Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-09-26


century, showing signs of coming
around to an acknowledgment of the
fact that a woman, Mary Baker Ed
dy, has demonstrated to mankind in
this day that Christianity is scienti-
fic.
During forty years of almost un-
interrupted invalidism Mrs. Eddy
had been struggling toward the ap-
prehension of the scientific rule and
method that she firmly believed UNI
derlay the healing of the sick by
purely spiritual means at intervals
throughout the recorder history of
mankind, ard especially during the
first three centuries of the Christian
era. The revelation came to her in
an hour when death seemed almost
at hand, and through it she was
healed of her infirmity. The great
fact was established in human con-
seriousness. How to make it avail
able to her fellow men became the
immediate problem. The pallid in
valid was transformed in the glory
of her task.
Years of consecrated effort
brought forth the Christian Science
textbook, "Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures. 1t was fol-
lowed by a veritable library of col
lateral writings. Meanwhile it had
been demonstrated that the knowl-
edge could be transmitted to others.
The good news spread. Students
came in increasing numbers. Mrs.
Eddy was equal to the task. She
organized church, established a
system of teaching, launched pub
fishing house., founded and for a
time edited monthly journal and
afterward founded in their turn a
weekly. periodical, a second monthly
publication, and great daily news
paper of worldwide circulation. AL
though she had not entered upon her
work until a period in life when
many strong man would have been
contemplating retirement from ac-
tive affairs, this frail woman lived
to see the movement spread its
branches into hundreds of commune
ties throughout the world, lived to
become the revered Leader of an
army of regenerated men and wom-
en- earnestly and successfully devot-
ed to the saving of their fellows from
the thraldom of sickness, sin, and
sorrow. Mrs. Eddy was indeed in
|spired, but hers was the inspiration
that is the natural heritage of man
and is available to everyone in pro-
portion to ones apprehension of
spiritual truth. Nothing superna-
tural is claimed for Christian Sci
ence or for the author of it's text
book.
For one whose life was devoted to
the welfare of mankind, Mrs. Eddy
was compelled to bear vastly more
than her portion of misrepresenta-
ton and ingratitude. But she dem
onstrated the quality of her religion
by meeting it all with surprising
good will. Throughout the stormy
years she answered malice with love,
SANDER with a smile, and persecu-
ton with blessing, and when she
passed away left behind none who
could truthfully say that in thought
Tor deed she had done him a wrong.
No Deep Mystery About It.
If there be any here WAC for the
first time are possessed of desire
to share in the healing and regenera-
ting influences Of Christian Science,
may |, for your benefit, offer a few
words of advice, which am sure
if needed will bring you the more
quickly to the desired goal. In the
first place, avoid permitting yourself
to be overly concerned regarding
what might be the technicalities of
the subject. Christian Science is
simplicity itself. There is no deep
mystery about it, except in the mis-
taken opinions of some who do not
understand it. Consider, for in
stance, >the teaching of the unrcality
of matter. Be assured that to the
Christian Scientist the mountains
are as high, the skies as blue, and
the oceans as broad as to any one
else. Christian Scientists clothe,
feed and house themselves after the
manner Of their non-Scientist neigh
bors. And all this is not inconsist-
ent with that which you will in due
time find to be the actual teaching
of this Science as regards the rela-
tive unreality of matter.
My purpose is not to imply by any
means that Christian Science does
not require very radical departure
from the old concept of material
things. 1t does indeed involve a
wholly changed attitude, but this
change comes naturally and harmon
iOusly, with a realization of substan-