We publish herewith a very able, helpful, and interesting lecture, delivered by , in the Mother Church, September 28, 1898. It is the first lecture ever delivered in the Church. Mr. Tomlinson said:—
Before beginning this lecture, may I tell you how I came to be a Christian Scientist? The majority of this Faith have entered through the door of healing. After long years of suffering, after trying all schools of medicine, they have been fully healed by this divine method. Feeling the force of its power, the honest and grateful can do nothing else but accept it and strive to live it. Such, however, was not my experience. I came into Christian Science not because of my own healing, nor because of the healing of any friend, but because, after a long and painstaking investigation, I became thoroughly convinced that Christian Science was the religion of the Bible, the theology of Christ Jesus, and the philosophy of common sense. Then there was nothing for me to do as an honest man but to withdraw from a fellowship I dearly loved, and fully accept and strive to attain the high ideal of Christian Science. I was so slow myself in grasping and accepting this Truth, that I have a fellow-feeling for all who have not yet made it their possession. While still an active clergyman, I had a copy of Science and Health on my table six months, but I could not understand it. I have passed through all the prejudices, I am aware of all the misconceptions, I have raised all the objections that come to others. I know from actual experience that there is not an argument or objection raised against Christian Science that further study and research does not fully and completely answer. In that period of doubt and misconception, I should gladly have listened to a true account of this healing religion. None of us desire to misunderstand or misjudge any cause that has commended itself to a large number of intelligent men and women. We all say, as does every unprejudiced person, If this is really the Truth, I want it. At least your presence indicates that you are grateful for the privilege of hearing from an authorized source exactly what Christian Science is not and what it is.
The theme is too large to be fully treated in a brief address. A few salient points only can be touched. To gain a fair estimate of Christian Science, one should read the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and the other works of its author, Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy.
