Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-09-29
Christian Science Explained By One Who Qualified By Authority


The annual lecture on Christian
Science was delivered in the E!ks
Temple Thursday evening last under
the auspices OF First Church of
Christ, Scientist, of Ashland. Ore, by
Judge Clifford p. Smith. member of
the board of lectureship of the Moth
or Church, The First Church of
Christ, Scientist, of Boston, Mass.
Judge Smith was introduced by Bert
r. Greer, who spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Prejudice
has busted itself since creation build
ing barrier in the way of human
progress. 1t has stood out against
every forward movement in science,
religion, liberal art and intellect.
Always the dominant mental trait
has been to cling to the old and de-
cry the new-to adopt doctrines long
accepted and hold them as ultimate
truths.
1t is not strange. therefore, that
dhis trait proves dominant in consid-
ering theology, for religion touches
1he handspring of human sentiment.
1t has been the all-absorbing topic of
Ghe ages. Sages have written on it;
messiahs have come and gone; books
of inspirational writ and of theology
have been accepted, revered, and in
turn rejected, and have passed away
with the age that developed them.
Jesus, the Christ, came with a
message into an age not prepared to
receive it, and prejudice crucified
him and reveled in the thought that
his system was destroyed. But his
proved the most humane doctrine
ever advocated and the best moral
philosophy ever taught-appealing sc
strongly to the minds of men that il
became the religion of civilization.
In spite of prejudice. human So
oiety advances and the aggregate
mind of man reaches out after truth
in harmony with that advancement
Even the Christ failed to satisf!
all minds on the identical relation
of God to man. How far does Coo
Snterpose in the affairs of man? Il
the intimate tie between man anC
his creator based ON faith or con
duct? Does man come closer to Coo
through belief or intellectual under
standing, and to what extent doe
spiritual union with God affect phys
ieal. man? These are all yet matter
of wide debate.
Christian Science is system deal
ing with these relations, and Will
am not Scientist, realize that
doctrine appealing SO strongly a
Christian Science does to such grea
numbers of informed, thoughtful
men and women-to persons deep i
research and reasons-challenge
our earnest and respectful considera
aion.
Ignorance always is spiritual bond
age Truth only will make men free
Thoughtful persons will curb preju
dice and seek truth wherever it is t
be found, for to persist in error i
both foolish and profitless.
I note with pleasure the tendenc
OF the age toward investigation
Under its power old things are pass
ing away and all things are becom
ing new.
The present generation stands wit
face to the future-with past error
II has nothing in common-it seek
truth, not precedent. as the sur
guide to its future faith and conduct
Therefore. wise persons assume re
ceptive mental moods toward what
ever doctrine seems sound in principl
We have here tonight a man wit
a message-a judge profound in il
Vestigation-mind trained in anal,
sis and tongue eloquent in debat,