The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1912-07-18
4 Lecture On
Christian Science
{Contsn,.ed from lust aceek)
Creation.

CONTINUED from lust areek)
Creation.
The subject of creation is also one about
which there is much misunderstanding. L
have found that many people do not
know that there are two accounts OF the
creation in the Bible. The first account
is to be found in the first chapter of Genes
is down to and including the third verse OF
the second chapter. Beginning with the
fourth verse of the second chapter there fol-
lows second account that is wholly diff
ferent from the first. In the first chapter
we are told that God created everything,
and that He made it good, and lastly that
He made man in His own image, and af-
ter His own likeness, and that he gave man
dominion over all the earth and over all it
contained.
The second account contains the allegory
about God coming down to earth and mix
ing up dust and calling it man. In the
second account we have the story OF Adam
and Eve and the Garden of Eden. Then we
are told that mist went up from the earth
and after that sin appeared, and brother
killed brother, and from that time to the
present the man made of dust has been
sinner and has been at enmity with God.
The great difference between Christian
Science and all other systems OF religious
teaching is that Christian Science accepts
the first account of the creation as true,
while all others accept the second account
as the basis and foundation upon which
they build. All through the centuries the
trouble has been that people have regarded
the Adam man as being the real man,
created by God in His image and likeness,
and have tried to make the goodness and
omnipotence of God fit the creation of a
sinner.
Christian Science maintains that man was
made in the image and likeness of God,
and that he is spiritual and not material.
To believe that God made man of dust is
to make God responsible for all the sin and
misery that have filled the world from the
beginning of time. Such belief is mon
strous, and is neither supported by the
Scriptures nor by reason. 1t dishonors God
and degrades mortals, and the best proof
that it is erroneous is the fact that 1t has
never delivered from men either sickness or
sin.
AS time goes on humanity exhibits an
ever decreasing interest in theories about
God that are not helpful and practical.
This tendency has been deplored by the
churches as indicating loss of interest in
religion, but it is not SO. 1t indicates a
tremendous desire for a religion that is prac-
tical.
This is an Age of Practical Things.
The chief difference between the civiliza-
ton of the present time and the civilizations
that have existed in the past, is to be found
in the desire for practical things. The
Greeks, for instance, attained high degree
of culture. They excelled in architecture,
<ha
drama, and in all forms of prose compost
ton, but with all of their culture they never
invented a single labor saving machine.
They knew nothing of electricity or of the
application of steam, never had a cooking
stove, sewing machine, or any of the
simplest convenienceS that are enjoyed to-
day by everyone.
In our own time the demand is for prac-
teal things. A thing is valuable in pro-
portion as it is useful No one has any
time for theories, and if man has theory
he must try it out for himself, and prove its
utility before any one will listen to him.
The demand for practical things also de-
mands religion that is practical. People
are no longer satisfied with theories about
what is to happen in another world. What
is desired is demonstrate religion that
saves from present troubles-from sickness,
and sin, and failure, and unhappiness, and
the countless ills of everyday human ex-
perience-and if there is a religion that will
do that, it can be safely trusted for the
future.
Christian Science is essentially practical
religion. 1t has been called applied Chris
tianity. There is the same difference be-
tween Christian Science and other systems
that there is between mathematics and en-
gineefing. Mathematics does much good
in many ways, but it is not until the rules
of mathematics are applied to human affairs
that we see brought our great bridges, rail-
roads, subways, lofty buildings, and other
things that are of public utility, and which
contribute to the well -being of mankind.
So it is only when the teachings of Jesus are
understood and applied to human affairs
that we see the sick healed, sinners liberated
from bondage to evil habits, and other prac-
tical things done for the betterment of HUI
manity.
Nor is the desire for practical things
limited to religion, but manifests itself in a
desire to find practical solution of the
problems of life. Man desires to know who
he is, where he came from, and where he is
going. He wants to know what is true as
regards sickness and sin and death. He
wants to find out if it is necessary for him
to go on forever suffering from those con-
ditons. In short, the same desire for prac-
teal things that is responsible for the steam
engine, telephone, telegraph, and multi
tudes of other useful things is driving men
forward to try to find the truth about them
selves.
Human Existence an Enigma.
Human existence is an enigma. AS far
back as mortal man has left any history of
himself we find that he has been engaged in
an effort to solve this problem. To aid