Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-09
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
LECTURE fine
The Science OF Christian Healing by Prof.
Herman S. Herring C. S B.

ing was filled Friday night with an
appreciative audience to listen to an
address given by Professor Herman
S. Herring. He was introduced to his
audience by Joseph Fitch, who pre-
faced the introduction with a short
statement of what the Christian Sci
ence Faith had done for him. The
following is the substance of the ad-
dress, delivered by Prof. Herring:
Christ Jesus, the great physician, the
divine healer, has for all time set the
standard of perfect healing before hu-
manity, and that many do not yet be-
lieve in his gospel results from a lack
of understanding of the true nature
and philosophy of the so-called mira
cles which he performed His ethical
teachings are very generally accept
ed even by agnostics; although the
spiritual records of the healing work
as a part Of his divine mission, meet
with dissent from many of the cult
ured people Of today.
The gospels record many instances
of the healing of physical disease by
Christ Jesus and his disciples; he re-
stored withercd hand, he healed an
impotent man and a man born blind,
he healed paralysis, dropsy, hemorr-
hage, leprosy, epilepsy and violent in
sanity, and he raised the dead
Furthermore he specially command
ed his disciples that they should con-
tinue his healing work.
Peter, John, Philip, Paul and other
followers healed paralysis, deformity,
insanity, lameness, and also raised the
dead, in connection with their mission
airy work; in fact healing was prac-
ticed quite generally among the early
Christians.
Scriptural Teachings Not Understood
Even a partial recognition of the de-
mands made by the Masters teach
ings upon our life and conduct re-
Veals their redemption greatness and
supreme Importance, and these ques-
tions must appeal to every thoughtful
Christian, viz, whether or not it is
possible to obey these teachings; whe-
Their they are true or not; if not true,
where is the basis of Christianity, and,
if true, why are not their demands
fulfilled? May it not be because they
are not understood?
Many thinking people are beginning
to see as they have not before that the
healing work Of the early church is
possible today.
Could they but realize that there is
a Principle underlying all existence,
which operates according to law, and
quite regardless of time and place,
they would see that the physical heal
ing are due to the operation of this
Principle, in accordance with law; and
that such Principle, law and opera
ton constitute Science.
1t is evident that Christ Jesus con-
sdered this healing work a very es-
sential factor of his ministry: indeed
he made it a test Of Christian diciple-
ship, for he said, He that believeth
on me, the works that l do shall he do
also;" which means that he who is a
Christian shall be able to heal spirit
ually
What we have not known is this,
that such results follow naturally the
knowledge that good has more power
than evil. Few realize that the log
zeal, the inevitable, sequence of an I'M
derstanding of the Masters teachings
and strict obedience thereto would
bring about a cessation of all sorrow
and sickness in the world.
All those who admit that Christian
healing is even desirable can but wei
come consideration of what it would
involve, what it would depend upon,
Let US consider, therefore, whether
there is Science, Principle and law
which can be applied, and how this APP
plicatiOn can be made. Let us inquire
also what we can and must do with
the prevailing belief in matter, that
greatest stumbling block to belief in
the Bible and the fulflment of its
promises.
Mental Nature of Matter.
Matter was formerly believed to be
an entity separate from force or en-
ergy but recent researches and discov-
cries have rendered this view unten-
able. The unit called the atom which
was supposed to be the smallest pos
sible division of matter substance, is
now affirmed by physicists to be itself
composed of thousands of what are
called electrons. These electrons are
infinitesimal particles of electrical en-
ergy, composed of positive and mega
tive charges of electricity, which are
vibrating with very great velocity. 1t
is thus disclosed that the atom is a
manifestation of force, and that atomic
aggregation or so-called material sub
stance and growth, is therefore form
or manifestation of energy or force.