Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-09-29

He comes to explain a system that
he believes has led him to a better
understanding of the true relation
of God to man. We will receive him
with attention and give his theme
our earnest consideration.
1t is my privilege and pleasure to
mt oduce to this splendid assemblage
Judge Clifford P. Smith.
Judge Smith spoke in part as fol-
.ows:
Christian Science is a way of liv-
ing that finds it's chief inspiration
its perfect illustration and it's COM
piete proof in the teaching and eX-
ample or Jesus. 1t reveals, awakens
and develops the divine possibilities
that exist, latently, in every one. 1t
shows how to throw off the inabili-
ties, the disabilities and the liabili-
ties that have been imposed on men
by ages of wrong thinking, and how
to gain their true manhood. 1t eX-
plains the so-called miracles OF Jesus
as acts of power, spiritually natural
and absolutely lawful, which exposed
IlO ldlOlly vi lllC lldlClld ldl OCllOC Vi
nature and law.
Christian Science destroys and pre-
vents disease by lifting thought
above the cause and condition of dis
order into the kingdom of God
into the atmosphere of divine Truth
and Life. 1t reforms social condi-
tions by giving men motives and
ideals that are workable as well as
altruistic. 1t defines the obligation
of the individual, not only to God,
but to his fellow men, in terms of
love and service. 1t exhibits the
spiritual power which justly belongs
| to goodness. 1t proves that heaven
is not merely the future home of the
righteous, but the present reward of
right thinking and right doing.
Being compassionate, helpful and
spiritual, it is Christian. Since it is
methodical and calls for exact knowl-
edge and is based on Principle, it is
Science.
Christian Science has now been
taught and practised long enough for
it's effects to be observed in a very
large number of cases. In this man
ner a great quantity of evidence has
accumulated to prove its effects are
exceedingly wholesome. Consistently
practised, it produces moral, mental
and physical health with a CORE
spending degree of happiness.
You have doubtless heard of, and
you are probably acquainted with
the type of religionist who cannot en-.
joy period of thorough happiness
without coming to twinges of con
science and expecting to be the vic
tim of some calamity. No such state
Of thought is begotten by Christian
Science, in which JOY and peace are
natural as well as rightful and be
long to what Paul described as 9Th,
full assurance of understanding"
Such being the case, it is reason
able to inquire why every one wht
, hears of Christian Science does no
hasten to avail himself of its bene
fits. 1t meets human needs, and i
does so in the way that promises t.
deliver humanity from the bondag
of evil. Are the reasons valid whicl
would prevent you or me from max
ing a thorough inquiry into this sub
Ject? This is a fair question; ant
| will therefore examine as many O
the arguments designed to turn peo
pie away from Christian Science as
can within the time which you hav
put at my disposal.
Perhaps the most frequent objec
J. tion urged against Christian Scienc
! is that 1t denies the divinity of tn
Christ. What Christian Science doe
teach on this subject is of such vas
Importance to all mankind that
wish to examine this question par
ticularly before taking up anothe
topic. In the writings of Mar
Baker Eddy, the Discoverer an
Founder Of Christian Science, the di
| vinity of the Christ is often affirme
) and never denied; hence this censure
as it is commonly made, does no
present a clear statement of the rea
issue.
. The fact is that what Christia
: Science denies is not the divinity O
the Christ, but the belief that Jesu
is God and the correlative theor
3 that God consists of three persons
This is the real issue; and of cours
= it is one that ought to be referred t
Jesus and settled by his own utter
ances as recorded in the New Testa
i ment. The doctrine that would def