1961 Address:
Spirit vs. Matter
Communism
The Five Phases of Prayer

1962 Address:
The Beatitudes
Infinitesimals
Our Youth Program

1963 Address:
The Depths of Being
The Lord’s Prayer

In his 1961  address under “The Five Phases of Prayer”, Mr. Rieke says:

“When we pray the prayer of petition we need to rejoice that God, the all-hearing Mind, hears our prayer, and He answers our prayer from His storehouse of spiritual abundance. Our Master said: “Believe that ye receive what ye ask for in prayer.” When petitioning God, we must make sure we do not do too much talking. That’s not polite. We must silently listen for God’s answer, with absolute confidence that the right answer is always there. It is often well to begin our prayer with a sincere expression of the desires of our hearts.”

In his 1962 address under “Infinitesimals”, Mr. Rieke says:

“Because we are thinking rightly about the infinitesimals, the atoms, the molecules, the thought of the world is beginning to change and to see the truth about the basic reality of all phenomena. This year I had the opportunity to read three papers written by Donald Hatch Andrews, professor of chemistry at John Hopkins University. I would like to share a few of his observations. He says, ‘Today there is a new element of hope with us, because this same science which has given us atomic power, has also given us atomic vision. Through the microscope, the spectroscope, and the telescope, we are getting an entirely new view of the basic realities of which both the universe and we ourselves are made. And we are making the startling discovery that, in a word, the basic reality of our universe is not matter but music.'”

In his 1963 address under “The Depths of Being”, Mr. Rieke says:

Do you go over your lesson every day? Someone once said, “Yes, she goes right over her lesson like an airplane flying high over the earth.”

Do you go through your lesson every day? The comment was made, “Yes, he goes through it — like a lead bullet.” I would rather have you read just one section a day and dig deep — be a thorough researcher — than to have you scratch the surface six times a week.

The poet Pope once wrote, “Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.” Don’t be a shallow Christian Scientist; be thorough in your study and application. In our whole movement there is a great need for thoroughness, research in depth.

By giving us the seven synonymous terms for God, Life, Truth, Love, Spirit, Soul, Principle and Mind, our Leader has truly defined the depths of the Supreme Being, the profundity of existence. Let us consider each of these synonymous terms this morning, and dig a little deeper to find the true God.

1958 Address:
Omniscience of God
Omnipresence of God

1959 Address:
The Word Was Made Flesh
The Allness of Spirit
Our Supply Part 1
Our Supply Part 2

1960 Address:
Heredity
Environment
Prayer
Spiritual Lessons Learned from Bible Stories
Government

In his 1958  address under “Omiscience of God”, Mr. Rieke says:

“There are four simple approaches in the practice of Christian Science. They are the omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, and omni-action of God. As we realize the omnipotence of good we see that evil has no power. As we recognize the omnipresence of good we see that evil has no presence. By understanding the omni-activity of good we see that evil cannot act, function, or operate. Through the clear discernment of the omniscience of good we recognize that there is no knowledge of evil. Today I would like to discuss with you the omniscience of God or good, and the application of this great truth to the solution of human problems.”

“In your practice of Christian Science be careful as to what you are thinking when you say that God heals sickness. If you mean that the divine Mind is constantly revealing the perfection of being, and thus demonstrating that there is no sickness, you are scientifically correct. But if there is a lingering thought that God is somehow doing something to sickness, even to the extent of destroying it, you are on the wrong track. As far as God is concerned disease is not even something to be destroyed, for the Mind of God is all good.”

In his 1959 address under “The Word Was Made Flesh”, Mr. Rieke says:

“Now this is a very important subject about which we must be clear. For if we think of the identity or individuality of our Master and Wayshower as being born into matter, then we find that we are thinking that we too are born into matter or material flesh. And then of course we find ourselves subject to material laws, rules, and regulations. But if we accept the eternal truth that our Wayshower was never born into material flesh, but rather that the Word, the perfect idea of infinite good, was made outwardly manifest in the life of our beloved Master, then you will find it easier for you to think of yourself not as a material creature, but as the substantial outward manifestation of infinite good.”

In his 1960 address under “Heredity and Environment”, Mr. Rieke says:

“For centuries there has been a lively discussion as to the part that heredity and environment play in determining the nature and condition of an individual. Children often resemble their parents — not only in appearance, but in their emotions — even in the way they talk. There is a persistent argument that our natures are determined by human heredity. Most people accept these suggestions, consciously or unconsciously, without much protest. They think, like father like son. It is believed that human characteristics are perpetuated through the kind of material cells that have been incorporated in the body by a human father and mother.

