CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21182, 1 November 1938, Page 4

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Address by Professor Hering TEACHINGS EXPLAINED In the ourse of his lecture entitled “Rudimentai Application of Christian Science,” which was given under the auspices of the Christian Science Societies in Timaru and Geraldine, in the Scottish Hall last night. Professor Hermann S. Hering, of Bocton, explained briefly some of the teachings of Christian Science regarding God, man and the universe. He frequently referred to passages in the Bible and in the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy, in support of his statements. The lecturer emphasised the importance of seeking the spiritual meaning of Bible truths, and assured his audience that spiritual growth could be gained through Chrsitian Science if the student began with the correct attitude toward this Science of the Christ healing, followed by diligent study and scientific, intelligent application. It was knowing the truth, he said, that gave one spiritual freedom. Christian Science being the revelation of Tuth, being exact Science, he continued, its truth could be definitely known, deductions could be definitely drawn, and the rule of truth could be correctly applied. Professor Hering stated that Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, had revealed the underlying spiritual meaning of words, through a system of capitalisation, and explained how the substitution of one of her synonyms for God—such as Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Tuth, Love—in reading Bible passages, brought out the spiritual sense which the Bible teaching was intended to convey. He referred to Mrs Eddy's interpretation in the Christian Science textbook of the 23rd Psalm, where she used the word Love for words meaning the Lord, and said that this plan of word substitution in the Psalm and other Bible verses gave a wonderful enlightenment that at once penetrated the mist of materiality and dispelled a personal sense of God. Unreality of Matter Professor Hering, who is a member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, dwelt at some length on the teaching of Christian Science regarding the unreality of matter. Denying matter, knowing its unreality, he said, did not destroy the present sense of existence, but rather thinned, or rendered the material veil that hid Spirit, and let more light into consciousness. It was important, he added, to unsee matter and its products and realise that spiritual existence was the real existence, and was entirely independent of matter, because it reflected only the divine Mind, God. The apparent power. substance, intelligence and action of material living, he went on to say, was in the real spiritual universe which it counterfeited. This fact, he declared, had recently been corroborated through the mathematical discoveries and demonstrations of eminent physicists who had definitely proved that there was neither cause nor effect in electrons, in elementary matter, nor in material existence, causation being something outside, or beyond materiality. The fundamental teaching of Christian Science, he said, was that since God was All-In-All, then all that was real was the infinite Mind and its infinite expression. Even those who had a rather strong belief and conviction of the reality of matter, he declared, might find it a help to see that, even from a human standpoint, Mrs Eddy’s teachings of the dream nature of mortal existence were logical and demonstrable. Natural Changes In speaking of healing in Christian Science, the lecturer said that the removal of abnormal conditions, structural, organic or functional, had so frequently resulted from the study and application of Christian Science that there was no longer any question as to whether or not these so-called natural changes could be brought about through divinely mental means. Since all discord was error, he explained, because it was outside the realm of divine Truth, healing came about when a thought of Truth touched a thought of error in human consciousness. “When divine Truth is brought to bear upon an evil trait of character, a temperamental condition, a disease, or some Indulged wrong-doing,” he said, “a change is brought about and right conditions are established through ‘the alchemy of spirit’ to use Mrs Eddy’s words.” Sacred Privilege Professor Hering said he considered it a sacred privilege to have been acquainted and closely associated with Mrs Eddy. While in her presence, he said, he felt that he was with the truest of all friends, with a veritable mother in Israel, an expounder of “the deep things of God,” a dependable counsellor, a wise mentor, a marvellous discerner of the thoughts and intents of the human mind. He spoke of her as a genuine Christian, having not only the highest, purest sense of God but also the deepest affection for mankind; a Christian warrior with undaunted courage, fighting the good fight of Truth against error, yet a sweet, gentle, highly cultured and very loving woman, showing the tenderest solicitude for the welfare of her followers, and even of those who persecuted her "for righteousness sake.” The lecturer’s discussion of the subject of supply was most enlightening and was backed by Scriptural authority. Since man was the expression of God and included all right ideas, he declared, there could be no lack of any kind in him, because all that he was belonged to God. He went on to sav that the earth was made for man’s use and man was given dominion over it, which meant that man, in his real being, had all that he needed. The real man, he added, had all by reflection, and possessed every idea as he knew it and needed it. Professor Hering brought out that Mrs Eddy strongly emphasised the spiritual fact that man was already perfect, this fact being verified by St. John’s statement “Beloved, now are we the Sons of God,” and he went on to explain that through well-grounded expectancy to know God aright one would become conscious of his Godbestowed spiritual purity, because God was the essence of purity In concluding, Professor Hering de-

clared that any thoughtful student, or careful reader, of Mrs Eddy’s writings must be strongly impressed by her teaching in regard to the nature of Love, and he emphasised how important it was that a Christian Scientist understand this teaching, since it was essential in successful healing work. He told of how he could not, until he became a student of Christian Science, grasp the meaning of St. John’s statement “God is Love,” because he construed it to mean human love. According to Mrs Eddy’s teachings, he said. Love included and expressed the entire nature of God, and conveyed the most important and potent healing thought. To be divine, he added, love must be unselfish, selfless and self-sacrificing—-it must be immaterial. Impartial, immutable—it must be constant, firm, indestructible, and thus pure. So it was understood, he said, in Christian Science.