T é CHRISTIAN SCIENCE LECTURE AT WOODBURN BY WILLIS F. GROSS, C. S. B. La»t Sunday the Woodburn Thinking People Had a Treat From the Christian Scientists' Standpoint.—With Beautiful Language The Speaker Show* (be Liberating Power of Truth And the Healing Power of Faith. Mr. J. M. Poorman, President of the Bunk of W oodburn in introducing the lecturer spoke as follows: Christian Science Churches, or {Students of Christian Science are to be found in every civilized land, In our own Country where the doctrine first started, the growth has been murvelous; this womlcrful religion, u religion that helps both spiritually und physically, has been often criticiz­ ed und denounced becuuse not under­ stood. This Afternoon is the first lime that any one authorized to speak on Christian Science bus ever appear­ ed in your city, und those not inform­ ed, or worse still misinformed in re­ gard to Christian Science will appre­ ciate the opportunity to hear a Mem­ ber of the Bourd of I .ectureship of the First Church of Christ Scientist, of Boston, Massachusetts, who will Rive us a clearer understanding of what Christian Science is I am pleased to have the honor of introducing to you, Willis F. Gross, who will now address you. The Lecture When one considers the multifarious beliefs of mortals, the great diversity ^«f human opinions, and the many un­ happy experiences resulting from wrong thinking and evil doing, he realizes to some extent how great is the need for a definite starting point and a readily comprehended method of procedure in the working out of life’s problems. As the mariner con­ siders u compass a necessary part of his equipment, so tnortul man needs a demonstrable idea of truth which is so firmly established in thought that it cannot lie questioned even in the darkest hour. If he does not have something upon which he can depend, something that will hold him true to his course, he ia tossed ubout by every wind that blows and there is little hope of ever reaching a h^ven of rest. Discouragement too often gives place to despair and the unfortunate one ceases to struggle against what he con­ siders the inevitable. Thia is by no means an unusual ex­ perience. ll <>w many persons realize their utter helplessness when con- fronted by certain conditions over which they feel they have no control, «That which has helped them at other times seemH of no avail. Because they know of no remedy for the ills they suffer they assume the trouble is incurable. When this conclusion la reached, there is little hope of deliver­ ance unless the wrong sense is cor­ rected and the sufferer is made to see that there is no such thing as an in­ curable evil. There are countless theories advanc­ ed and many methods of practise out­ lined which it is believed will improve human conditions. The wise man said, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Truth Makes Eree It is the basic idea of all education, secular as well as religious, that the truth makes free. Mortal man is in bondage to ignorance and superstition. Ealse lielief has bound him with chains and cast him into prison. It is error, the opposite of truth, which limits, en­ slaves and coniines. Was it ever be­ lieved that a person could lose any- thing by knowing the truth? Is it not a fact universally accepted that every man gains a higher and truer sense of existence as he is able to dis­ tinguish between the true and the false? It is believed by all that much of the sin and suffering of this world is the result of ignorance, hence the con­ clusion that education will prove an effectual remedy. To this end we have our public and private schools, col­ leges, seminaries and numerous other means and methods by which it is reality and a more correct and a more comprehensive thought of life and its various activities. In proportion as this is accomplished, it is expect that there will be more unity of thought and action and that huihanity will enjoy greater freedom. Because we believe that education will accomplish so much for mankind we are all agreed that (ducation is a good thing and a very necessary thing. We are also agreed that nothing but the truth can confer lasting benefits. There have been differences of opin­ ion as to what istruth and what con­ stitutes reality, and doubtless this is the principal reason why humanity has made so little progress along cer­ tain lines. It would almost seem that in so far as it relates to the every-day affairs of this life, Pilate's question, what is truth? remains unanswered. That mortals are materialists in theory and practice cannot be denied. While it is admitted that there is spir­ itual truth yet it is held that material truth, so-called, is just as real us spir­ itual truth and lias vastly more to do with the present life and all that tends to make this life desirable. Thought ami effort have been in the main along material lines and wjiat has been call­ ed progress has been in no Hmall de­ gree merely u change of belief. Mortal man lias been compelled to admit that much of what he at one time believed to fie true is not true. The progress lie ha made, the good he has attained and the freedom he has gnjoyed, has been relative rather than