Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-05-01
A Lecture on
Christian Science

/ Il. Y. Garter introduced virgil w.
| Strickler to a large audience which
had gathered to hear the noted lee
turer discuss Christian Science. He
spoke as follows:
As it becomes more generally un-
derstood that through the ministry
of Christian Science people are being
healed of sickness, sin, unhappiness,
worry, fear, and other discordant con-
ditions, there is an ever-increasing
desire upon the part of the general
public to learn how these results are
accomplished 1t is the purpose of
this lecture to explain how Christian
Science does these things. There is
no mystery about Christian Science
healing, nor is it difficult to under
stand. 1t can be stated without any
reservation whatever that every per-
son who is willing to do so may learn
how to heal sickness and to destroy
the desire to sin for himself and 9TH
ers through Christian Science.
Investigate Subject With Open Eyes.
In approaching the investigation of
this subject one should do so with an
open mind. Christian Science is pro-
ducing certain very definite and very
beneficial results, and it behooves
every thinking person to try to un-
derstand how they are accomplished.
No progrgess will be made by closing
ones eyes to the facts and blindly
denying their existence. Neither will
it serve any useful purpose to at
tempt to minimize what Christian
Science has already accomplished.
The honest investigator who desires
to know the truth about the matter
will take the case as it stands. He
will waste no time in fruitless bicker-
ing over established facts, but will
strive to understand how the healing
and regeneration are brought about.
Both in the medical profession and
among the clergy there are many
such open minded students, with the
result that some eminent physicians
are now sending to Christian Science
practitioners those of their patients
who do not recover under medical
treatment; while many clergymen are
openly declaring from their pulpits
that the fruits of Christian Science
are good, and not a few of them have
left their pulpits to become Christian
Science practitioners. These facts
are worthy of serious consideration.
If it is true that Christian Science
Is teaching people how to rise above
sinful appetites and desires, and how
to be healthy and happy, then surely
it is the greatest and most vital thing
that can engage human thought.
That Christian Science does these
things to some extent at least is no
longer an open question, and the
proof of it is to be found in the prac-
tical benefits that have come to its
adherents.
Many Different Religious Beliefs.
Another fact that should be taken
into account by every earnest investi-
gator OF Christian Science is that
there are many different kinds of re-
Iigions in existence at the present
time. 1t is said that there are more
han two hundred different kinds of
he Christian religion alone, not to |
the hundreds of other forms
)f religions that are not Christian.
t is a fact that people do entertain
widely differing religious beliefs. In
many instances the differences are
rreconsilable, and yet every one be-
ieves with all of the sincerity of
which he is capable that his own par
icular beliefs are true. 1t must be
onceded that, in the main, all people
re equally honest and equally sin
ere in their religious beliefs. The
My reason why they are grouped to-
ether IN different forms of religions
) because they honestly believe that
through their own particular form of
eligion they will find the good which
hey so earnestly desire.
As one considers the subject of re-
gion from this broad viewpoint it
ecomes entirely plain that most of
be people in the world are believing
s their religion many things that are
OF true.
There rs only one truth about any
ubject, although there may be many
rroneOus beliefs about it. This is
s true Of religious subjects as of {
theirs. II one believes enormously {
S to what is the law he will not be !
safe lawyer, nor will he be an eff s
lent engineer II his beliefs concern I
lg the rules of mathematics are
lulty. In each case erroneous be- T
efs must be displaced by positive 4
before correct results can {
e attained. v
Every one will recognize not only a
he desirability. but the necessity. OF II