Science often suffers blame through the sheer ignorance of people, while envy and hatred bark and bite at its heels.  A man’s inability to heal, on the Principle of Christian Science, substantiates his ignorance of its Principle and practice, and incapacitates him for correct comment.  This failure should make him modest.

Christian Science involves a new language, and a higher demonstration of medicine and religion.  It is the “new tongue” of Truth, having its best interpretation in the power of Christianity to heal.  My system of Mind-healing swerves not from the highest ethics and from the spiritual goal.  To climb up by some other way than Truth is to fall.  Error has no hobby, however boldly ridden or brilliantly caparisoned, that can leap into the sanctum of Christian Science.

In Queen Elizabeth’s time Protestantism could sentence men to the dungeon or stake for their religion, and so abrogate the rights of conscience and choke the channels of God.  Ecclesiastical tyranny muzzled the mouth lisping God’s praise; and instead of healing, it palsied the weak hand outstretched to God.  Progress, legitimate to the human race, pours the healing balm of Truth and Love into every wound.  It reassures us that no Reign of Terror or rule of error will again unite Church and State, or re-enact, through the civil arm of government, the horrors of religious persecution.

The Rev. S.E.  Herrick, a Congregational clergyman of Boston, says:  “Heretics of yesterday are martyrs to-day.”  In every age and clime, “On earth peace, good will toward men” must be the watchword of Christianity.

Jesus said:  “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

St. Paul said that without charity we are “as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal;” and he added:  “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; ... doth not behave itself unseemly, ... thinketh no evil, ... but rejoiceth in the truth.”

To hinder the unfolding truth, to ostracize whatever uplifts mankind, is of course out of the question.  Such an attempt indicates weakness, fear, or malice; and such efforts arise from a spiritual lack, felt, though unacknowledged.

Let it not be heard in Boston that woman, “last at the cross and first at the sepulchre,” has no rights which man is bound to respect.  In natural law and in religion the right of woman to fill the highest measure of enlightened understanding and the highest places in government, is inalienable, and these rights are ably vindicated by the noblest of both sexes.  This is woman’s hour, with all its sweet amenities and its moral and religious reforms.

Drifting into intellectual wrestlings, we should agree to disagree; and this harmony would anchor the Church in more spiritual latitudes, and so fulfil her destiny.

Let the Word have free course and be glorified.  The people clamor to leave cradle and swaddling-clothes.  The spiritual status is urging its highest demands on mortals, and material history is drawing to a close.  Truth cannot be stereotyped; it unfoldeth forever.  “One on God’s side is a majority;” and “Lo, I am with you alway,” is the pledge of the Master.