The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-10-04
Lecture by William R. Rathvon, Member Of
the Board Of Lectlreship Of the First Church
Of Christ, Scientist, Boston. Delivered at
First Church Of Christ, Denison, Tuesday
Evening, October 3, 1911.

the scoffer and the blasphemer are
finding the Gospel treasure house
of JOY and consolation whose untried
doors had been barred against them
until unlocked by the Key forged by
the hands of a gentle woman who
loved all mankind.
1t has fallen to my lot to have known
it's author intimately in the last few
years of her earthly activity. One
November day in 1908, Mrs. Eddy
called me to her side from my home
in Colorado, and there l remained un-
til that once happy household at
Chestnut Hill was left joyless and
desolate by her going. l was privi-
legged to share her daily counsels for
more than two years, and from the
time of my first half hours heart-to-
heart talk with her. down to the
afternoon, when standing at her side
saw her marvellous hands shape her
last written words. God is my life"
l have never Wavered in my belief
that she has been the chosen evangel
of Truth, entrusted with those good
tidings of great JOY that have been
waiting mans readiness since the
days when Jesus trod the dusty fields
of Syria and sailed the blue waters of
Galilee.
The establishment of a great relig-
ious organization whose twelve hun
dred growing branches belt the globe.
the installation of simple form OF
service which fills those churches
twice each week with throngs of wor-
shippers who are drawn neither by
music, eloquence nor sensational en-
the building up of eff
cient agencies and institutions for the
and protection of rad
ically new system of ethics; and the
of great metropolitan
daily in the interests of clean journal
ism whose success has set new mark
in the newspaper world-these things
or any of them would give eminence
to the life work of the most ambitious
of men. To a modest woman, Mary
Baker Eddy, belongs the credit of them
all.
But these achievements, grand as
they are, weighed little with her COM
pared with the fruits of her conse-
Grated endeavors to bring more and
more OF peace on earth and good will
to men, and to guide US to clearer
and more practical understanding of
the Fatherhood of God and the broth
erhood OF man. The applause OF men,
like their abuse and condemnation,
were brushed aside as cobwebs when
she was once assured of the approval
OF God.
could by the hour recite to you
incidents of Mrs. Eddy's wisdom and
sagacity, OF her strength and determin-
alton, of her wit and humor, of her
love for little children and her de-
light in the beautiful, of the mex
pressible charm of her manner and
the eloquence of her voice, but it is
not of these things that she would
have me speak.
1t was her desire-almost daily ex-
pressed-that her followers should dis
regard her personality and address
their thoughts to the things of God,
which she has disclosed to them. She
would have us study her books and
not her personality. She would have
US know her by what she wrote and
not by how she looked. Years ago she
instructed her students to follow her
only as she followed Christ, and
though she was a rare leader she was
an ideal follower of all that was truly
good.
Body's Response to Mind.
1t is often charged against Chris
tan Scientists because they rely Who'll
y upon mind that they do not do
anything" for the sick. When the av-
arage man considers the needs of a
sick person, his thought at once turns
% the medicine bottle and he believes
here is nothing being done for the
sick man unless he is made to swal
ow something. According to his per-
,mptory opinions, the sick man should
oe treated with something that he can
aste or smell or feel, something that
he senses can perceive. Otherwise
Nothing is being done for him. He |
nay tell you that attempting TO change |
he condition of mans body through |
mind is about as sensible as wishing |
dollars into your bank account. 1T
won't work." he informs you, the sick
nan will get worse in the one case
md your checks will be thrown out
n the other" And yet-this same in
elligent citizen will readily admit
hat a mans body commonly and fire.
luently undergoes sudden and very
marked changes due entirely to mental i