The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-26


Opera House last night to hear w. d.
McCrackan, M. A, c. S. B., lecture on
Christian Science. The distinguished
visitor came here direct from Boston.
He was introduced by G. NJ. lie
Blonde, one of the Hilo members of
the Christian Science church.
The following is a summary of his
discourse:
Every thinking man finds himself,
sooner or later, face to face with the
all-important and all-absorbing ques-
ton, What is God?
In summarizing the teaching of
Christian Science for the student, Mrs.
Eddy, the discoverer and founder of
Christian Science, gives the answer to
that question in her work, Science
and Health, with Key to the Scrip
lures: God is incorporeal, divine,
supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul,
Principle, Life Truth, Love-" (p. 1861
Upon a correct comprehension Of
God depends the happiness, the peace,
the true prosperity, and the true use
fulness of mankind. Nay, more-and
this is a point which may seem novel
to many-Christian Science shows that
the true health of mankind is deter
mined by their understanding of God
and His Christ. Not only is this cor
rect and scientific knowledge proved
avocations, in his home, in his bust
ness, in his individual affairs, and in
his participation in the affairs of the
nation, but it eXerts a beneficial eff
feet upon the physical condition of
men, women and children, and heals
sickness as we'll as sin and sorrow.
To know God and His Christ is not,
therefore, merely to learn the doc
trinal points in some barren and de-
sultory theology, to set up dry pc
dantic postulates, but, as Jesus has
said, to know God IFS life eternal"
As soon as man turns understandingy
to the only true God, he begins to
dwell in the consciousness of Life, be-
gins to be unconscious of everything
which can in any way infringe upon
or impair life, and to be free mentally
from the encroachments of fear. He
| is learning to be absent from the
body" from this material penthouse,
and present with the Lord" with the
life-giving Principle which is eternal
and fadeth not away.
In spite of much that is being writ
ten and preached on this infinite
theme of the nature of the Godhead
one has only to watch public express
sion or, indeed, to search ones own
habits of thought, to recognize many
illogical and even dangerous concepts
which need correction through care
full definition,
Let us consider two of the defini
lions used by Mrs. Eddy in her answer
tc the question, What is God? namely
the definitions of God as Love and as
. Spirit. The apostle John makes the
statement that God is Love" Mucl
declaration in current theological writ
ing. Mankind, harassed by sin anC
sickness, wishes to believe this al
firmation of John, hopes that it il
true, and is eager for the Science
which explains how it is that God mus
Of necessity be Love, though morta
experience seems to be so full of dis
appointment, apprehension and worry
and eliminates in disease and death
The explanation of this seeming para
, dox is furnished by Jesus statemen
! to the Samaritan woman that God il
! Spirit" or, as this appears in thu
Revised Version, God is Spirit" Pro
! ceeding from this latter saying as {
basis, we arrive at far-reaching con
illusions, fraught with vital import
{ ance to mankind.
The Real Man.
; If God is Spirit, then the real maj
Of His creation, who is made in Hi
{ image and likeness, as the Bible as
sures us, and therefore partakes o
, His nature, must be spiritual, i. e.
must express and manifest Spirit. TIT
real mans Life must be Spirit, hi
faculties must be spiritual Further
more, as the image and likeness o
God, the real man must be complete
, happy, wholesome, and healthy. H,
cannot deny his parentage nor brinl
, discredit upon his ancestry. He mus
be eternal and indestructible now, thi
/ ideal man, the Son of God.
, Furthermore, if God is Love, w
b cannot conceive Of Him az creatinl