Most people also believe that environment plays an important part in determining the nature and experience of an individual. If you are reared in a congenial, cultured atmosphere, you are supposed to grow up with a good disposition — polite and cultured. If you have been reared in a broken home, or one in which there was much conflict and misunderstanding, then you are liable to be emotionally disturbed. If there is much bigotry and prejudice in your community, you might be inclined to be prejudiced. The self-will and discord manifested in your office is liable to have an effect on you.

Heredity and environment — what does Christian Science teach about these? Do they have an effect upon us? How do we handle the belief of the effects of a false sense of heredity and environment? These are important questions. Christ Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer gave us the answer. In the first line we read, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” This statement corrects all false beliefs in regard to heredity. If we all have one and the same heavenly Father-Mother God, then in the words of Paul, we have an “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away . . .” (I Pet. 1:4)

1955 Address:
Moses
Peace
Proving Our Dominion Over Fear
Demand and Supply

1956 Address:
Conception Unconfined
Consciousness
Effective Metaphysical Work

1957 Address:
Soul Searching of What We Know
Christian Science Treatment
God’s Business

In his 1955  address under “Peace”, Mr. Rieke says:

“In our business and professional life, we have a rich opportunity in knowing the everywhere presence of that peace which passeth understanding. There is sometimes the claim of clashing personalities to handle. In this matter, of course, we go back to the basic fact that there is but one person and that is God. He expresses himself in infinite personality, and reflects these divine qualities of God. Since there is no clash in the one divine person, there cannot be any such thing as clash of personalities, or conflicts among people.

In your business and professional life, do not fight with people, mentally or otherwise. Let them express themselves, you express yourself, and then let divine Mind unfold the right paths to take.”

In his 1956 address under “Conception Unconfined”, Mr. Rieke says:

“Right where you are, Divine Life is giving birth to its beautiful and inspiring manifestation. Life is conceiving of a living creature. Where do you come in? That’s right — you are the living creature, the very manifestation of spiritual, eternal Life.

Right where you are and everywhere, Mind is present, pregnant with ideas, conceiving of the most beautiful thoughts, bringing forth the most inspiring conceptions in regard to all things. You are this divine, compound conception.”

In his 1957 address under “Christian Science Treatment”, Mr. Rieke says:

I know that we are all vitally interested in improving our Christian Science treatments that they may be more effective and instantaneous in results. I would like to consider some important points in regard to giving a Christian Science treatment. On page 454 of Science and Health our Leader tells us, “Remember that the letter and mental argument are only human auxiliaries to aid in bringing thought into accord with the spirit of Truth and Love, which heals the sick and the sinner.” Observe that the mental arguments and the letter of Christian Science do not heal the sick — it is only the spirit of Truth and Love that does the work. But we do not wait for Truth and Love to operate while we sit idly by; we find that through correct mental arguments we can quickly and effectively open the windows of heaven that Truth and Love might shine through and accomplish the perfect work.

In his 1952  address “Outward, Upward, Heavenward” he says:

John Randall Dunn illustrates these two approaches in one of his experiences. Early in his practice an alcoholic came for help. In substance Mr. Dunn spoke to him as follows: “Man, do you realize what you are doing to yourself, to your family, to your business? You must get hold of yourself.” Then he explained to the man what God was and sought to show the man that he should reflect more love and consideration for others. He tried to help him to see that he ought to reflect more intelligence than to get intoxicated. He told him that he should go forth and be God’s representative in his daily affairs. Do you know what was the result of that treatment? The man went out and got intoxicated for a whole week. So much responsibility was put on him that he got scared and had to do something to forget the terrible responsibility he had of representing God.

Later Mr. Dunn had another alcoholic patient. This time he gave the man a Christian Science treatment rather than an orthodox one. Instead of telling the man what he ought to do, he told him what the loving Father-Mother God was doing. He helped the man to see that right where he was Love, Truth, and all the divine qualities were making themselves manifest, and he was that divine manifestation. He helped the man to see that the full responsibility was on God’s shoulders and that evil was unreal. Of course, you know what happened to this man. He went away from the office completely healed.

When you find yourself telling your patients or members of your family what they should do or ought to do, you are not giving a Christian Science treatment at all. If you will search your experience you will see how often you have given the wrong kind of treatment. We do not declare for what man should do, but for what divine Love is eternally doing.

