NEW THOUGHT.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14861, 7 September 1918, Page 7

NEW THOUGHT.

■'>- cjuici liHiuDor oi peuple met in the ■'■-tji.sio...-,1 ~;,u List lugju when Mr' a.. uuiitor-Jiro\»n gave tne first of his iieo uxenrcs on ".Now Thou^t " Mr. Huntw-Urown in thSVourso ol ■bis remarks said that -New Tnou4t°'i was not a craze of a few local indif£ I auais. it was an expression of the spiritual uplift that was sweeping over the whole world. It was not th% discovery of a new trutli, for ther© was only one truth, and that was eternal' It,-was a new way of looking at old truths, and the practical application ot that trutli to nil the atrairs of life iNew Ihought" took its stand upbii tno Jiibie, and its teac-iimg was baaecf Mpon the teaching ' of Jesus Christ Tins great teaching could also be expressed -in philosophic and scientific terms, which appealed to the agnosticmind, ana the student: who began by declaring he had thrown over ail religion was almost invariably led to recognise and acknowledge the true nortn of ,the Bible. "jNew Thought" asked for no blind faith, but insisteu on \t.s student proving its teachings svsteinatically step by step, it mamtam'4d an attitude of charity towards all .-religions, and urged its students, where possible, to remain active members of their respective churches, seeking to vivify them with a new spiritual life. Its teaching was endorsed by great leaders of the orthodox churches, notably the late Archdeacon Wilberforce, of Westminster, and the Dean of St. Paul's. The confusion of ideas among r-eligious bodies—the contradictions and unfriendly criticisms of each was the cause of much agnosticism and indifference. The . various religious forms were the roads by which different minds sought truth, and learned to approach God. The theologian climbing the mountain of truth was"today breaking out of the mist. Near the sunlmit, looking round him, he saw to Ins great surprise,, oh the one/hand the metaphysician and on the other the scientist. Truth can be trusted to take j care of'itself. There was no finality! h in the realisation of trutli. AY as iV conceivable that the jAlmighty Father I cared by what name His chidren know [Him? It was man's attitude towards' God—or the principle of good—that j mattered. This teaching might be I summed up as the immanence of God. the divinity of man, and the unity of the universe. The minds of some men, otherwise clear thinkers, seemed to become confused directly they approached ! the question of the true relationship of man to- God^ and the statement of the divinity of man was met by the cry of blasphemy. Yet our Lord Jesus CiiDst and St. Paul continually taught that we are children and heirs of God.

"New Thought" teaching, the speaker continued, provided the key by which the material meaning of the Gospel teaching could be readily separated from the spiritual meaning. No spiritual healer ever yet helped a patient by contemplating him as a child of the devil. But many great works and marvels were being wrought in the world to-day by the contemplation of man as a child of God—perfect and divine. Archdeacon ■ Wilberfore© said that the recognition that the true ego in every man Avas divine would be the golden key that would tinlock the most puz<uiiig problems of the ageJ . ... .-.

The speaker then went on to liken man. to coins stamped on one side, with cne image of the King, and he pointed out that the effort to keep our divine side uppermost and to see the divine side :in our fellow men, when made per r ; sistently and; scientifically, was productive of surprising in the way' of health, happiness and harmonious conditions. The "Prayer of Affirmation" was then explained, and instances given of some qv,ick results by mere beginners. The great power of collective right thinking, or true prayer, was insisted upon, as the only means of meeting the approaching peril of industrial war. The greatest servico, Mr. Hunter-Brown said, the individual could render humanity was to learn to see and love the divine nature in his neighbour.

The subject of next Friday's lecture will be, "Is it possible for ordinary men and women of to-day to practise the method of healing taught by Jesus Christ, and used for 300 years afterwards by the early Christians?" Authentic instances will be given of the wonderful spijifcual healings resulting to-day from the* prayers of them who literally and truly believe in the promises of Jesus Christ. ■ ' ■