Alma record., 1912-01-18
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
As ExpOunded BY william X. RathVOn
6. 5. B.
At REALTY OPERA HOUSE JAN. IS
Good Attendance and Much Interest Manifest
ed In Address

The lecture at Realty opera house
last Tuesday evening by Nm. X.
Rathvon under the auspices OF the
First Church Christian Scientists OF
this city was we'll attended The
speaker was introduced by our towns
man w. A. Bahlkc, who in a five
minutes talk paid high tribute 10 the
zeal and earnestness OF the members
uf the Alma church and to the good
work and influence of its members
upon the community at large. Mr..
Rathvon proved pleasant speaker
and said in part;
OF the multitude OF men and women
who are indebted 10 Christian
Science, the great majority were
driven to it under the lash OF disease
or bodily deficiency. For many 1t
was their last resort, all else having
proved empty, iruitlesS, dlsappoint-
ing. Others there are who witness
ing in their own families and among
their own friends the pitiful failure
OF drugs. and the pitleSs frail OF the
knife preferred To trust their restOra-
ton TO God rather than ro the mind
less drug or the cruel steel. The
sanitarium, the operation table aye,
the very grave itself have been
robbed of their destined subjects III
such numbers as 10 force even froH
unfriendly lips the reluctant admis-
sion that Christian ScicRCe does heal
the sick
The basis OF Christian Science heal
ing is the infintude and omnipdencc
OF Mind, Spirit God
II personal evidence oi the eff
cacy of Christian Science IN healing
every class OF disease should be de-
sired, let me call Your attention TO
this fact Since 1888 there have been
published in each issue OF the Christ
ian Science official periodicals. detailed
personal accounts OF the healing OF
all manner OF diseases through Mind
alone. In this long list may be found
cases of every form OF functional and
organic disorder that rllateria medica
claims to have diagnosed. Many or
these people at one time held Christ
ian Science III disdain and tried II
only after the healing systems OF their
choice had utterly failed TO give them
permanent relief. Their names and
addresses can be had for. the asking.
as each particular case has been ex
amined for authenticity and accuracy
before public alton. They are from
reputable citizens. your neighbOrs and
mine, and such an array of credible
testimony is not 70 be swept aside by
a professional snccr
But should the incrcdu1ous desire
to see for himself what manner of
men and women have been made
whole by Christian Science after time
honored systems have failed, he need
but attend mid-week meeting al any
Christian Science church on a We'd
nesday night. and there hear from
their own lips the story OF their heal
ing.
1t is not TO be inferred from this.
however, that all who are healed III
Christian Science must become Christ
ian Scientists. or that the acceptance
.of its teachings must prccede the
sharing OF its benefits. The sick man
or the distressed woman does not
have to swear allegiance 10 Christian
Science in order 10 be made WELL II
ievies tribute on no mans religious
convictions.
Christian Science has but one text
book, Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker
Eddy 1t is not book 10 be quickly
absorbed or hastily thumbed over as
one would shallow novel Nor is
il to be approached with bias or pre-
judice If one would appropriate its
riches; but its truths may be proved
and in turn impaired by the child or
sage who turn its leaves with an open
mind. Only the open flower it is
that catches the dew and yields its
honey 10 the bee.
Saint and sinner meet on common
ground in the pages OF this remark
able book and though il starts all
alike at the bottom OF the ladder il
always lifts up and never drags down.
Time and again its covers have been
rudely torn open by unfriendly hands
in search of phrases to wrench from
their context and with which to smite
their men of straw, yet neither force
nor deceit. the laundering of the bear
or the cunning of the fox can avail
to divert or suppress its tidings of
comfort and JOY.
il has been asserted that Christian
Scientists place their textbook above
the Bible as the guide to righteous