Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-11-07
A Lecture on
Christian Science

Vi 00u &OoCe SohAVAA eA@
Member of the Board Of Lectureship Of
Christ. Scientist, In Boston, MASSACHUSETTS
Mental freedom, continuity Of
health and happiness are conditions
that every human being instinctively
desires but has seldom seemed to at
tain in any satisfactory measure. For
centuries men have worked and strug.
gled for freedom. They have sought
in many directions for health and they
have tried devious ways to find happi-
ness, but the evidence before us today
would indicate that no degree Of sue
cess has attended humanity's search
for the legitimate and altogether de-
sirable states of being.
It must be apparent to anyone who
thoughtfully considers the subject
that, If the race had demonstrated the
necessary intelligence and understand
ing, 1t would have long since attained
its goal, and that what is needed is
obviously more Acknowledgement.
The progress of humanity seems to be
slow, but it is inevitable; and it ap.
pears in direct proportion to its &C.
quirement Of greater spirituality. In
other words, the progress Of the race
is really dependent on its increased
spiritual understanding and its aban-
.donment Of false religious concepts.
Therefore in coming before you to-
night, with the message Of Christian
Science, it is encouraging and reas-
surfing to recall the words Of Isaiah;
"The people that walked in darkness
have seen q great light: they that
dwell in the land Of the shadow Of
death, upon them hath the light
shined." Today there are thousands Of
people who for years have stumbled
and walked in mental darkness, and
who, figuratively and literally, have
lived in the shadow and dread Of
death, but who are now emerging into
light through rational and intelligent
understanding Of God, and Of what
being really means.
It is clear that great discoveries and
light along any line come to those
most mentally prepared to receive
them. An inventor receives the I'M
foldment Of progressive mechanical
ideas because his thought has been
turned in the specific direction to re-
ceive them. So it is with spiritual
revelation. That state of consciousness
most devoid Of materiality will be the
one most naturally receptive to the
spiritual impartations Of God to man.
Mary Baker Eddy, the revered Dis
coverer of Christian Science, had from
childhood been q seeker after God.
Her thought inclined naturally towards
the things Of Spirit; in other words,
she was a spiritually minded woman.
It is not surprising, therefore, that
the great facts of God and divine
Being, as set forth in the teachings of
Christian Science, should have ap-
peared to her. They appeared because
she was spiritually ready to receive
them, and in our own study they will
appear to you and me in proportion to
our readiness to take them in. The
Revelator, describing this call of the
Christ at the door Of consciousness,
wrote, Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: If any man hear my voice,
and open the door, ! will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he
with me-"
Prior to her discovery, Mrs. Eddy
had for twenty years or more been
endeavoring to trace all what might
be termed physical effects back to a
mental cause. In 1865, however, cul-
minating in her recovery from severe
injury and at time when she was not
expected to live, she perceived the
great and irrefutable fact that God, or
causation, is Mind-that divine Mind
is the source of all existence or being;
that God is self-existent Cause, and
that, therefore, all real or actual being
is in and Of God, and that all true
being or existence must be an express
sion or evidence of one infinite Mind
or intelligence.
The revelation of the Science of
Being did not appear at once in its
entirety to Mrs. Eddy. 1t came more
or less gradually, but she was con-
tinuously conscious that back of the
unfolding ideas was divine power. 1t
is important also to note that the
appearing to her of these great spiri-
tual facts was supported by reason
and demonstration. That is, Mrs.
Eddy perceived that her concept of
God was intelligent, rational, and
logical, and most important Of all, that
IL was disable, practical, and could be
demonstrated in the ordinary affairs
Of human life. In certain sense, II
may be said that everyone who takes
up the study Of Christian Science fol
lows the same course. First, there ID
q perception Of its truth; second, its
reasonableness appears; and then
inevitably we discover and demon
strate its practically. A tree is known
by its fruit, and the fruitage Of Mrs,
Eddy's great life Of service to the
race is witnessed in the grateful testi-
mony of the thousands who have been