevitable.
Christian Science boldly declares
they are not legitimate, and conse-
quently not inevitable. 1t takes new
standpoint. 1t asserts that solution
of the problems of life becomes pos
cation as will lift observation and
thought above mere material ex-
perience to the discernment of per
manent basis and an absolute rule Of
life.
In line with these logical conclusions
it is seen that the old, constraining
method of watching for the material
phases and symptoms of disease, in
stead of searching for their causes has
not tended to decrease them. On the
contrary, they have increased. many
new diseases constantly appearing.
Christian Science, on the other
hand. tends to decrease the number of
diseases, and it is universally acknowl-
edged that it has never invented any
new ones. Indeed, careful investiga-
ton shows that it both discloses and
destroys the roots of disease.
SCIENTIFIC BASIS
Indeed. as a system of education.
Christian Science is unique and orig
inal 1t explains itself. and nothing
else explains it. 1t can be approached,
however, from a common standpoint
which is universally acceptable That
we exist is incontrovertible. 1t is
fact so absolute that no one questions
it, Upon that fact depends all achieve
ment in science, art and general
progress.
That universal fact involves cor
relative facts which are not at first
so easily perceived, but which are just
as absolute. Man is not self-existent
nor self creative. He is effect, not
cause.
In such analysis, however, it is not
pretended that human existence Illus
trates the truth concerning man. Ma
terial life is generally regarded as
icfo o1fn
say it is largely a mistake; and in
moments of great encouragement,
some have even declared 1t to be wholly
mistake But it matters not what
view may be taken of human existence.
Even if it be regarded as a mistake,
it would be admitted as a mistake
about something, since 1t could not be
a mistake about nothing.
Therefore, whatever one believes or
disbelieves, merely by existing he is
constantly proclafming first great
Cause. the Divine Principle of being
whom Christians unite in calling God.
The nature of Divine Principle is
necessarily continuous. No Logical
thought concerning God is possible
without the acknowledgement of His
eternality. Being eternal, He is exempt
from any characteristic or qualities
that might tend to interrupt Being.
TO be destructive in it's nature Sin-{s
equally so, for it tends to tear down
both character and body. Neither sin
nor disease ever build up or construct.
The first great Cause or Creator IS
constructive, upbuilding. Consequently,
Christian Science reasons fnexorably
that sin and disease are not of God;
that they do not originate in Him;
that they are not sustained nor in
1NTyI i'm
It declares that God does not permit
them for any purpose whatever, for In
order to do that it would be necessary
for Him to be conscious of them, and
to be conscious of an element of des-
truction is to have that element.
Christion Science. therefore, disclos-
ing the fact that God cannot be con-
scious of any evil element or Quality,
crvstallizes that fact into the state
ment, God is good. This deduction mas
been generally accepted, but not gem
erally understood as scientific. Chris
tian Science enables one to understand
1t by logical reasoning producing con-
clusiOns of the most convincing nature.
The word of God carries an associa-
ton the most sacred of any TO be found
in language, and yet on account of in
adequate education, right ideas of God
do not generally prevail
MOI 1nI1eQueHlly Il6lllftl plCluIto arc
entertained in the endeavor to under
stand Gods personality, but no think
ing person believes that 1t would be
possible to make a mental or other
picture of Infnity.
NO DENIAL OF EXISTENCE
Persons unaccustomed to Christian
Science teaching, however. are apt to
think that a denial of material sense
of things is equivalent to the denial
of ones own existence, but that such
is not the case is clearly shown when
we remember that sometimes in the
contemplation of something very beau
tiful, or when absorbed in some inter-
esting subject, we forget our material
existence and live in a realm entirely
above it for the time being.
Such experiences give a hint of
Christian Science teaching concerning
the real man and his relation to God,
and show conclusively that discern
ment of immortality Is to be gained by
rising above the evidence of the senses.
If it be scientific along the lines of
human endeavor to expect that the evil
dence of the senses concerning the out
side world will be changed by means of
science, and this is the expectation, is
it unscientific to expect that such evil
dence in relation to the human body
NAV also be changed? Is 1t less scien-
tific for Christian Science to change
the evidence of the senses in this re-
gard than for other sciences to change
other evidences of the senses?
Though the ways by which such
changes are accomplished in Christian
Science are different is it necessarily
less scientific? Since all science in
wolves the recognition of ideas and
their use, shall that not be legitimately
called science which brings to light
right ideas concerning God and shows
1.