Evening journal., 1910-03-15
JUDGE EWINC'S
ABLE LECTURE
Discusses Mission Of Christian
Science Before a Large
Audience
TAKES UP DIFFERENT
PHASES OF QUESTIONS

AAehS66 ~ K0AA AAVAN6
In the Avenue Theatre on Sunday night
William G. Ewing, a former judge OF the
Chicago courts. lectured under the auspi-
ces OF the Christian Science lecture board
TO very large audience on the mission OF
Christian Science JudSe Ewing said in
part.
/ In the discussion OF this question we are
somewhat embarrassed by inherited re-
/ liglous opinions; by that peculiar and al
most universal condition OF mind. best
/ known as prldo In ancestral religious be-
/ lief. II is so much easier 20 have some one
think for you than to think for yourself.
TO have a religious belief. doctrine or
creed handed down 20 you as garment.
decoration, title or jewel might descend
from father TO son, instead Of earning
your own garment. winning your own
decoration, deserving your title 1t Is so
very easy and therefore inviting, TO put
aside the whole matter with sweep Of
| nlial pride. MY fathers were good and
pious people. and the religion that was
good enough for them Is good enough
for me-"
But the religion Of your father is not
good enough for you. ana II good enough
for your fathers. It was only because they
had tho best that tho times in which they
! lived and the locality in which they lived
afforded. You live in a brighter day than
ever gladdened your fathors-at a period
fathers never knew. A moments consider
alton should satisfy you that there is no
reason why tho religion Of your fathers
ia.
than the wooden shoes and leather cloth
ing OF your fathers are good enough for
you; or that your fathers ignorance OF the
laws OF gravitation tho form OF the earth,
the rules Of navigation, the power Of
steam, compressed air, and electricity Is
good enough for you.
Advance of the World.
The fallacy Of your position is somewhat
graphically illustrated by tho effort re-
Gently made In one OF the European rnr-
liaments TO rc-establish capital punish
ment for some OF the minor onenses. The
proposition was Of course, quickly assailed
as an effort to return TO the barharisIu OF
the fathers. Whercupon a pious advocate @
OF tho measure closed an impassioned
recitation Of the father penchant for de-
capitation with the declaration. 81 do not
hesitate to have my constituents advised
that if hanging was good enough for my
fathers, IL is good enough for me-"
The fact is the world has drifted away
from the gray Of tho morning to the
greater light of it's MONDAY: we have
drifted away from our fathers thought
respecting all questions OF moral. social,
political and civil government. and by
reason thereof have reached a higher civ
ilization, and. a nearer approach to the
perfect good Of men, than any yesterday
has ever known; and clearly the ultima.
tum of human attainment win be accom-.
. plished only when wo assert our inherent
r right, our inherent duty TO determine fol
ourselves with what thought OF God We
will stand before Ills great judgment bar
when the books are opened and all sec.
rets revealed. For it is by our own
thought under our own opportunity, and
not by the more circumscrihed thought OF
under the lesser opportunity. of our faith
ers that we must be justified.
1t is quite apparent that the antagonism
OF the good people Of tho old churches to
Christian Science grows out OF their i'm
preston that II is neither Christian nor
scientific. If it is not Christian, II is Of
little importance whether Il Is scientific
or not, II it is Christian, that is Il It is
the religion that Jesus Christ taught and
demonstrated. then It would require not
only a very bold. but a very reckless
Christian man TO question its scientific at
titude. Let MS then meet tho important
question; 'Is Il Chrlstian?" II Il is not, Il
is not only open to your antagonism. but
/ invites and should receive il.
I propose to test its Christian character
, from your professed estimate Of the
Christian religion and n It reaches your
standard. some one else and not you
must continue the antagonism. make the
assertion that there Is not single prin.
ciple that any intelligent man for five
: hundrtd years has regarded as essential
OF the religion Of Jesus Christ, that any
conscientious person OF average Intellect
IN the old churches would have 10 sur.
render in accepting an that is claimed foi
Christian Science. II this is true. II places
us at once upon a common plane OF belief
and necessarily excludes antagonlsm, end,
discussion.
! Now what are the essentials OF the re-
ligion Of Jesus Christ? Evidently a prlm,
essentials 20 the religion is belief IN God
all powerful and everywhere present "Wht
made all that was made and pronounced
I all that He made good" infinite In wis
; dom, power. justice, mercy, truth and
love: a spirit 10 be worshippcd in spirit ant
truth. Christian Scientists believe I'm, wor
/ ship and adore such a God. DO your An
other essential Of the religion OF Jesus re
qulres belief I'm the Christ, belief. too, fl
the sense which Jesus used the word
, trust. faith. reliance: belief in and re
: lance upon His Messiahship. His redemp
ton and the salvation He brought. We ao
, cept this wholly, absolutely. DO your
Another essential OF the religion OF Jesu
I requires the acceptance OF the word o
4 God, contained in tho Old and New Tes
:. taments. ns Gods revelation Of Himsel
b. TO man. Tor mans guidance 10 eternal life
o Christian Scientists do this. DO you? An
e other essential OF the religion OF Jesu
commands the acceptance Of tho Tel
8 Commandments as Gods laws of require