The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-09-30
"A Lecture
Christian Science
Entitled
Christian Science: Its mex
haustible CompensatiOns
by
William Wallace Porter, c. s. b.
of New York, N. Y.
Member Of the Board Of Lectureship OF the
Mother Church, The First Church OF
Christ, Scientist, in Boston,
Massachusetts

In order that Christian Science may
be of value to humanity it must do
something to bring something to hu-
manity in a compromising and appre-
ciable way.
Christian Science demonstrates the
proposition that health, harmony, and
prosperity are the eternal concomit-
ants of Life, Mind, or God, which be-
long to all alike. These desirable and
welcome states are not the result OF
chance. or of supernatural impul-
sion. They are the natural fruitage,
embodiment, or scientific translation OF
the divine Mind, or God, to the human
understanding.
A woman, Mary Baker Eddy, the
Discoverer and Founder of Christian
Science, and the author of it's text
hook. "Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures" declined to follow
either the way of supernatural the
ology, or that of destructive goddess
ness. Christian Science shows that
the creative Mind, or God, cannot be
known through any concept having the
basis of materiality, but only through
the spiritual idea which interprets the
true nature of God to the understand
ing.
AS shown by Mrs. Eddy, Christian
Science accepts the Scriptural record
of creation set forth in the first chap
ter of the book of Genesis and up to
the sixth verse of the second chap
ter, as presenting nature in man ano
the universe which alone satisfies the
longing and out-reach Of human de-
sire. The desire of human thought to
gain an adequate view of man is sat-
isfied only as man is seen to be lden-
teal with the spiritual or true idea OF
infinite Mind, Life-or God.
PRAYER AND AUTHORITY
The question may be asked: If, as
Christian Science declares, evil, mortal
mind, be not real, why try to work out
of it? Why try to work out OF some
thing which does not exist?
Obviously, a mortal material sense
of existence-a state of consciousness
which repeats over and over the insta-
bilities of matter of mortality-is not
the ultimate of human desire. 1t is
sad fact, however, that many persons
remain Just where they were born
without attempting to emerge there
from, and without even knowing that
it is possible for them to emerge with
scientific certainty into happier,
healthier, and more harmonious state
of existence.
In response to insistent pure desire,
or prayer, the spiritual or true idee.
of Life, Mind, or God, unfolds to the
understanding the nature of mans
true being. In this TRANSPORTATION the
sick are healed and the erring are re-
stored to useful lives.
CHRIST JESUS
For long period prior to the ad-
vent of Christian Science-or from
about the third until the middle of the
nineteenth century-the glory OF
Jesus teachings had been hidden I'M
der burden of superstitious worship.
These teachings, however, so clearly
revealed the nature of mans true self
hood that it was impossible for them
to remain thus hidden, or to become
lost.
We are told in the Bible that Jesus
spoke as one having authority. He
saw the truth, clearly. And this clear
insight he expressed with the convic-
ton of understanding. All the teach
ings and works of Jesus express this
simplicity of exact Science.
DISCOVERY AND .DISCOVERER
From the time of her early inter-
mitten writings, in 1862, on through
the year 1866,-which year marks the
first steps of Mrs. Eddy's healing, a
healing shortly thereafter brought to
full and happy completion,-on
through successive stages of demon
stration, Mrs. Eddy was constantly
charging her experience, understand
ing, and spirituality. Let no one think
for moment that Christian Science,
as it is known to-day, was unfolded in
a brief hour, or in quickly passing
year. The slow years coming and 60
ing found Mrs. Eddy faithfully pur-
suing a goal which was always kept
eeorerlc7t in her thought-this goal
being a comprehensive understanding
of God, and the practical value of this
understanding in its application to the
healing Q; humanity's sins, sufferings,
and sorrows.
HEALING ACTION
Christian Science is to-day widely
recognized as a thoroughly well-estab-
lished religious and healing system.
This position has been gained largely
by the strict adherence of Christian
Science to the basic ideas underlying
n - IL Ax.Ix.