Christian Science

ake that

a several-jointed one; not

ea, or only the little one, the old-timer, the o

Idea, did she carry it away i

e conviction that the Force involved was still existent, and could be applied now j

it, systematize it, and

r, that built a new Religion

Idea, great as it was, would have enjoyed but a brief activity, and would then have gone to sleep again f

manuscript. But their testimony, while of consequence, lacks the most important detail; so far as my information g

mild interest, and

and perhaps as sympathetically. The Great Idea had struck a million Bible-readers before her as being possible of resurrection and application-it must have struck as many as that, and been cogitated, indol

onverted. All-every one. It was exercised for generations afterwards. Any Christian who was in earnest and not a make-believe, not a policy-Christian, not a Christian for revenue only, had that healing power, and could cure with it any disease or any hurt or damage po

it could occur to Mr

ful, jealous, despotic, arrogant, insolent, pitiless where thinkers and hypnotists are concerned

st her is a question which can easily overstrain the imagination and bring on nervous pros

de of followers see, and sincerely believe in. Fairness requires that their view be stated here. It is the opp

endidly equipped mentally, a profound thinker, an able writer, a divine personage, an inspired

ooded them with sunshine and gladness and peace; a religion which has no hell; a religion whose heaven is not put off to another time, wi

f ages it was lost through disuse and neglect, and that this benefactor has found it and given it back to men, tur

and doubt and fear, and made their lives beautiful; she found them wandering forlorn in a

re are on the f

ever fade and the

son believes he has found in it-well, in their place could you do it? Would you do it? Wouldn't you be ashamed to do it? If a tramp had rescued your child from f

t stain or blot or blemish. But that does not settle it. They sincerely believe she did not borrow the Great Idea from Quimby, but hit upon it herself. It may be so, and it could be so. Let it go-there is no way to set

Science, explained it, systematized it, and wrote it al

ve third-rate English; that she is weak in the matter of grammar; that she has but a rude and dull sense of the values of words; that she so lacks in the matter of literary precision that she can seldom put a thought into words that express it lucidly to the reader and leave no doubts in his mind as to whether he has right

agnitude. She has a fine commercial ability, and could govern a vast railway system in great style; she could draught a set of rules that Satan himself would say could not be improved on-for devilish effectiveness-by his st

y else. I have put it in the Appendix along with a page or two taken from the body of the book, and will ask the reader to compare the labored and lumbering and conf

if he can find half a dozen sentences whose meanings he is so sure of that he can rephrase them-in words of his own-an

y concerning the gymnastic trees, and Minerva's not yet effete sandals, and the wreaths imported from Erudition's bower for the decoration of Plymouth Rock, and the Plague-spot and Bacilli, and my other exhibits (turn back to my Chapters I. and II.) from the Autobi

th. I cannot believe, and I do not believe, that Mrs. Eddy originated any of the thoughts and reasonings out of which the

he treacherous testimony of her own pen in her known and undisputed literary productions-it is that Mrs. Eddy

from the very beginning been claiming as her own another person's book, and wearing as her own property laurels rightfully belonging to that person-the real author o

Christian religion which her thousands of followers find gracious and blessed and contenting, I recognize and confess; but I am convinced

END

PREFACE TO SC

By degrees we have drifted into more spiritual latitudes of thought, and experimented as we advanced until demonstrating fully the power of mind over the body. About the year 1862, having heard of a mesmerist in Portland who was treating the sick by manipulation, we visited him; he

ld gentleman to whom we have referred had some very advanced views on healing, but he was not avowedly religious neither scholarly. We interchanged thoughts on the subject of healing the sick. I restored some patients of his that he failed to heal, and left in his possession some manuscripts of mine containing corrections of his desultory pennings, which I am info

that effect; and have it from one of his patients, who now asserts that he was the founder of mental healing, that he never revealed to anyone his method. We refer to these facts simply

nd required to be again spiritually discerned and its science discovered, that man might retain it through the understanding. Since our discovery in 1866 of the divine science of Christian Healing, we have labored with tongue and pen to found this system. In this endeavor every obstacle has been t

students have plagiarized and pirated our works. In the issues of E. J. A., almost ex

material senses: to look upon a copy would have distracted our thoughts from the subject before us. We were seldom able to copy our own compositions, and have employed an amanuensis for the last six years. Every work that we have had published has been extemporaneously written; and out of fifty lectures and

oving trust, the trials of to-day grow br

he morning beams and guiding star of Truth, and "the wise men" are led by it to Science, which repeats the eternal harmony that it reproduced, in proof of immortality. The time for thinkers has come; and the time for revolutions, ecclesiastical and civil, must come. Truth, independent of doctrines or time-honored systems, stands at the th

of "What is Truth?" on the ground of proof, and let that method of healing the sick and establishing Christianity be adopted that is found to give the most health and to make the best Christians; science will then have a fair field, in which case we are assured of its triumph over all opinions and beliefs. Sickness and sin have ever had their doctors; but the question is, Have they become less because of them? The longevity of our antediluvians would say, No! and the criminal records of today utter their voices little in favor of such a conclusion. Not that we would deny to Caesar the things that are his, but that we ask for the things that belong to Truth; and safely affirm, from the demonstrations we have been able to make, that the science of man understood would have eradicated sin, sickness, and death, in a less period than six thousand years. We find great difficulties in starting this work right. Some shockingly false claims are already made to a metaphysical practi