absolute. Scriptural Authority. The belief that man is possessed of a dual nature, that he is both material and spiritual, is father of the belief thut truth is both material and spirit­ ual, und this belief is responsible for the conflict between material science and religion. The Bible is accepted as authority on spiritual things, but the so-called higher criticism of this age is inclined to question the authenticity of the sacred writings whenever they fail to harmonic«* with scientific de­ ductions from a material basis. Those unusual experiences, which have since been « ailed miracles, are being ques­ tioned today as never before. If the biblical record of the wonder­ ful works accomplished by the pro­ phets, apostles, ami the Master is true then that teaching which causes hu­ manity to doubt, or to question, is an evil, for it prevents the exercise of that faith which Is so necessary to a right apprehension of life and the proper solution of its perplexing prob­ lem-. On the other han«i the teaching which restores the waning faith and gives present proof of God’s power to help humanity, is the pearl of great price, the value of which cannot l>e estimated according to material standards. Such a teaching is Christian Sci­ ence. It interprets all things from the stand-point of one God, infinite Spirit, one power, one cause an«i creator and brings more of hope and faith, and courage into human experience. The Master declared that all good is gain­ ed, even in this world, by seeking first the kingdom of God, an«l those who are gaining the understanding of the fun­ damental teachings of Christian Sci­ ence and putting them into practice, have abundant proof of the truth ex- pre sed in thin far-renching statement of the great teacher. Religion and Medicine. Ever since the dawn of civilization religion and medicine have been re- garued u. the two most effectual rem­ edies for the ills of human experience. Every people has had its religion and every nation its system or systems of medicine. Every person has had faith in some method of healing and almost every person has had some faith in religion. It has been quite generally lielieved that medicine and religion are in no way identical, nor are UMH even necessary to each other. It is thought that the study and practice of medicine can be pursued independent­ ly of any religious convictions and it is also held that medical theories can neither help nor interfere with one’s religious experience or the benefits re­ sulting therefrom. Both are supposed to minister to human needs but each in its own way. Mortals have been educated to be­ lieve that they cannot look to medicine for moral help or to religion for phy­ sical benefits. The line appears to be very sharply drawn and it is clearly set forth as to what one may or may not expect to receive from either source. It is true that religion is sometimes'appealed to when material reme«lies have failed, but this is not because it is believed there is any con­ nection between religion and medicine. Rather does it show that in the hour of extremity, when all material means have failed, the human heart has some faith, feeble though it may be, that God is able to heal the ills of the flesh. It is believed that in some ways medicine is able to provide the needed help, while in other respects religion alone can minister to human needs. But there are so many problems of daily life and such varied experiences which seem to be beyond the reach of either medicine or religion. In these trying times mortals are left to con­ tinue the struggle as best they can. If they succeed it must be in their own strength, and if they fail they must suffer the consequences of ignor­ ance or work poorly (Ione. The seem­ ing hel'ilessness of mortals and the never ending struggle against fearful odds show the great need of a univer­ sal remedy—-a remedy which will ef­ fectually heal the ills of human ex­ perience. Christian Science is such a remedy. It declares that there is no such thing as an incurable ill. The one universal remedy for all discord is the understanding of and obedience to the law of God. The law of God is eternal and its harmonious action cannot be interfer­ ed with. In the study of the Scrip­ tures one is impressed by the fact that in the days of old, faith in God’s pres­ ence and power was able to remove mountains and provide whatever was necessary to establish harmony. Many of the demonstrations of God’s power were so extraordinary that they are considered unnatural experiences and for this reason it is argued that their recurrence is not expected. That which is unnatural is contrary to the law of nature. When it is un­ derstood that the law of divine Mind is the only real law of nature and that (livine Mind never does and never has set nsidc its own eternal law, then it becomes evident that whatever God has accomplished for any people in any age, was and is divinely natural, anil it is not unreasonable to expect such a recurrence of those wonderful works as occasion may require. Law and Prophecy Fulfilled. The three great characters of sacred history are Moses, Elijah, flesh would rest upon a more sure with the various material i methods ‘ was cured from that very hour. foundation. Christian Science de­ known as medical practise, and while When the disciples afterwards ask­ clares that it is possible to heal all it doe not harmonize with some of ed him why they had failed to accom­ manner of diseases through spiritual the pre ent «lay theology, nevertheless plish thia good work he told them it means, a.