In his 1953 address “Applauding God” he says:

We are constantly bearing witness in regard to ourselves. What you truly think and sincerely know about yourself is what you appear to be. I hope that each and every one of you will resolve never to say mean and ugly and petty things about yourselves henceforth.

Sometimes people hesitate to say or even to think some of these fine things about themselves. They have a feeling that they are being immodest if they do. This is all a hangover from false theology which teaches that we should all think of ourselves as a bunch of wicked miserable mortals — worms of the earth, as it were. Deny that phase of false theology vigorously. Testify to the truth about man. He is the son of the living God.

You will recall that Jesus ran up against this same false theology. The Pharisees of his day wanted him to think of himself as just another mortal. Had he been willing to do so there would have been no persecution. They said that because he bore witness of himself as the son of God, his testimony was not true. Jesus replied: “If I bear witness of myself, [that is as one who is as one who is separated from the living God] my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me . . . Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony of man . . . I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself which hath sent me, hath born witness of me.” (John 5)

In his 1950  address “David – How He Overcame Limitations” he says:

To me one of the most impressive facts about the life of David is the example of true leadership. From that example we can learn many helpful lessons today, for just as competent leadership was needed centuries ago to unify the tribes of Israel and Juda, just so competent leadership is needed today in national affairs to unify nations so that peace and true security might reign.

This right kind of leadership is needed, however, not just in national and international affairs but in every phase of human experience. We need intelligent leadership in business, in our schools, in social organizations, in state and local government, in our homes, our Sunday Schools, our Christian Science Monitor Youth Forums, and in our churches.

Unless we challenge error, materiality, with courage, and understanding of its nothingness, in belief we become its servant or slave. We are not demonstrating true leadership when we allow matter to govern us. We are not putting off limitations when we ignore error or run away from it. Let us face error, see its nothingness, and in this way destroy it.

Be willing to think originally. Lay off some of the cumbersome armor of metaphysics that you have not proved. Don’t imitate others. Be yourself. Choose your own weapons — ones that you can understand and use. In this way you will put off a sense of limitation.

In his 1951 address “Marriage and Divorce” he says:

What is the right idea of divorce as taught in Christian Science? Here it is: YOU MUST SEE YOURSELF AS DIVORCED FROM EVERY WRONG CONCEPT OF MAN AND WOMAN. You must see yourself as separated from every unlovely quality of thought in yourself and others. And you must see yourself as wedded to, united with the right idea of both man and woman. All the so-called hell of matrimony comes from the false belief that one is wedded to the wrong concept of companion and separated from the right concept. Remember that neither you nor your patients are ever wedded to human individuals. We are wedded only to our concept of man and of woman. You can have the most beautiful concept in the universe of thought if you want to — that is heaven. If you entertain an unlovely concept of your mate, that is hell.

I hope that from what I have said you can see that this subject of marriage and divorce does not just apply to the companion in the home. It applies to your relationship to your children, to your neighbors, to your social acquaintances, to your relatives, to your employer and even to yourself. We must see ourselves as united with the right concept of everyone — every man and woman — and completely separated from the false concept of anyone no matter what our relationship to him might seem to be.

In his 1948  address “No Big Power Veto” he says:

Love says that there  shall be harmony and peace in your household and there is no force in heaven or earth that can veto this mandate. Your husband has no big power of veto. Your wife, of course, has no such power. Your children are under the same mandate, and your human parents or other relatives are eternally held in this same gospel of Love. There is neither person, place , nor thing that can put a veto on your peace, happiness, satisfaction, and contentment. This is not what should be. This is what is. This is the divine fact that you must accept because it is true. God says to each of you: “You are one of the happiest and freest individuals in the world;” and everything within and round about you says, “Amen”… Circumstances, situations, and conditions have have no power to invalidate your happiness, for all circumstances, situations, and conditions are in and of God, Divine Mind.

In his 1949 address “Immortality” he says:

Now. every religion and philosophy on earth, except Christian Science, teaches that you and I -everyone- live in a state of mortality. They teach that everyone is born into matter or mortality on a certain day of a certain month of a certain year. The world has accepted this lie as though it were true and has paid the taxes of suffering as a consequence.

Then Christian Science came along and exclaimed: “No, folks, this is all a lie. You are not mortals living in a state of mortality. You are all immortal living in a state of immortality, subject only to the laws and rules of immortality which produce health, holiness, and life eternal.” Is it any wonder that we are all profoundly grateful for this Comforter that has awakened us to the fact that we do not pay the taxes of suffering?