Mr. Chairman and Members of the Present Day Club:— This occurrence to-night is a repetition of Biblical scenes. Your desire to discuss Christian Science is in accord with the spirit of the Athenians of old who would know from the Apostle Paul of the doctrine of Jesus and the resurrection—to them a strange teaching, something new. And as on another occasion Paul thanked King Agrippa for the opportunity of defending the Christian religion, so we are grateful to this honored body to be your guest, with the privilege of telling you, in the brief time allotted us, something of what Christian Science is and what it is doing.
We speak not from a theoretical standpoint, but from the depths of experience. Some eleven or twelve years ago I, myself, stood in the valley of the shadow of death. Through hard study for the Christian ministry the doctors stated that I had overtaxed my brain. At this time I was not aware that there was such a teaching as Christian Science. I placed myself under the care of both allopathic and homœopathic physicians, and they were exceptionally kind to me. I am confident they did all in their power to heal me, and for their labor of love in my behalf, I shall ever be grateful, but I grew worse. My condition became so alarming to my parents that they did not think I could live many days. It was in this dark hour when material dependencies had failed that I cried out to God for help. I realize that my prayer was answered in Christian Science being brought to me, for through its beneficent influence I was healed, and stand before you the picture of health. While the physical healing in my case was great, I wish to assure you that it is the smallest part of the work in Christian Science. The study of Christian Science literature illumined the Scriptures, gave me a better understanding of God's word, drew me nearer to Christ, and as the natural result of a more spiritual understanding of the Bible, I have increased confidence in its promises.
The rapidity with which the Christian Science movement is spreading—ten thousand Christian Scientists in 1890, and almost a million in January, 1901; the fact that many ministers, physicians, surgeons, merchants, and men of large interests in all walks of business, lawyers, editors, teachers, and reformers, have become Christian Scientists,—this alone is enough to appeal to the Athenian of to-day as to the cause.
The Hon. C. C. Bonney, president of the World's Congress of Religions held in Chicago during the World's Fair, in addressing the Christian Science Congress, said in part: "When science becomes Christian, then the world indeed advances toward the millennial dawn. No more striking manifestation of the interposition of divine Providence in human affairs has come in recent years, than that shown in the raising up of the body of people which you represent, known as the Christian Scientists. We had come to the state of the world in which science was called infidel, although true science could never look otherwise than up through nature unto nature's God. The Christian Scientists were therefore called to declare and emphasize the real harmony between religion and science; and to restore the waning faith of many in the verities of the sacred Scriptures. This body of Christian Scientists will do no harm to any other body of worshipers of the living God and servants of the brother man anywhere in the world. Catholic and Protestant—though we may say of the Catholic church that it has always held firm the faith in the supernatural and in the supremacy of the divine—Catholic and Protestant, Baptist and Presbyterian, Methodist and Friend, Unitarian and Congregationalist, may all thank God for the new energy and life contributed to the world, and especially to Christendom, by you and those whom you represent. To restore a living faith in the efficacy of prayer—the fervent and effectual prayer of the righteous man which availeth much; to teach everywhere the supremacy of spiritual forces; to teach and emphasize the fact that in the presence of these spiritual forces all other forces are weak and inefficient,—that I understand to be your mission."
Despite the many evidences of good works, the Christian Scientist is confronted with the query, "Is Christian Science Christian, and can and will God heal the sick to-day as in the days of Jesus and the apostles without the aid of material remedies?" This query is synonymous with the one John the Baptist sent to Jesus, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Notice Jesus' reply, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
The first century of the Christian era was marked with marvelous demonstrations as narrated in Jesus' reply, and as he said should occur, in the latter part of Mark's gospel, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." While many centuries passed away with but little known and experienced in Christian healing, yet the nineteenth century closed rich in fruitage, tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of hopeless cases healed by the better understanding Christian Science gives of God's law. Remember that Christian Scientists recognize God as the Healer. They of themselves can do nothing.
If the words of Jesus are true, and we believe they are, and he prophesied that greater works than he did should be done, have we not the right to expect a fulfilment of his promise? Who will say to-day that that time has come in full measure? Who can doubt, when they see the marvelous demonstrations in Christian Science, that it is fast approaching that period, and that these works are being done by the same unchanging, eternal Christ-Truth?
Are these works being done to-day? There is no doubt of it. Abundant evidence can be obtained. It is easily within the reach of the honest investigator. In the larger cities the public places of worship of the Christian Scientists are thronged with people desirous of telling of the great blessings Christian Science has brought to them.
