Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-05-07
A Lecture on Christian Science By Virgil o. Strickler, C.S.
Member of the Board of i.ectureship of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist,
 in Boston, Mass.

However much people may differ in their attitude towards Christian Science every one will admit that it has done many good things. Entirely apart from the question of physical healing, it is generally conceded that 1t produces a happy and contented mentality, that it destroys fear, and makes people loving and kind.
 When we add to this the fact that it has healed many sick people who had previously been unable to find relief under other systems. that It has cured many Of the drug habit, and of the liquor habit, has restored harmony ill many homes that were discordant and has given hope and courage to people who were dis couraged, it is easy to understand why Christian Science has spread from one end of the earth to the other with such wonderful rapidity.
 It has been truly said that every person has problem, either physical or mental. a domestic or business problem, towards the solution Of which he needs Gods help, and II Christian Science is able to help peo- pie to be happy, to be less fault-find- ing, to be healthy, to have less fear, and to have more love, then it is something that every one desires.
 Before becoming interested in Christian Science. 1 was member of an orthodox church. l had been taught to read the Bible and to res pect and venerate it's teachings, and I did so. There was one thing, how ever, that I was never able to under stand, and that was why everybody who lived at the time of Jesus and witnessed his wonderful works did not believe in him. It seemed to me that if had lived at that time, and had been able to see him heal leprosy, blindness, insanity, and raise the dead, it would have been very easy LO UCllCNG III SSPiS "AO 'i' messed those works. however were not always impressed in his favor be- cause of them. Sometimes when he performed one of his most wonderful cures it stirred some of the people to rage. For instance, when he raised Lazarus from the dead, one of the eye witnesses hastened toNreport it to the authorities in Jerusalem, and the Jewish Sanhedrim forthwith declared that he must be killed, because. they said, if they did not kill him all the people would follow him.
 Since becoming a Christian Scient ist I can understand why the people of his time were not convinced by the works of Jesus that he was the true representative of God. They believed that a Messiah would come, but they expected him to come in a certain way, and because he did not come in that way they refused to believe in him.
 It is the same quality of thought that prevents people at the present time from being convinced that Christian Science is the truth by the works that it does. All of the churches pray for the recovery of the sick They do so because they expect that God will heal according to His promises in the Bible, but when the healing comes through the Christian Science church and as the result of Christian Science prayer. some are ready to condemn it. Because the healing Christ does not come in the way they have eX- pected they are just as ready today as two thousand years ago to declare that he did his works through Beelze- bub.
 Let us not rob ourselves of any good thing because of prejudice or sectarianism. Christian Science is knocking at the door of this age with a message of hope for every one. It declares that the truth taught and practised by Jesus is operating today and that it is as available for us as it was for those who lived in Apostolic times.
 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HEALING
 The thing that has caused the mos, criticism of Christian Science is that it claims to heal the sick without drugs. by spiritual means only through the medium of prayer, and as this is the phase of Christian Science in which the public seems to be most interested l shall take the liberty of discussing the subject with some par ticularity, and shall endeavor to an swer the objections that have been presented to healing by prayer.
 There are two classes of critics who attack Christian Science healing. First those who say that it is i'm