The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-05
GIVES LECTURE ON
 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
William RathvOn of Boston
 Speaks at Bijou
EXPLAINS DOCTRINE
Speaker Illustrates Effect of Mind On Body and Influence of Thought Over Physical
 Conditions

l
 of Christ. Scientist at Boston, addressed
 large Birmingham audience at the
 Bijou theatre yesterday afternoon. MT. Rathvon is a member of the board of lectureship of the mother church and
 the subject of his discourse was, Chris
 tian Science, the New Light on Old
 Truths
 l E. W. Moore, acting reader of the
 First Church of Christ, Scientist. of this
 city, introduced the speaker of the aft ernoon with passing comment on his position in the church and occupied the platform throughout the lecture. MT.
 Rathvon. who is quietly eloquent and
 of easy address, made a simple explana- ton of the Christian science doctrines that was most favorably commented upon by those present at the conclu- sion of his speech.
 Excerpts from address read as fol- lows:
 "The truths of Christian Science do
 not originate in the book Science and
 Health. They find expression there but their origin is in God Trey have al- ways existed and will forever exist What effect, then, it may be asked,
 does the study of this book have upon those who have previously been Bible students? Does it supplant the Bible
 in their reverence and admiration? Is the book of books less precious to them than before? The answer Is, No On the other hand Science and
 Health harmonizes many seeming incongruities in the Bible which have long perplexed layman and theologian it explains apparent contradictionss 1t discloses unexpected riches; it gives
 new significance to favorite passages and brings neglected ones into favor.
 Makes Bible Students
 "'rhe study and application of it's teachings by those who have had 1it- tie or no familiarity with the scriptures has made them Bible students and Bible lovers.
 "The establishment of great re- iigious organization whose twelve hun dred growing branches belt the globe, the installation of a simple form of service which fills those churches twice each week with throngs of worship pers who are drawn neither by music, eloouence, nor sensational entertain ment; the building up of efficient agen- cies and institutions for the dissemina- tion and protection of a radically new syst em of ethics, and the launching of great metropolitan daily in the in- terests of clean journalism whose suc- cess has set a new mark in the news paper 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. be- longs the credit of them all.
 "When the average man considers the needs of a sick person, his thought at
 once turns to the medicine bottle and
 he believes there is nothing being done for the sick man unless he is made to
 swallow something. According to his peremptory opinions. the sick man
 should be treated with something that he can taste or smell or feel, some-
 thing that the senses can perceive He will admit that salt water will flow from his eyes if he is subjected to great grief That sudden fear will produce
 cold precipitation. That anger will cause
 the face to flush or pale. the heart to thump, the voice to change. And if of these why not of other organs of the body. If changing grief into joy will stop the flow of tears or in other words if a change of thought Will change the flow of fluid to the eyes, why will not change of thought cnange the flow of fluids in the stomach.
 Disease Habit
 Perhaps the most common of disease | inviting habits is Encouragement. I dare say we have all been on intimate | terms with 1t one time or another and while we have never found it cheerful company, We have not looked upon 1t ] as sinister visitor Yet that is just ! ,vi, I,risfian Scieura shows if to he