< was demonstrated by the it is Christian in spirit and practise, - was because of their unbelief. He members of the early church, since and it is scientific. I It is ' based on not say that the case wu.- ineura- those healing works were accomplish­ divine Principle and can be demon­ b'e, or that it was God’s will for the ed through obedience to divine law , strated only a» this Principle is under-1 child tc- be afflicted in thrd dance of pure Christian Science lit­ vorable. The soil must be good and it there is any hope of salvation in this with what could be reasonably exp-x t- erature, all go to show how clearly must be prepared for the seed. If the direction, one is warranted in conclud­ ed if one were to accept and put into she realized humanity’.-' great need and soil is of inferior quality or is not ing that the great majority of those practise the simple direct declarations what would most effectually meet properly prepared , it is unreasonable who appealed to the Master for help of truth as uttered by the Master? that need in the present and the fu­ to expect a bountiful harvest. If one belonged to the so called incurable Is there any reason why one should ture. would receive the blessing of Truth We are accustomed to think and, he must make fit preparation. If he not accept at its full value the class. Among the diseases which are men­ emphatic declaration “He that be- speak of her as our revered Leader is unwilling to do this he should not tion«'! i«ecifically by the sacred I lieveth shall I>e saved?” Surely not. ' and we realize that if we would gain complain when he fails to experience writers are fever, dropsy, I’alsy, Why then should he not accept, with the greatest possible good from her the good he desires. leprosy and insanity. The lame, the the same measure of faith, that other teachings, we must have the right OBEDIENCE TO LAW blind, the deaf and the dumb were i equally important declaration made by concept of her life ar«d of her works. The sooner one learns that eternal In the true sense of the word a leader made every whit whole. Among the the same person on the same occasion, good can be gained in no way except blind was one who had never seen | “And these signs shall follow them is one who goes before and the most through obedience to divine law, the capable leader is the one who is the better it will be for him. The thought i that Iwlieve?’’ the light of day. most successful doer. When Mrs. of God as person has encouraged the Kingdom of Heaven at Hand To the man with the withered John the Baptist was the forerunner Eddy gave to the world the funda­ belief that one can gain good merely hand the Master said, "Stretch forth thine hand,” and “it was restored of Jesus the Christ. He came preach­ mental teachings of Christian Science by asking for it, but the revelatin whole like as the other.” There was ing in the wilderness of Judea and the she was not promulgating a thery. that God is divine principle operating another man who had been afflicted burden of his cry was, "Repent ye: i She had long since passed the the­ through spiritual laws, shows what thirty and eight years. He lay in a for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” oretical stage in her work. She had ex­ is required on- man’s part and why it helpless condition beside the pool When Jesus lifted up his voice to pro­ perienced the healing power >f Truth is required. Christian Science : im- ~ Bethesda "waiting for the moving of claim the gospel of eternal salvation in her own life and after she parts the true idea of God and his discovered how her restvation to the water.” When Jesus saw him he j to a waiting world, he began by re­ creation and makes it possible for commanded him to rise and walk, and minding the people that something health had l»een accomplished, she men to obey the divine demands. immediately he was healed. A woman was required of them.. ."Repent: for proved that it was p ssible to heal All the sin, sickness, discorder and having an issue of blood twelve years the kingdom of heaven is at hand," others in the same manner. It was suffering of earth can be traced back the demonstrable idea of Truth which to a false sense of God and man. was healed when she touched the hem was the keynote of his message. John the Baptist and Jesus the heals morally and physically that she That which produces discord is not the of his garment. There was another ‘woman which had a spirit of infirmity Messiah referred to the kingdom of set forth in her writings. During the remedy for discord and can never suc- eighteen years, and was bowed to­ heaven as at hand, and both declared more than forty years she labored so c- ed in removing it. When this self- gether, and could in no wise lift up there must be a change of thought unceasingly for humanity, she always evident fact