AKER G

END

ocryphal New Testament, a legendary and traditional history of the early life of Jesus. But Saint Paul summarized the character of Jesus as the model of Christianity, in these words: "Consider Him

but this triumph will come! God is over all. He alone is our origin, aim, and Being. The real man is not of the dust, nor is he ever creat

important, considering the age and the fame of the person she was writing about; and so it occurred to her to attempt, in that paragraph, to excuse the meagreness and poor quality of the feast she was spreading, by letting on that she could do ever so much better if she wanted to, but was under constraint of Divine etiquette. To feed with more than a few indifferen

END

piritual signification

m of matter will disappear. Give us the understanding of Truth and Love. And loving we shall learn God, and Truth will destroy all error. And lead us unto the Lif

s inspired for last year's edition. It is strange, but to my mind plai

END

all not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he

hings ye have need of, befo

ding of Him-an unselfed love. Regardless of what another may say or think on this subject, I speak from experience. This prayer, combi

nd no less can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be

; to enlighten the Infinite, or to be heard of men? Are we benefited by praying? Yes, the desire which

an bestow all good, since He is unchanging Wisdom and Love. We can do more for ourselves by humble fervent pe

of Truth. A request that another may work for us never does our work. The habit of pleading with the divine Mind, as one

does not already comprehend? Do we hope to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which always

, and forever"; and He who is immutably right will do right, without being reminded

established, and it is our task to work out the solution. Shall we ask the divine Principle of all goodness to do His

f the patient, tender, and true, the one "altogether lovely"; but to understand Go

te Mind; and plead for unmerited pardon, and a liberal outpouring of benefactions. Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves

sure our Master pronounces on hypocrites. In such a case the only acceptable prayer is to put the finger on the lips and remember our ble

andments of our Master and follow his example, is our proper debt to Him, and the only worthy evidence of our gratitude for all He has done. O

s are made manifest in the blessings they bring-which, if not acknowledg

riving to assimilate more of the divine character-this will mould and fashion us anew, until we awake in His likeness. We reach the Science of Chr

bedience, enable us to follow Jesus' example. Long prayers, ecclesiasticism, and creeds, have clipped the divine pinions of Love,

is end we are placed under the stress of circumstances. Temptation bids us repeat the offence, and woe comes in return for what is done. So it will ever be, till we learn that ther

led it to the brim; but God pours the riches of His love into the understanding and affections, giving us strength according to our day. Sinn

as it is destroyed by Christ-Truth and Life. If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is cancelled, and that man is

w our divine Exemplar, and seek the destruction of all evil works, error and disease included. We cann

rom the wisdom He bestows. The talents He gives we must improve. Calling on Him to forgive our work, badly done or left undone, imp

in sin will furnish more than its equivalent of pain, until belief in material life and sin is d

go. To suppose that God forgives or punishes sin, according as His mercy is sought o

bound her; and to Peter He said, "Thou art an offense unto me." He came teaching and showing

n the time of Jesus, left this record: "His rebuke is fearful

reproof was pointed and pungent is in His own words-showing the necessity for such forcible utterance, when He cast

se things, we find that "a zeal... not according to knowledge," gives occasion for reaction unfavorable to spiritual growth, sober resolve, and whole

gher experience and a better life, with more devout self-abnegation, and purity. A self-satisfied ventilation of fervent sentiments never makes a Christian. God is not influe

crites, uttering desires which are not real, and consoling ourselves in the midst of sin, with the recollect

ttle hope for those who only come spasmodically face to face with their wickedness, and then seek to hide it. Their prayers are indexes which do not correspond

God accepts; and it is wise not to try to deceive ourselves or others, for "there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed." Professions and audible prayers are like charity in one respect-they "cover a multitude of sins." Praying for humility, with whatever fervency of expression, does not alw

informs us of a fault, do we listen to the rebuke patiently, and credit what is said? Do we not rather give thanks that we are "not as other men?" D

better, though we give no evidence of the sincerity of our requests by living consistently with our prayer? If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly,

e surrender of all merely material sensation, affection, and worship. This is the El Dorado of Christianity. It involves the Science o

u care not to tread in the footsteps of our dear Master? If unwilling to follow His example, wherefore pray with the lips that you may be partakers of His nature? Consistent prayer is the desire to do right.

