The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-04-20

lnc speaker WAS ionn RANDALL
Dunn. c. S. B. of Boston. Mass.
He Is a member Of the Board Of
Lectureship of The Mother Church,
the First Church of Christ. Scien-
tist. in Boston. Discussing the
topic: Christian Science: The
Good News of the Kingdom the
visitor spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
May ask you 10 let your
thought 20 back In human history
nearly two thousand years, or, 10
be exact, 10 about the year 81 Of
the Christian era. An extra
ordinary thing was happening in
Palestine, n country lying on the
eastern shores of the Nediter-
ranean. A young Preacher had
Just finished a discourse which WAS
destined TO be known as the great
est sermon Of ali ume-the Sermon
on the Mount. as IL has since been
called. In this discourse he set
forth, simply and directly. spiritual
rules and laws for the attainment
of health and happiness. Then, to
the amazement of his hearers and
Of the inhabitants of the region in
which he appeared. he proceeded TO
demonstrate the truth and prac-
ticability OF these rules-in other
words, TO practice what he had
Just been preaching. Here, yester-
day as today, WAS a sight I'M
familiar 10 mortal eyes-an IDEAL
list practically demonstrating the
truth OF his idealism, First. this
remarkable young Preacher healed
a leper. then, without personally
visiting the servant of a centurion,
ne spoke the word which restored
him to health. Shortly after, he
stilled a violent storm at sea. then
healed q demoniac, then palsied
bedridden man, then a maiden who
had passed on, then two blind men.
In fact. the Bible sums up his ac-
tivitics following the Sermon on
the Mount thus: And Jesus went
about all the cities and villages.
teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the king
dom, and healing every sickness
and every disease among the
people"
The Gospel Of the Kingdom
THE gospel Of the kingdom,
The good news of what Kingdom
Was this preacher the ambassador
of some earthly rival Of the Roman
Empire No. in the chapter fol-
lowing that from which have
been quoting. Christ Jesus refers
TO this kingdom as the kingdom
of heaven and he instrucs his
students to proclaim that this
kingdom II at hand. 1t will prob
ably be conceded by religionist and
non-religionist alike. that the term
"hcaven" has forever been aSsoci-
ated with a state Of being at once
blissful and harmonious. That the
kingdom of heaven referred to by
the Master includes the promise OF
deliverance from all inharmony. Is
evidenced in jesus next injunction,
Heal the sick. cleanse the lepers,
raise the dead, cast out devils"
That the kingdom cannot be de-
fined geographically is proved In
the great Teachers later state
ment that the kingdom OF God is
within us--in other words. Is men
tai. a state OF consciousness.
Therefore. the good news OF the
kingdom of heaven il. that NOR
tails do not have to die to taste
harmony Of mind and body. that
the Fathers plan for His children
includes peace Of mind, freedom
from fear and anguish, and do
minion over sin and disease. here
and now.
Has Christianity Preached Heaven
1T Hand:
In the light of this clear. definite
teaching. how can one explain the
failure Of processing Christians to
preach and to practice what might
well be called one Of the most i'm
pcrtant points Of the Saviour's
message-the ushering into human
hearts Of heaven, harmony. and the
consequent healing Of sickness as
well AZ Of sin Like many other
children reared in Christian homes.
received from loving parents and
earnest Sunday school teachers
what they considered. am sure.
sound Christian doctrine. But was
] taught the glad tidings that
could taste heaven today II fol-
lowed the Masters rules, ] WAS
not. Heaven was future state Of
bliss which might be attained in
the afterlife, and again II might
not Christian healing? Yes. there
vas . brief mention Of such
thing In . prayer we used TO offer.
II proceeded in this wise: that
God, In His infinite wisdom. had
seen fit to send the affliction TO
His child. and we earnestly inn
plored Him TO reconsider the mat
ter and raise the sufferer to
health; or else--and ! can recall
how used TO shudder over that
awful ''or else"-tske the sick one
to his heavenly home OF course.
from one standpoint. this WAS
Gafe prayer to offer. for whatever
seemed to happen. one might say
that the prayer was answered. But
DO We find . warrant in Jesus
teachings and practice for such
prayer? When the leper besought
him for healing. did the Master
utter one "or else. Lord, II
thou wilt. thou canst make me
clean." plsaded the afflicted one.
Promptly came the joyous. un-
wavering assurance from one who
knew the win Of . good God for
His children: II viii: be thou
clean"
1Gn- EAdy's Love for tie CAristian
Church
Nos the broad-minded Christian
must ever be mindful Of the
g1impses Of Truth to be found in
practically every creed. and he