The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-08

E e% m@ @e @@N~ ~~ William w. Porter, c. s. B., member of the board of lectureship of The Mother Church, the First Church Of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, lectured in Birming- ham yesterday afternoon at the Lyric theatre before q capacity audience. his subject being Christian Science, The Re- storer."
 The lecturer was introduced by Mrs Perle L. Smith, c. s. B., of Birmingham. The visitor spoke as follows:
 NATURAL DEVELOPMENT
 The demonstration of Christian Science in the healing of the sick and the re- construction of human thought on lines of right activity is today an accomplished and acknowledged fact. Thinking men and women are asking with growing in- terest Why is it that Christian Science has gained it's present stage of demon- stration and development during the com paratively short period of 54 years? It is evidant in this connection, that if the existing systems of religion and medicine had been adequate to meet the needs and to satisfy the desires of mankind, no other system would ever have been neces- sary or even possible.
 VANISHING THEORIES
 It is recorded in the book of Genesis that at a certain time the people of the world decided that they would perpetu- aste their material sense or material name by building a tower the top of which would reach unto the heavens The purpose of the builders was to commence rate and perpetuate the majesty and sta hility of matter, or the accomplishments or material man
 According to the Scripture narrative the building of this tower seemed to proceed, harmoniously for a time. Then, owing to the great number of people engaged diversity Of opinions, plans and tongues, serious interference and conflict were encoun- tered. So great was this interference that confusion ensued, and finally the builders were compelled to leave off the work of building, and they were scat tered to the four quarters of the earth.
 Some years ago, when the subject of the safe height to which tall buildings might be erected was being considered by the city of New York. one constructing engineer voiced wise counsel to the ef- feet that the safe height to which tower or building may be erected will be determined by the dimensions of the base. This is excellent and timely coun- 'sel when considering the construction of any tower. whether it be material Tower of Ba bel, a tower of religion, of healing, or of political government. If the base of such q tower rests upon matter, or upon human reason from the testimony Of the physical senses it will be a ques- ton of short time only before interfer- ence, conflict and confusion will ensue, and the people compelled to leave off their building. The revered Leader and Foun- der of Christian Science has written wise ly upon this point on page 430 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: : Faith should enlarge it's borders and strengthen it's base by resting upon Spirit instead of matter" Since the physical senses cannot testify either to accuracy or to enduring permanence, it follows that the reasoning of the human mind which is based upon the uncertain testimony of these physical senses cannot furnish a lsatisfactory basis upon which to build either religious, political or healing sys- tens On the other hand, if religion healing and government are laid in Mind in Principle, Truth or God-they will then reflect the pnlimited and inexhaus- tible resources of infinite Mind, provided always that this Mind is scientifically un- derstood and demonstrated.
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 UNHEALTHY OF EVIL
 Christian Scienge has been criticised for it's declaration that evil and matter are not real. Religion and material medicine, however. have throughout their respec- tive histories been engaged in trying to overcome the afflictions of the one and to escape the limitations of the other. ana thus prove their uhrealitN. If evil and sickness be real the effort to es- cape their ravages. ,either through re- ligion or science, would be futile.
 Christian Science declares definitely that evil and disease are not real, that they do not and cannot belong to Gods crea- ton, that they are without basis in Prln- ciple or Truth. hence there is neither truth nor reality in them Christian Science them immediately proceeds to prove their unreality by destroying them Sv through individual healing.
 Existing systems of religion and medi- cine represent and encourage the belief that evil, disease, discord and death are real; that they belong to the natural or der of things. These same systems. then, try to overcome and destroy the evils thus held to be legitimate and natural If these evils are legitimate natural and real why try to destroy them? On the other hand. if these discordant manifes- tations are not real normal and legiti- mate let the facts presented by Chris- tian Science in regard to the unrealty of matter--evil, sickness, discord, death and destruction-be approached and meas ured honestly and justly; and above all. with the desire to be consistent not only in conclusions reached, but in premises as well.
 The fact that Christian Science heals the sick and reconstructs human thought
  appeared in response to the worlds needs, and in response likewise to the underlying desires of mankind for the attainment of harmony and good.
 UNDERLYING DESIRE FOR GOOD "A fundamental desire for harmony and good exists in the consciousness lof every person. This desire may be broad and universal or it may be mar row and limited If there be no defi- nite idea, however, of what consti- tutes good or no definite idea of how harmony and good may be attained, there will be just as many different methods pursued in the attainment of these desirable and essential quail ties, as there are persons engaged in such pursuit. In the majority of in- stances the methods pursued will be those suggested by the physical senses. or by human reason founded upon the testimony of the physical senses. Since, however neither the physical senses nor human reason based upon these
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