is recognized it will herself.” To her the Master said, on the part of the people or they would went before, and when she uttered her be understood that the only remedy ‘‘Woman, thou art loosed from thine not be able to comprehend this great voice it was to give expression to the for evil is that which cannot produce infirmity . . . and immediately she truth. When Jesus sent out his dis­ things she had found true in her own or contribute to evil. was made straight, and glorified God.’’ ciples to preach the gospel and heal experience. Paul had a clear sense of Truth and In at least three instances the dead the sick, he told them to declare umo 1 It is often the case that a leader error; good and evil, and throughout were raised to life. The daughter of all who had ears to hear, “The king­ s eks to impress his followers with a his writings he is very careful to sep­ sense of the greatness of his personal- arate one from the 'ther. What Jairus had just died when the sorrow­ dom of heaven is at hand.” To repent means more than to be j ity, but such was not the case with could be more emphatic or more to ing father appealed for help. In the case of the widow's son the funeral sorry for wrong doing. The literal Mrs. Eddy. She was a remarkable the point than h;s positive declaration party was on the way to the burial, meaning of the word is “to have woman intellectually, morally and that “to be carnally minded is death; while Lazarus had >>een dead four another mind,” and repentance means spiritually, but those who talked with but to be spiritually minded is life and ! her, or heard her speak on public oc­ peace”? It may be that Paul’s days. But no mortal belief could "change of mind on reflection.” The Master declared at the very be­ casions, were impressed more by the th ught is more clearly expressed in prevent the demonstration of God’s power to destroy even the last enemy. ginning of his ministry that he was thought of the presence and power of the revised version which reads,“the not come to destroy the law but to ful­ God than by anything else. From mind of the flesh is death: but the I'niversal Remedy The Master’s demonstrations were fil the law. Neither in word or in deed first to last Mrs. Eddy's purpose was mind of the spirit is life and peace.” so varied and complete that it seems did he go contrary to the eternal, to turn the thought of the people a- The mind of the flesh includes all strange humanity has not seen in these unerring, and unchanging law of way from her personality to God, and evil; the mind of the spirit includes healing works the proof that the un­ divine Mind. When it is understood i to those faithful students who lov- all good and is life eternal. To the derstanding of Truth is the universal that the law of God is made known I ingly accepted her as their God-ap­ human sense of things the tares and remedy for all ills of human experi­ in the teachings, the life, and the pointed Leader she said many years wheat, good and evil, truth and error ence. The failure to realize this can works of Jesus and that obedience to ago, “Follow your Leader, only as far grow side by side. The understanding he accounted for only as one considers this law constitutes the kingdom of as she follows Christ” (Message to of Truth separates the one from the that these works were and are regard­ heaven in man. then is seen how The Mother Church, June, 1901). ther. That which is found to he Enlightened Faith ed as miracles—i. e., they were in some great is the need for humanity to re­ g od and true is retained, and that We sometimes hear it said that the which is proven false is evil and has way accomplished contrary to the pent, or have another mind. ’ Even though there may be differ­ physical healing accomplished in no legitmate place in consciousness. datura! operation of the laws to which men and women of today are subject. ences of opinion as to where heaven is Christian Science is merely the result It is generally recognized that sin This belief has prevented the practical located and when and how it is to be of faith. Let it be admitted that is a quality of the carnal, or mortal demonstratum of a power which is gained, all are agreed that in heaven faith is desirable, yes, even necessary, mind, and that it can be overcome by able to save from all evil. there is no sin, sickness nor death. this in no way detracts from the gain:ng a higher sense of good. It Impossibilities do not occur. What The revelator saw a new heaven and practical value of Christian healing, is not, however, so generally under­ has been done in the past can l»e ac­ a new earth and he heard a great rather does it show that this method stood that sickness is from the same complished today. If a particular re­ voice out of heaven saying, “And God of healing, even from a human point source as sin and can be effectually sult has fo'lowed the combination or shall wipe away all tears from then of view, is built upon a foundation healed in the same manner. The in­ succession of causes that result will eyes; and there shall be no more more enduring than that which sup­ fluence of thought upon the body is always follow when the same and no death, neither sorrow, nor