The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1913-02-21


are understood and applied Moses and
the prophets and Jesus and his disciples
and followers healed the sick. raised the
dead and performed many wonderful
works by means of this power; and in
every age the result of the operation of
spiritual law in. human consciousness
has been to destroy discori and TO estab-
lish peace.
WHAT is CHRISTIAN sCIENCEi
Christian Science is religion. 1t is
the Science of Christianity-the science
Of God and man 1t reveals spiritual law
and explains the operation of that law
in relation to man and the universe. 1t
defines mortal mind and immortal mind
and so makes plsin the difference be-
tween mortal men and men made by God
in His image and likeness.
Christian Science pleads for rational
understanding of God in place of mere
belief about Him, and it is urging man
kind 10 look for the real causation in
mind and not in matter 1t declares that
God is not the author of sin, sickness or
death, hence these conditions are ille-
gitimate and can be destroyed by
knowledge of the truth IL denies that
there is any divine authority for man to
sin, suffer or die, and recalls the solemn
declaration of the scripture that God
gave man as his birthright dominion
contained. Jesus said, ''Ye shall know
the truth and the truth shall make you
Free Christian Science says TO the
tired and suffering man who is wander
ing about without any dominion at all,
that the knowledge of the truth will set
him free from his bondage TO sin, suffer
ing and sorrow, and failure, and will
give to him that dominion which God
said in the beginning belonged to man.
A correct understanding Of God. there
fore. is necessary as the foundation of
religion. Any system Of religious teach
ing that is founded upon an imperfect
or an erroneous conception of God must
necessarily fai. TO bring 10 the believer
the comfort and help that he seeks.
When we look around and see the devo-
ZION and fidelity Of people to their relig
ious beliefs, aud then see how often
they fail'to realize the benefits for which
they seek, il is u fair deduction that
there is something wrong about their
understanding of God.
The prophet Micah said mans enc
mics are they of his own househ Id, and
Jesus repeated the statement. I used to
understand their meaning to be that
mans enemies were his own kin, but
now realize that mans enemies are
they Of his OWL mental household. Tie
mental guests or thoughts that we en-
tertain in our mental homes are either
our friends or our foes. Hatred, fear.
self-love aud all evil qualities of thought
are enemies that bind nan TO sickness
and death, and man will never gain his
freedom until he drives out these enc
mics and makes his consciousness the
temple of God.
We are are told in Christian Science
that fear is an ingredient of every dis
ease, and if fear we've entirely destroyed
large number of diseases would go
with it. If we could imagine this world
with all fear, hatred, superstition, self
will and self-love destroyed out of it, it
is conceivable that longevity would be
increased and that happiness and health
would be secure.
If Christian Science had never healed
a case of sickness it would still be entit-
led to lasting praise for compelling this
age to recognize the power and influence
of thought. Solomon declared three
thousand years ago that as a man
''thinketh in his heart, so he is" In
other words, the quality of the man is
determined by the qualify OF his thou't.
1t is therefore of supreme importance
that man should know the truth. to the
end that he may know how to think cor
rectly.
AS time goes on humanity exhibits an
ever deer. asIng Interest in theories in
relation to God that are not helpful and
practical This tendency has been de-
plored by the churches as indicating a
loss of interest in religion, but it is not
so. 1t indicates tremendous desire for
a religion that is practical.
AN AGE OF PRACTICAL THINGS.
The demand for practical things also
demands religion that is practical.
People are no longer satisfied with the