The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-04-21

l.. LaWton.
A large and appreciative audience
was present in the Auditorium last
evening to hear the lecture on Chris
tian Science by George Shaw Cook, G.
s. B., member OF the board of lee
turcship Of the First Church Of Christ,
Scientist. in Boston. The speaker was
introduced by John L. Lawton, a mem
Der of the local church. Mr.. Cook said
in part:
Human emotions, such as fear, anger,
" r hatred, etc, are now said to
produce poisonous conditions on or in
the physical body. If this Is so may
mot many cases Of chronic poisoning
in the human system be traceable to
a chronic disposition to give way to
the emotions? Is it not as reasonable
to admit this as to recognize the fact
that acute fear Immediately manifests
itself in a blanched face? If one is
obliged to admit the mental caus. of
some kinds of physical disease, why
not agree with Christian Science that,
primarily, all disease is due to a men
tai cause? This does not mean that
all disease is the result of cons ious
fear or of wilfuIl sin. Many types of
/ disease are effects of latent fear, her
! editary temperament, superstition, ig-
norance, or some OF the generally ac-
| cepted beliefs of the human mind which
seem to operate as law. Suppose q
man to be sick from one or more Of
/ these mental causes. VIII drugs cure
/ him? Is there any antitoxin that will
/ destroy hatred, or any serum that will
prevent fear? Nothing but the know
ledge that God is Love, and therefore
cannot and does not fear or hate, will
! effect a permanent cure in such g
case.
All that is real exists as the effect
Of an intelligent cause, divine Mind
One has only to look at a badly fright
ened person to see that he manifest>
little or no intelligence while under
the sway Of fear. Therefore, we may
conclude that fear is not the NANTES
tation of an intelligent cause. 1t il
plain that if one could be free from
fear it would be greatly to his ad
vantage. Many are ready to point out
the evil effects Of fear. They ar,
even quite ready to urge their friend,
not to be afraid, but they are not al
ways able to tell them why they have
no need to fear.
Christian Scientists having discerncC
, the fact that fear is not an attr. but,
OF God, are beginning to understand
why it is no part of man, who is il
the likeness of God. They reason tina
4 God is the only cause and is good
Fear is not good. Therefore, it is no
the effect of the one only cause AM
consequently is without actual exis
tence. There is no fear in the uni
verse of God and nothing in that uni
, verse Of which man could be afraid
There is no good in fear, for "fea
hath torment, - hence there is no Go,
7, in it, and no truth in it, Christian
Scientists do not, however, claim +
> have demonstrated as yet that the,
are entirely immune from fear; blu
they are much less fearful than for
! merly, and consequently, much les
. subject to disease and disaster.
3 Christian Science teaches its adhel
ents to ''pray without ceasing.' an
constantly to seek a higher and bette
understanding of the true nature o
God, and of man as his likeness. Fur
thermore, it requires the demonstra
= ton of this understanding in RICH
: thinking and right living. Sue