Christian Science is founded upon the Bible. The first tenet of our Church reads, "As adherents of Truth, we take the Scriptures for our guide to eternal Life." The Bible has been the daily companion of the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, from her early childhood days, and at the time of her own marvelous healing in 1866, when she lay at the point of death, at her own request this precious book—the Bible—was brought to her, and as her eyes glanced at the sacred pages they were illumined by a light from heaven. God had healed her and she arose. The household was startled at her appearance in another room. Her pastor had called to see her in the morning on his way to church, supposing that this would be the last time he would ever see her alive. When he called later in the day Mrs. Eddy met him at the door. She assured him and her physician that God had wrought the work. For three years after her healing she almost secluded herself, searching the Scriptures, reading little else, endeavoring to find the Principle that healed her, and her efforts were crowned with sublime success, and her discovery she named Christian Science. In her work, "No and Yes," she says, "Divinely defined, Science is the atmosphere of God; humanly construed, and according to Webster, it is 'knowledge, duly arranged and referred to general truths and principles on which it is founded, and from which it is derived.' ... The two largest words in the vocabulary of thought are 'Christian' and 'Science.' The former is the highest style of man; the latter reveals and interprets God and man; it aggregates, amplifies, unfolds, and expresses the All-God. The Life of Christ is the predicate and postulate statement of all that I teach, and there is but one standard statement, one rule, and one Principle for all scientific Truth."
Christian Science comes reiterating the same gospel of Jesus and the resurrection as taught and practised by Paul. Our second church tenet reads, "We acknowledge and adore one Supreme Infinite God. We acknowledge one Christ, the Holy Ghost, and man as the Divine image and likeness." This should silence forever the accusation made against Christian Scientists that they do not believe in the Bible and the divinity of Christ.
Bishop Morrison of lowa, in a public address, uttered substantially these words: "I do not wish to be understood as indorsing Christian Science, but I am persuaded that the rapid growth of this movement is in consequence of their insistent recognition of God."
A few days ago a gentleman called to see me. Prior to hearing of Christian Science he had for years been an infidel. He had in his possession the Bible he read while a sceptic. Leaf after leaf had been turned down in scorn and ridicule of this blessed book; but since gaining some knowledge of Christian Science he has turned all those leaves back, and to-day to the very people to whom he once talked infidelity, he is now talking of Christ. He says that Christian Science has led him out of the darkness of infidelity into the light of God, and established a love for the Bible.
Another gentleman, a reader of the works of Tom Paine, Voltaire, and Ingersoll, called to talk with me. Those works had created within him a hatred for the very name "Christian." In a public library he saw a Christian Science Journal. His first impulse was to cast it aside; however, he did not, and glancing at some of the articles therein he became interested. To-day he says that Christian Science has been the means of converting him from infidelity and agnosticism, leading him to God.
Is Christian Science Christian? Go and tell those inquirers that through its teachings infidels are led to God and to a study of the Bible. Christian Science is sometimes accused of being a delusion, a farce, the works of the devil, but if that attraction in Christian Science has not its origin in the Source of all Good, how could it draw souls to God? Jesus said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."
At the discussion of Christian Science at the Episcopal Congress assembled at Providence, R. I., the rector of Trinity Church, Boston, the Rev. E. Winchester Donald, successor to Phillips Brooks, said in part: "Is Christian Science leading men out of the darkness of unbelief into the light of God? Yes, it is, it is; there can be no doubt about that. You and I know too many Christian Scientists whose lives are blameless to doubt that." Here let me say, that we as Christian Scientists have the greatest respect and love for churches of all denominations who acknowledge God to be supreme, and the way pointed out by Jesus Christ to be the only way of salvation. We believe that all the churches are doing a good work, and that all will do a greater work when they become more spiritually minded.
Another church tenet reads, "We solemnly promise to strive, watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, to love one another, and to be meek, merciful, just, and pure." Pray tell me if there is any thing un-Christian in such a teaching and practice?
Christian Science establishes such a love for good that man gradually ceases to see pleasure in sin, and when the world ceases sinning then will sin become unreal and pass away.
It is admitted by many physicians that Christian Science is good for nervous trouble but not for other diseases, but facts dispute this. Few people, if any, come to Christian Science for help until they have given the physicians a trial. A survey of the healing work accomplished in Christian Science in this city and near vicinity within the past five or ten years shows that almost every disease known in this section of the country has been successfully handled, generally speaking, including a large obstetrical practice.
E. W. Taylor, M.D., of Harvard University, while not a Christian Scientist, thus speaks of the system: "Should we, as some one has said of homœopathy, regard the system of Christian Science and the doctrines included under its general head as one which modern medicine neither accepts nor finds it worth while to controvert? From a theoretical point of view an affirmative answer might well be made to these questions. Practically most of us have seen results of so positive a character that we are compelled to recognize them.... In its practical aspect, however, on the side of results, the doctrine demands recognition."
Prof. William James, M.D., of Harvard University, though not a Christian Scientist, says, in speaking of its healing: "Their facts are patent and startling, and anything that interferes with the multiplication of such facts and of our freest opportunity of observing and stating them will, I believe, be a public calamity."
We again reiterate that the physical healing is the smallest part of the work to be accomplished in Christian Science. The physical healing and moral reformation are one and inseparable. Jesus made no distinction. His medicine was the great Truth of Being that both healed the sick and reformed the sinner.
That individual does not live who has not been made better by the touch of Divine Science. If he was a good moral man he has gained a higher sense of goodness; if he was a prayerful man he has gained a higher sense of prayer.
Is Christian Science, Christian? Go and tell those inquirers how the sick are healed and the sorrowing comforted and the sinner reformed, "and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me," said Jesus.
