Part 55 (1/2)

avenging angel!

In times like these it were well to lift the veil on the sackcloth of home, where weepeth the faithful, stricken mother, and the bruised father bendeth his aching head; where the bereft wife or husband, silent and alone, looks [10]

in dull despair at the vacant seat, and the motherless little ones, wondering, huddle together, and repeat with quivering lips words of strange import. May the great Shepherd that ”tempers the wind to the shorn lamb,”

and binds up the wounds of bleeding hearts, just comfort, [15]

encourage, and bless all who mourn.

Father, we thank Thee that Thy light and Thy love reach earth, open the prison to them that are bound, con- sole the innocent, and throw wide the gates of heaven.

Loyal Christian Scientists

Pen can never portray the satisfaction that you afforded me at the grand meeting in Chicago of the National Chris- tian Scientist a.s.sociation in 1888. Your public and private expressions of love and loyalty were very touch- ing. They moved me to speechless thanks. [25]

Chicago is the wonder of the western hemisphere. The Palmer House, where we stopped, is magnificent and orderly. The servants are well-mannered, and the fare is appetizing. The floral offerings sent to my apartments

[Page 276.]

were superb, especially the large book of rare flowers, and [1]

the crescent with a star.

The reception in the s.p.a.cious rooms of the Palmer House, like all else, was purely Western in its cordiality and largeness. I did not hold interviews with all with [5]

whom I desired to, solely because so many people and circ.u.mstances demanded my attention that my person- ality was not big enough to fill the order; but rest as- sured my heart's desire met the demand.

My students, our delegates, about one thousand Chris- [10]

tian Scientists, active, earnest, and loyal, formed a goodly a.s.semblage for the third convention of our National As- sociation,-an a.s.semblage found waiting and watching for the full coming of our Lord and Christ.

In Christian Science the midnight hour will always be [15]

the bridal hour, until ”no night is there.” The wise will have their lamps aglow, and light will illumine the darkness.

Out of the gloom comes the glory of our Lord, and His divine Love is found in affliction. When a false [20]

sense suffers, the true sense comes out, and the bride- groom appears. We are then wedded to a purer, higher affection and ideal.

I pray that all my students shall have their lamps trimmed and burning at the noon of night, that not one [25]

of them be found borrowing oil, and seeking light from matter instead of Spirit, or at work erroneously, thus shutting out spiritual light. Such an error and loss will be quickly learned when the door is shut. Error giveth no light, and it closes the door on itself. [30]

In the dark hours, wise Christian Scientists stand firmer than ever in their allegiance to G.o.d. Wisdom

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is wedded to their love, and their hearts are not [1]

troubled.

Falsehood is on the wings of the winds, but Truth will soar above it. Truth is speaking louder, clearer, and more imperatively than ever. Error is walking to [5]

and fro in the earth, trying to be heard above Truth, but its voice dies out in the distance. Whosoever pro- claims Truth loudest, becomes the mark for error's shafts.

The archers aim at Truth's mouthpiece; but a heart loyal to G.o.d is patient and strong. Justice waits, and [10]

is used to waiting; and right wins the everlasting victory.

The stake and scaffold have never silenced the mes- sages of the Most High. Then can the present mode of attempting this-namely, by slanderous falsehoods, and [15]