The Washington herald., 1917-02-05

ligion of waiting but OF immediate action
and prompt results; because 1t is the
religion Of the present as well as OF the
future; because it puts Joy into life and
helps US to overcome death. and because
in all its ministrations it pushes aside
the transitory forces OF the human will
and the human mind and grasps instead
the ever-available and unlimited powers
OF the divine Mind, God Himself, for
these reasons its universal appeal is be-
ing gladly heard by every class and type
OF humankind. Naturally II may be
asked how is the investigator to acquire
a practical knowledge of this Science for
which SO much Is claimed?
Textbook and Its Author.
Every science should be rightly learn
ed from its textbook and Christian
Science Is no exception to this rule. Be-
sides the Bible there is but one text
book of Christian Science, the book
Science and Health with Key to Scrip
lures by Mary Baker Eddy, the book that
has won its way into the hearts and lives
of unnumbered men and women and chill
dren, who have found in it a quiet friend
whose silent influence is a mighty power
for good.
of action who would avoid mistakes and
traps and fruitless undertakings. 1t is a
well-flled medicine chest, which contains
neither bottles nor powders, pills nor
plasters yet whose remedies have healed
after all else has failed. 1t is a constant
companion for the WISE q counselor for
the simple never silent when appealed
to, yet never speaking till spoken to;
never thinking for you. but ever starting
you to think. 1t Is the book that is often
set aside with impatence only to he
taken up in humility; the book that has
dispelled the blackness of despair with
the brightness of hope; that has rebuilt
character, restored regulations, and re-
united the separated. the book that with
the Bible has become the spiritual men
tor and monitor for multitudes of earnest
men and women in every part of the
Christianized world.
''It Is perhaps unnecessary to inform
this audience that the discoverer and
founder of Christian Science and the
author Of its textbook was a woman
a gentle woman, Mary Baker Eddy. You
may know too that for years she stood
alone-one lone woman against the whole
world-opposed and assailed by the world
OF theology, of medicine, OF establishes
usage, of tradition, of conservatism; op-
posed by the world of intellect and of
ignorance, of common sense and uncom-
mon sense, Of bigotry and cruelty, Of
ridicule and falsity; and ever pursued by
the human and inhuman hatred of truth.
All these forces were for years arrayed
against this one woman and the message
God had placed in her hands to deliver
to humanity. But she was never daunted
or dismayed by anything the world, the
flesh. or evil might try to do to her. for
she never let go of the hand Of God.
ReIentlessIy Abused.
Never in modern times has a spirit
ually minded woman been so relentlessly
abused without cause, and her message
so maligned and misrepresented from
pulpit, press and platform. Yet. in all
the years of persecution which Mrs. Eddy
suffered, not one word of retaliation or
resentment dropped from her tongue or
pen. She never returned evil for evil
And I assert this not as a matter of
hearsay or opinion. but from personal
knowledge gained from several years of
daily association with Mrs. Eddy, while
1 was a member of her own household.
Those who do not understand some
times declare that Christian Scientists
unduly exalt and even defy Mrs. Eddy s
memory. 1t is a mistake, my friends
we do not. But there are multitudes of
people who are profoundly grateful to
her, and do you wonder why? Let me
tell you. Suppose that at one time in
your life at the close of a dismal win
ter's day you were going along a crowded
street in a strange city. a stranger in a
foreign land, and without your know
ing it. you dropped your pocketbook
containing every dollar you had in the
world. On the other side of the street
sweet-faced elderly woman saw you
drop your purse and without a thought
for her comfort or safety, she crossed
amid the mud and sush and rushing
traffic and picked up your purse and fol-
lowed you. Then just as you had dis
covered your loss and were shaken with
dread and apprehension for the future,
she handed it to you with a smile that