Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-01

address upon Christian Science last
introduced by Mr.. e. P. Gale, OF this {
More and more each year are think
ing men coming to realize that the ma
terial world which surrounds US does
not represent the truth of being. Inc
world as it appears to us thru our nNe
senses Is proved each year to be more
unstable, more transitory and more un-
real.
In place of this tearing down OF these
false trusts. are coming with increasing
clarity the true facts of being. which
present the spiritual reality in place OF
our old beliefs in its mortal opposite.
That the teachings of the bible VIII
bring US to the kingdom of heaven Is
commonly accepted by all christendom
but it has remained for the Christian
Scientist to prove that these spiritual
teachings which have always peen
waiting for US are as practical 10 man
now as they were in the days OF Jesus
Christ.
With the idea of informing the inter
ested public more thoroughly on the
subject, and in order to correct any pre-
conceived and erroneous notions OF
what Christian Science is, or is not,
The Mother Church, The First Church
of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass. OF
which this church is branch, NAM
tains board of lectureship, and by in
vitation of the branch church OF TINS
city, l am pleased to present Mr.. VIM
D. McCrackan. of New York Caty' VINO
will now address you.
Mr.. McCrsckan said in part:
In defining God. Mrs. Eddy uses the
terms Mind. Spirit, Soul. Principle. L'ie'
Truth, Love She has laid special en-
phasis On the unity Of God. Coo Is
one There are not gods many. II Is
not possible to conceive of more than
one first cause, more than one original
source Of creation. The evident unity
OF the universe. its homogencity, the
revolving of the stars in their oroles
without clash or interference all point
TO some central plan. 10 one guidlns
hand. one directing Mind Gods uni
verse is infinite and II follows from
this fact that there is nothing OUTSIDE
of HIS universe. that all which mas
existence, reality or entity is com
prised within that universe and is SUD
ject to divine control. The oneness G.
God also declares the brotherhood or
man. Having one God makes ali men
the children of one Father Mother, ana
SO establishes our fraternal relation
ship.
it is evident that the belief OF gods
many lies at the base Of all strife be-
tween men and nations. II different
religious denominations. different po-
l,t;cal groups and different racial units
each possess a different god. then 1t
becomes the duty Of each 10 fight In
behalf Of heir own god, and the result
is paadernonium But if there is only
one Gnu governing the universe, in
Gliding man. then obedience to that
one God insure peace, cooperation
and m,,tua, heIpfulness among men
and nations. The Science which is
giving man an understanding Of the
one God, is, therefore. providing the
final cure for all religious social. po-
l;ticai and economic conflicts and con-
tests.
God Is Principle.
Scholastic theology has generally ap-
PILED the term person to GOD and IN SO
doing has tended to perpetuate the
notion Of an anthropomorphic, or man
Ike god The word person conveys the
repression Of being with human at
tributes. human limitations, and human
imperfections. capable OF being out
lined and formed. 1t can readily De
seen now this attempt to outline God
would tend to produce idoiatry.
Again. a person may be in good
hurnor today and in bad humor tomor-
row person may be influenced oy
temporary conditions and be capable
OF favcritism. may show partially. Tn
term Principle is not open to any o.
these objections. God as Principle
never varies. never changes, is abso-
lutely rel;a BILE, dependable. at all times
and under all circumstances. 1t is the
very nature OF Principle TO be ever
active. lawful unmoved by personal
considerations Thus the term Prin
cip:e as applied to God has been found
to enhance mans confidence in God, &c
increase his trust in Gods impariiaiity,
justice and power
God Is Spirit.
Every step in the direction Of the
right understand ing of God brings its
rwn reward. The study Of each OF the
synonyms for God leads TO practical
conclusions which become at once
a--.l.labie in everyday experience. The
use of the word Spirit in defining Coo
reveals the essential nature Of man, for
the Scriptures assure US that man was
made in the image and likeness of God;
then, j. God is Spirit, as Jesus declared
N the Samaritan woman, man must
be spiritual, must partake OF the
nature Of God This description Oh
man Is al variance with the teaching
Of scholastic theology that man Is a
miserable sinner, and with the teach
Ing CT the so-cailed physical sciences
that mon is material mechanism.
The saving and healing practice OF
the Founder of the Christian religion
was based upon spiritual understand
ing. not upon the evidence OF sense
testimony. The theology, medicine and
science Of Jesus were all one. HIS
| understanding of God and of man con-
stituted the whole Of his culture and
learning, and made him the wisest, as
we'll as the most scientific. of all men.
He did not need one kind Of wisdom In
order to save the sinner, another kind
t: heal the sick, and yet another KIND
tn enable him to walk the waves and
still the storm. His understanding OF
God made him master over sin, sick
ness, death and material law, gave him
authority to say to the man sick OF the
palsy not only Thy sins are forgiven
thee" but also Arise, take up thy
bed and walk" and to command the
storm with his authoritative Peace,
| be still"