s. Until we are thus divinely qualified, and willing to drink His cup, millions of vain repetitions will never pour into prayer the unction of Spirit, in demon

ables us to enter. Spiritual attainments open the

s, and stop at the doors to earn a penny by grinding out a prayer; whereas civilizatio

do not always receive the bl

e may consume it upon your lusts." What we desire and ask for it is not always best for us to receive. In this case infinite Love will not grant the request. Do you ask Wisdom to be merciful and not punish sin

ly saves him from one form of punishment. The moral law, which has the right to acquit or condemn, always deman

se; if, indeed, he has not already suffered sufficiently from vice to make him turn from it with loathing. Truth bestows no pardon upon error, but wipes it out in the

hing for it. We must be willing to do this, that we may walk securely in the only practical road to holiness. Prayer alone cannot change the unalterable Truth, or give us an understanding of it; but p

END

Newton on Chr

ed the fact-the Great Physician. That Christ healed the sick, we none of us question. It stands plainly upon the record. This ministry of healing was too large a part of His work to be left out from any picture of that life. Such service was not an in

es, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." In sending them forth, "He c

beyond question. They found in themselves the same power that the Master found in Himself, and they used it as He had us

to fulfil it. The records of the early Church make it indisputable that powers of healing were recognized as among the gifts of the Spirit. St. Paul's letter

t. For fifteen centuries, the recognition of this authority and power has been altogether exceptional. Here and there, through the history of these centuries, there have been those who have entered into this belief of their own privilege and duty, and have used the gift which they recognized. The Church has never been left without a line of witnesses to this aspect of the discipleship of Christ. But she has come to accept it as the normal order of things that what was once the rule in the Christian Church should be now only the exception. Orthodoxy has framed a theory of the words of Jesus to account for this strange departure of His Church from them

nation. There is not the slightest suggestion upon record that Christ set any limit to this charge which He gave His disciples. On the

n, and formally commissioned them, again, to take up His work in the world; bidding them, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." "And these signs," He tells them, "shall follow them that believe"-not the apostles only, but "them that believe," without limit of time; "in My name they shall cast out devils... they shall lay

END

ht unlike itself. All that we term sin, sickness, and death is comprised in the belief of matter. The realm of the real is spiritual; the opposite of Spirit is matter; and the opposite of the real is unreal or material. Matter is an error of statement,

horns or figs of thistles. Intelligence never produced non-intelligence, such as matter: the immortal never produced mortality, good never resulted in evil. The science of Mind shows conclusively that matter is a myth. Metaphysics are above physics, and drag not matter, or what is termed that, into one of its premises or conclusions. Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul. The

of materialization: the one produces the results of chastity and purity, the oth

cases of chronic and acute diseases, in their severest forms, we have changed the secretions, renewed structure, and restored health; have elongated shortened limbs, relaxed rigid muscles, made cicatrized

DDY IN

h she uttered through the press on the 17th of January. Not large ones, perhaps, still it is a friend's duty to straighten such things out an

n criticisms from the pen of Mark Twa

fire. I still must think the name is not applicable to me. I stand in relation to this century as a Christian discoverer, founder, and leader. I regard self-deification as blasphemous;

ne in my carriage to the church, entered it, and knelt in thanks upon the steps of its altar. There the foresplendor of the beginnings of truth fell mysteriously upon my spirit. I believe in one Christ, teach one C

other sect. They need to be understood as following the divine Principle G

t of Christian Science would be disproved, but to understand the spiritual idea is essential to demonstrate Science and its pure monotheism-one God, one Christ, no idolatry, no human propaganda. Jesus taught and proved that what feeds

bsequent. What I am remains to be proved by the good I do. We need much humility, wisdom, and love to perform th

pressed. Her memory is at fault here. If she will take her By-laws, and refer to Section 1 of Article XXII., written with her own hand-she will find that she has reserved that title to

dearing term of Mother. Therefore, if a student of Christian Science shall apply this title, either to herself or to others, except as the term for kinship accord

can abolish that title whenever it may please her to do so. She has only to command her people, whereve

pagates it in that museum called "Our Mother's Room," in her Church in Boston. She could abolish that institu

olumn, her memory

r Mary, and know I am not that

of New York on the 27th of May, 1890, the secretary was "instructed to send

was read to the Associati

with good things and the sick hath

humility, and seize with both hands, and reserve as her sole property, and protect her monopoly of it with a stern By-law, while recognizing with diffidence that it was "not applicable" to her (then and to-day)-that Mother-title was not

