Richard P. Verrall, C.S., of New York, New York
Member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother
Church,
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts
"Christian Science: The Impersonal Saviour" was the subject of a lecture on Christian Science given by Richard P. Verrall, C.S., of New York city last night at the Morris school, Rockville Centre. Mr. Verrall is a member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.
The lecturer spoke substantially as follows:
At a time like the present, when scientific inventions are rapidly outmoding the more primitive and laborious methods of material living, it is highly important that the spiritual welfare of mankind be given its fair share of scientific attention.
From time immemorial humanity has felt the need of religious faith. In fact, it has been truly said, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him." Fortunately, there is no need of doing this, he stated, for Life, Truth, and Love, which are synonyms of God, are forever expressing themselves through man and the universe. What is needed, is a more perfect acquaintance with the divine Science, by means of which the redemptive and healing influence of the only true God can be more effectively demonstrated.
Mr. Verrall pointed out that in the light of Christian Science we are now witnessing the reunion of the three greatest departments of knowledge — science, theology, and medicine — which were actually one in the practice of Christ Jesus. These three co-ordinate subjects, when understood spiritually, become branches of "the tree of life," whose leaves, according to the Revelator, are for "the healing of the nations."
The lecturer stated that the first verse of the last book of the Bible contains a highly illuminating introduction to one of the most unique pieces of metaphorical literature ever written. So sure was John that his message was divinely inspired and that he himself was only a scribe writing down what had been revealed to him, that he gave full credit both to God and to Christ Jesus for the spiritual authorship of the Apocalypse.
In the study and practice of Christian Science two fundamental facts are being constantly reaffirmed, Mr. Verrall said. The first is the ever-availability of the infinite Mind to meet every human need. The second is the presence in each individual of a corresponding capacity to receive and express the unlimited blessings which are continually flowing from God, the eternal source.
The divine Science discovered by Mary Baker Eddy provides the most effective means for obtaining and making available the spiritual wealth contained in the Scriptures, he remarked. It has already initiated the greatest revival of Bible study since the translation of the sacred writings into current speech.
The lecturer affirmed that the main purpose of Christian healing now, as in the time of Jesus, is to show forth the power of God and to portray the beauty of holiness, in order that mortals may see the evidence of the divine law of Love which maintains man and the universe in perfect harmony.
While Christian Science as the impersonal Saviour has always been present, he said, it was nevertheless unknown to humanity until it reappeared to this age as the Science which explains the Scriptures.
Mr. Verrall said in closing: Let me remind you that there are no substitutes for genuine Christian Science, any more than there are alternatives for the truth. The man Christ Jesus will always stand as the perfect model of Christian character and as our only Way-shower to eternal Life. In like manner, Mary Baker Eddy will always remain the Discoverer of Christian Science, the author of its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and the Founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, with its many branches and activities, all of which point us to Christ, who is the Way.
Christian Science is truly the Impersonal Saviour, for it fulfills man's high destiny, which is "to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever."
[Delivered Sept. 23, 1946, at the Morris School, Rockville Centre, New York, and published in The Nassau Daily Review-Star of Freeport, New York, Sept. 24, 1946.]