crying, ports the gigantic financial enterprises being recognized more and more and other influences are at work. No man neither shall there be any more pain; of a commercial ag . mental conditions are being taken in­ Take away the faith in men, in to consideration even in the physical ever undertakes that which he believes for the former things are pa.. e«i to be impossible. Because mortals away." In view of the fact that John business methods, in the value of se­ diagnosis of disease. It is admitted have believed the the healing works saw this new heaven and new earth curities, and especially faith in the that many times what are regarded of the Master were unnatural experi­ nearly two thousand years ago it ’ certainty of success, what would you as purely physical conditions could not ences, that ;s, contrary to natural must be that this harmonious state of have to build upon? It must be ad­ result from the same causes if mental law and order, they have not tried to existance is the reality of being now. mitted that the value of material conditions were different. Even from things is largely mental and when a material point of view a harmonious What is Required understand how, or by what means, those works were accomplished; not­ The declaration that “the kingdom j faith in values is destroyed there is mental condition is most desirable. Diagnosis withstanding the fact that the great of heaven is at hand” implies that it a period of depression until that In all the affairs of human experi­ demonstrator of God’s power to heal is possible of attainment. God’s will faith is restored. Th. so-ca' ed hard- all human ills, declared that the be­ is supreme in heaven. In fact there headed business man is as much de­ ence it is believed that to understand liever in all ages would be able to do is no other will and His will is mani­ pendent upon faith as on anything the nature of a trouble and what has the works that he did. fest or expressed, in the unceasing, else. Human faith in good is not a caused it, is a great help in overcom­ Miracles Divinely Natural harmonious operation of law. To un­ th ug to be esteemed lightly. It needs ing the difficulty. This is believed to Believers in the Christian religon derstand and obey this law is to enter to be encouraged and strengthened, be especially true of disease, and have accepted the miracles of the the kingdom. More than this is not for without faith the attainment of many persons argue that before one good is impossible. can heal a disease he must know its Bible as demonstrations of divine necessary and less will not avail. Faith is by no means a weakness; name and nature and what has caused Jesus said to his disciples, “Except power. Christian Science presented a new view of those miracles when it your righteousness shall exceed the on the contrary it is an indication rf it. A correct physical diagnosis of declared that the wonderful works ac­ righteousness of the scribes and Phari­ strength and ability. In the Script­ disease is well nigh an impossibility, complished by holy men of God were sees, ye shall in no case enter into the ures we read that ‘faith” is the sub­ as is shown by the great diversity of not contradictions of law. They were kingdom of heaven.” The Master stance of things hoped for, the evi­ opinion of those learned persons who not brought about through suspension knew whereof he spoke and he de­ dence of things not seen,” and this have spent years of study along mate­ of the laws of nature, nor by arousing clared that a higher sense of right­ word of truth has a much broader ap­ rial lines. Many times what is consid­ dormant forces and powers which eousness, or rightness, than was en­ plication than is generally recogniz­ ered a cause is merely an effect, and have since returned to their former tertained even by those who were re­ ed. Faith in the possibility of an the first or primitive cause is un­ state. Those healing works were garded as the spiritual leaders of the achievement is necessary to sue ‘ess known. It must be admitted that many marvelous because human experience people, was necessary to gain the in any undertaking. In all ages those siek persons have recovered, or at was unfamiliar with them. Never­ kingdom of harmony which is ever who nave contributed most largely to least appeared to do so, when no one theless they were the divinely natural at hand. It was the purpose of his the world’s good have been inea and was able to discover the nature of the great faith. Many trouble or what had produced it. result of the operation of law which is life work to reve»’ the way to har­ women of One celebrated physician and sur­ ever present and ever active. Because mony. His method was to teach the have desired to make their lives a a law is not recognized is no evidence truth as the people were able to re­ blessing to humanity, but only those geon declared that nine persons out of of its nonexistence, and because the ceive it. His works were in demon­ who had faith sufficient to inspire ten would recover without the aid of operation of law is not comprehended stration of what he taught and while endeavor in the face of great opposi­ material remedies. It