The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-16

Who sought the Lord aright'' l I might go a step further and quote from Alexander TPope's poem,- '"The Universal Prayer where the word ancy:
 l ''If I am right, Thy grace impart 1 Still in the right to stay.
 | If I am wrong, O teach my heart 1 To find that better way" I So, rather than to wonder if our prayer is to be answered, let us first assure ourselves that it conforms to our highest sense of right and then leave it in the hands of Him who doeth all things well, knowing that then it will not return to void. Let us know that some one, somewhere, because of it will be blessed in the way that God assigns.
 Healing in Christian is a1- ways by means of prayer. The word generally used is ''treatment,' but it is always to be understood that Christian Science treatment is a i prayer, and just in the proportion that it is a righteous prayer does it heal the sick and reform the sinner. It. is not the prayer of suppication, but of realization; it is not merely asking God to do something for us, but know ing that He has already done the good thing desired. It is the prayer in which gratitude is supp1anting en- ! treaty, confidence is expe11ing doubt, and perfect love is casting out fear. It ] is laying at the feet of God the f"heart's sincere desire, uttered or un- expressed'' and then patiently. listen ing for His ttGo in peace.' It is the prayer of rejoicing, of conquest, of hu- rni1ity, of unselfsh love. Christian Science is giving to man a broader comprehension and higher appreciation of prayer, and is restor- inc f +o ,-io 111a in he plan for mans redemption. It is teaching men to pray, and to pray alright. Men pray too little too sell dom. TheNScriptures direct us to pray without ceasing.
 Saint James tells us the prayer of faith shall save the sick. What may live not expect then of the prayer fwherein there is not only the abund- lance of faith, but alsoeof understand ing, wisdom, spiritual power, and, above all, of love. Every Christian Science treatment built up of these elements of righteousness heals the sick and comforts the sorrowing.
 The Open Door.
 I In a majority of cases, the man who Ecomes to Christian Science for phys ica1 or mental healing does SO only after he has exhausted all other prom Using methods of relief. The lash of
 
 'drags him to it. He comes often re- luctantly while protesting his unbe1fef | in that which he thinks he will be ex- pected to believe. But he has learned tof cases seemingly hopeless as his own that have been healed in this strange way, and he has been urged by his friends to try it. They tell him lthat it cannot harm him and that it may heal so, with an air of mingled i desperation, resignation, and incredu- tlity, he appears before the practitioner with little hope and less faith, and with a sense of surrender that would be amusing if it were not so nearly 1 tragic.
 1 But when he is assured that he will not Immediately have to cast aside the Icherish ed beliefs of a lifetime; that no more faith is required of him than to follow a few simple directions about ffabstaining from other methods of treatment; when he finds he will not i be urged forthwith to throw into the mental scrap heap all his prejudices land convictions, he feels that a great load has been lifted from his shonl- Eders and he, awaits what is to follow i with Smorei toleration and less of fdoubt. The bread of life has been I offered him but he may continue to eat husks as long as he prefers them.
 The wise practitioner knows, as his patient does not. that the first healing 8 touch of divine Truth will do more to- wards sweeping away these mental i Instructions than hours of admoni- iFtion or paGes of 9precept. So his pa itientf is silently treated, is silently prayed for. That moment he enters the portals of a new life where there is peace of mind and health of body, Ia life where there awaits him the I spirit of love and of power and of a Esound mind.
 as + But not every one has to- be so dragged or spurred to the open door of Christian Science. Some find it easy to reach and easy to enter. for thzy have been releasing themse Ives for a long time from the mistaken be- 1iefs of earlier, years and have been | l.unconsciousIy accepting many of the i doctrines of Christian Science.~
 The man who feels his own un- lsworthiness, his own unfitness =toA attain to a higher. better and more spiritual i life. has nothing to apprehend from i Christian Science.
 | It makes distinctions. it imposes Inc restrictions. upon one man or class of men more than upon another. The deVout churchmen, tfle hardened sim ner, the incredu1ous agnostic, the de- igraded, and deDraved. the sick and the i we'll alike are welcomed to all it of fers.
 To man ever finds it closed against him because of his past record for early naisdeeds. Where there is an 1 earnest desire to know God and to live in accord with this Knowledge there i is always open door waiting in 1 Christian Science.
 | It does not parade a mans past mis- l takes and present failures before his gaze or hang them like millstones about his neck.
 It does not peer into the closets Of any mans past, but opens wide the door of present opportunity for doing good.
 It does not ask of the beginner how much of wrong have you done in the past. but how much of right are you ready to do now. Not how many l mistakes have you made, but how earnest are you in resolving to make