Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-25
A Lecture on
Christian Science
Entitled:
Christian Science: The Truth
About God And Man Which
Produces Peace
by
Gavin w. Allan, C. S. B.
of Toronto, Canada

Member of the Board of Lectureship OF the
Mother Church, The First Church OF Christ.
Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts
Peace is a subject in which every
one is interested. 1t is one OF those
subjects about which many people say
much, but, unfortunately, do little.
Most persons think Of peace as ces-
sation Of hostilities between nations,
as an absence of war. Peace may have,
however, a more intimate Specification,
Peace, like charity, begins at home.
There may be, for example, individual
peace, peace of mind. In this connec-
ton Hastings Bible Dictionary tells
us that the word "peace" in the New
Testament refers in nearly every in
stance to heart-peace. Is not this what
our Master meant when he said, as re-
corded in John 14:27, "Peace 1 leave
with you, my peace I give unto you.
+. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid?" Heart
peace. Also, was not this what
Eliphaz had in mind when he said to
Job, "Acquaint now myself with him
[God1, and be at peace?"
Is such a peace a human need to-
day? Ask anyone. You will be told
that, because discord in some form
seems to have come into the expe-
rience Of everyone, peace is unques-
tionably human need. Every human
being has a problem, and the person
with a problem on his hands is the
one to whom Christian Science makes
its appeal. The person with . prob
lem is looking for something which
will help him to solve it, and the more
pressing the need, the greater his ef-
fort to find a remedy.
If, as I have said, we all have prob
lens, and if we admit our helpless
ness to solve our problems by human
methods alone, then there is place
in human affairs for an understand
ing that shall be equal to the human
need.
The student of Christian Science is
convinced that the Principle by which
any human problem can be solved has
been revealed through Christian Sci
ence. So, whatever the discord may
be, he devotes himself to the gaining
Of a better understanding Of God
through a diligent study Of the Bible
and the Christian Science textbook,
"Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and
so doing he finds his way out Of the
tangle of his troubles just as fast and
as far as he obeys the truth he sees.
The omnipotence and omnipresence
Of God, understood, is the remedy for
every human discord; and to the one
who is struggling with any phase OF
error Christian Science offers relief,
and healing, and peace.
But let us go back bit. We were
speaking of the evils which seem to
invade human experience. Where do
they come from? What is their
source? Where do they originate?
Origin of Evil
Let me illustrate. Suppose, for ex-
ample, that friend rushed into your
house some night and besought your
protection and help. You saw that he
was flushed and trembling and evil
IDENTIFY fearing some pursuer who was
not in sight; and upon inquiry as to
what was his trouble, he told you that
he had been chased by a ghost up in
the park. Now, what was his trouble,
and what will set it right?
If you know there is no such thing
as ghost, you will be in a position
not only to detect his trouble but to
help him. You will see that his plight
arose from supposition. True, he may
have seen some reflected moonlight
or a newspaper, but he is not afraid
of either of these. He supposed it to
be something else. Then he believed
that that something had life to chase
him, intelligence to follow him, and
power to harm him, or he would not
have run. Then he became afraid and
ran, and at the time you saw him he
was manifesting some of the fears
effects, which might have resulted in
sickness, or even death.
In this story we have an illustration
Of the whole process Of evils supposed
inception and development. First, a
superstition: a supposition that there
is something beside God and His good
creation. Second, belief: . belief
that that something has life and intel
ligence. Third, fear: . fear that
it can harm US. Fourth, the effects
Of that fear.
Now, before we 60 any farther
should like to ask, How would you
heal this friend Of yours? He IN evil
IDENTIFY quite disturbed How would
you pacify him or heal him? Would
you 60 about it this way? Would
you wipe away his perspiration, paint
his face q normal color, and attempt
by some mechanical means to adjust
the beating Of his heart? Would that
heal him? Remember his disease is
not perspiration or palpitation. It is
a belief in fear and Of ghosts. No,
that treatment will not heal him. But
if, through your knowledge Of the
truth about ghosts. YOUR desire to help