The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-16


 The Waterbury Women's club audi tOrium on Sunday afternoon by Mrs. Louise Knight WheatIey Cook, c. s. B., of Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. Cook, who is a member of the Christian Science Board of Lecture ship of the Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass, was introduced by Mrs. Felicitas Clark KinkeI of Watertown, Second Reader of First Church, Scientist in Waterbury. Mrs. Cooks lecture follows:
 Many centuries ago, a man stood in the midst of Mars Hill and gave to the people of his time a reason flor the hope that was in him. From Paul's day to this, it has always been accounted a joyous privilege to speak in behalf of what one knows to be true. Faith, or blind belief, may be shaken; but when one has actually felt the healing and trars- forming touch of Christian Science he no longer says merely, T be- lieve." He says, T know. I know that my redeemer liveth,'" because that saving and redeeming power has already been made manifest in his own individual experience.
 There are doubtless many here to- night who could tell of the blessings which have come into their lives through Christian Science. I am glad that they are here. But am equally glad to feel that there are some others also who may, as yet, know very little about it. In fact, l hope there are some with us who are attending a Christian Science lec- ture for the first time. If there be but one such present, to that one I speak, well knowing what this brief hour may mean to him if his thought be open and receptive to the truth of Christian Science.
 ! Tn these strange. difficult days of the worlds unrest, is it not entirely worth while to know of a system of thinking which is not only re- ligion, but an exact science, capa- ble of demonstration? Christian Science challenges fear, failure, doubt, distress of any kind by af- fording a practical and workable understanding of the changeless law of God. Let us have done with negative thinking. The world for too long has been looking at the wrong side of the ledger. One may hold a penny so close to his eyes that he can see nothing beyond it.. And there is so much beyond" of beauty and happiness and success! There is a way out of every human difficulty, no matter how hopeless it may appear to be, right way, Q quiet way, way which will bless all concerned, the sort of way of which the prophet once wrote, For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace"
 In quoting from Isaiah I am re- minded to say what doubtless most of you already know, that Christian Science derives its sanction from the Bible. Our textbook is named, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and it was written by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and it's only Leader. One of the religious tenets of Christian Science, to which all members of the church subscribe, reads as follows, in Sci- ence and Health (p. 49D: "As adherents of Truth, we take the in- spired Word of the Bible as our suf- ficient guide to eternal Life" That ought to silence the thought that Christian Scientists do not read the Bible, as has been said. On the con- trary, they read and study it daily. To them 1t is still the Book of books, and no book can ever supersede 1t. 1 It was when studying this book that Mrs. Eddy's own healing came about. After reading some passages from Matthews Gospel, and apply ling them to her own case, she was able to heal herself of an injury caused by an accident, pronounced fatal by the physicians. She literally rose and walked" to the astonish- ment of all beholders. But this was not enough. She must help other sufferers also to find their freedom. So she spent three years in study ing the Bible and searching for the solution of this problem of Mind healing, proving it over and over again, until at last she was ready to embody the results of her investiga- tions in the book just mentioned. l And then?-I often think of those early days, when there was just one Christian Scientist on earth. when Mrs. Eddy stood alone with God, triumphant over "the slings and ar- rows of outrageous fortune," un- touched by the gibes and jeers of those who did not understand. Her nrst happy confidence that the world would rejoice to know of her discovery, and hasten to accept 1t, was found to be misplaced. The churches coldly closed their doors upon it--and her. The press laughed at 1t. Materia medica fought 1t. Some of her early followers were even fined and imprisoned, and her own life was threatened. But, un- daunted. she pressed on, animated by one supreme, unswerving purpose, to restore to Christianity its lost element of healing.
 We love Mrs. Eddy, but we do not worship her. And why should we not love her? Have you ever seen her birthplace, or pictures of it? It is just Q typical New England farm house of the better sort. quite away from the beaten road, with only grass-grown wagon-t tracks leading past the door. Not many travellers, it would seem, were wont to pass that way. Yet in the interval be- tween that time and this, millions of feet. iiguratively speaking. tired, weary feet. have worn . pathway to her door. Today the church she founded, The Mother Church, The 4TIa.-