The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-25

Need-Cans Belief one of Progress.
Declaring emotionalism has no place
in healing. bodily ills through faith. Rev.
Or. William d. McCracken, Of Boston,
held more than 1000 persons by a stirring
lecture on the principles of Christian
Science. at the National Theater yester-
day afternoon.
He asserted Christian Science Is the true
religion Of optimism. and that it is not
new or different from the fundamental
belief OF original Christianity. The lee
turer said to believe God as the source
OF evil is to believe that God is evil.
Rev. Mr. McCracken was introduced
by Edward z. Norwood. The stage was
banked with flowers, and the theater was
filed to the last row in the gallery with
an interested audience.
Remarks in Introduction.
Mr. Norwood said;
I'VE are glad to see so many OF you
here this afternoon, for we think our
lecturer has a message for you-a mes
sage from God. He is here to tell Of the
practical teaching and correlative fruits
OF Christian Science, as manifested in Its
healing and transforming power. And his
message is 10 two classes-to those who
come for the physical healing and receive
it. and TO those who. hungering and
thlrsting after righteousness, their hearts
and their flesh crying ont for the living
God. and win be satisfied with nothing
less"
Mr.. NcCrackan spoke in part as fol-
lows:
1.-THE message Of Christian Science Is
simple and straightforward, and responds
TO a universal need. It IS not easily
treated as an academic theme. nor is 1t.
strictly speaking. a debatable question,
because it provides the proofs OF its own
correctness, and these proofs are final
and convincing Christian Science does
more than preach or promise; it fulhlls.
Religion of Progress.
This is an age Of practical achieve
ment, and Christian Science is in thor
ough accord with the demand made for
proofs. Il lives and grows in favor with
the needy Of the earth by reason Of its
fruit Christian Science makes no claim
which II cannot substantiate and so. in
this day OF advance in every department
OF human activity, It IS demonstrating
its 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 progresses:
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 turn
ing; we also believe that the precepts and
warnings OF Jesus can never become an
tiquated and that the Bible OF our IA
theirs, the great treasure house OF Chris
tendon, when spiritually interpreted by
Christian Science. suffices for our daily
needs.
No New Contemplation.
so II is not new Bible which Chris
tian Science contemplates, but one and
the same Bible, explained in a spiritually
progressive manner. II is not a new
God which It proclaims, but the only true
God. our Father which is In heaven. II
makes no attempt at an improved Christ.
for there is but one Christ. who Is in the
bosom Of the Father perfect, eternal, and
indestructible. Christian Science is pro-
gressive, and marks an advance in reli-
gion because it throws the strong light
OF science upon the nature and attributes
OF Deity, upon the teachings and works
OF the Christ, and because II picks out
from the Bibles makeup the essential.
imperishable import or its spiritual mes
sage.
Christian Science calls upon mankind
for 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 flmy wings, is asked to dis
play the necessary courage to pass in
review the things which pertain to its
own salvation from false gods Why
should not right and just views concern
Ing God and His universe be capable OF
more precise statement? Why should il
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 he understanding of how to grow
in grace, how to deepen and broaden
ones spiritual concepts. progress accord
ing to law? And why shuold not this
knowledge concerning the fountainhead
OF all knowledge. the Giver OF all good
gifts. the absolute. eternal principle OF
all life, in whom we live. and move. and
have our being-why should not this
knowledge constitute .demonstrable sci
ence?
DemOnstrabIe Science.
Christian Scientists believe that It
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 has sent
Though physical sense. left to its own
devices. rises in opposition TO the most
High and tries to give the impression
that God IS cruel and willingly ahlicts
His defenCeless children, Christian
Science, calculating the Scriptures. proves
that evil is not OF Gods creation or per-
mission. Good and good only proceeds
from the Giver Of every good gift. and
all assertions 10 the contrary are due 10
ignoraice or blindness OF heart Johns
statement that God is Love lives on for
ever side by side with Jesus profound
explanation that God is Spirit
But We viii not deceive ourselves in
regard to the opinion Of the world and
Of the natural man or mortal man con-
corning God, His Christ, ara His crea-
ton