1890, the President recognized this Mary-our

es, one Jesus; and th

ow dispersed, we have

one time, and only one; there is a Mary and "only one." She is not a Has Bee

in signing the telegram. 3. Mrs. Eddy was not that one for she says so, in her Associated Press utterance

he is that Mary and isn't, and thought she w

the title, and thinks it is not applicable to her, and will excommun

ave been avoided if Mrs. Eddy had used some of her other names in place of that one. "Mother Mary" was certain to stir up discussion. It would have been much better if

is, and then take up this examination of

authority-is curious and interesting. The telegram ostensibly quotes verse 53 from the "Mag

with good things, and the r

r Mary's" tele

th good things, and the sick

ion of trained Christians created no astonishment, since it caused no remark, and the

d no surprise and no comment was, that the assemblage took it for a "Key"-a spiritualized explanation of verse 53, newly sent down from heaven through Mrs. Eddy. For all Scientists study their Bibles diligently, and they know their Magnificat. I be

r making so careless and so dreadful an error. And greatly distressed, too; for, of course, the newspaper people would fall foul of it, and be sarcastic, and make fun of it, and have a blithe time over it, and be properly thankful for the chance. It shows how innocent he was; it shows that he did not know the limitations

, and was not proposing to correct it. He was not able to get her to promise to make a correction. He asked her secretary if he had heard aright when the tel

ttracted no attention among the Scientists; and, naturally, none elsewhere, for

iritualized-had a narrow escape from a tremendous celebrity. The newspaper men woul

print, either in the book which I am writing, or elsewhere: for it goes into that very matter with extensive elaboration, citing, in detail, words and acts of Mrs. Eddy's which seem to me to prove that she is a faithful and un

most minutely perfect, and wonderful, and smoothly and exactly working, and best safe-guarded system of government that has

gle power, not a shred of authority, legislative or executive, which is not lodged solely in the sovereign; all its dreams, its functions, its energies,

devised that great place for h

n force, in permanence. Her government is all there; all in that deceptively innocent-looking little book, that cunning little devilish book, that slu

TS OF TH

e world One Pastor for the whole of them: to wit, her boo

, no preachers, in any Church-readers only. Readers of the Bible a

selected its readings, its prayers, and the hymns to be used,

C.S. Churches must subscrib

Boston. She c

use. For books approved b

hese are organs of hers,

. For tea

THE MACHINE'S PO

cation. Board of Finance. College Faculty. Various Committees. Treasurer. C

looks real, but it

digality of ways and forms whereby she can rid herself of any functionary in the government whenever she wants to. The officials are all shadows, save herself; she is the only reality. She allows no one to hold office more tha

is banished permanently. One or two kinds of sinners can plead their way back into the

y adds this rivet: "This By-law shall not be cha

hurch, in her own person, in the

ound somewhere, therefore she devised a rule to cover that defect. By applying it, she can excommunicate (and this is perpetual again) every functionary connecte

etly practicing hypnotism or mesmerism; whereupon, immediate excommunication, without a hearing, is his

and where the Czar?

e winds th

ents strew

s if its throat had been cut. To have control, then, of the Readers, is to have control of the Branc

ny Church in the Christian Science

abroad, by a mere letter of dismissal, over her signature, and without

Branch Churches as she has over the Supr

. It is not so with this one's human property; their loyalty is genuine, earnest, sincere, enthusiastic. The sentiment which they feel for her is one which goes out in sheer perfection to no other occupant of a throne; for it is love, pure from doubt, envy, exaction, fault-seeking, a love whose sun has no sp

e her upon an Alpine solitude and supremacy of power and spectacular show not hitherto attained by any other self-seeking enslaver disguised i

ning lights, and that C.S. disciples came and worshiped it. That remark hurt the feelings of more than one Scientist. They said it was not true, and asked me to correct it. I comply with pleasure. Whether the portrait was there four years ago or not, it is not t

ord. Once more I seem to recognize in her exactly the same appetite for self-deification that I have for pie. We seem to be curiously alike; for the love of s

this

eschews divine righ

English language, and she is seldom able to say in it what she is trying to say. She has no ea

es not illumine the sentence, it only deepens the shadows. Does she mean

enies divine honors

to recognize divine attri

forbids the worsh

when I emerge at this end of it, I seem to come into dayligh

orship of human beings, and refuses to recognize the pos

English-which is always difficult to me-beguiled me into misunderstanding the following remark, which she m

hysically, morally, and spiritually, and shall express these views as duty deman

meanin

natural power, I shall not draw upon these resources

he word "our," she mi

l or unusual degree

ees of it, are surely impossible. The idea of crossed breeds in cattle is a thing we can entert

e trouble. With the "our" in, she is plainly saying "my divine origin." The word "from" seems to be intended

ecial gift on account

ntence was intended to mean

rnatural power, I shall not draw upon these resources

o, she had long been used to regarding herself as a di

and published by her, it was claimed for her, and with her sanction, that she

laim in her behalf, that she herself was t

. Peabody, indicates that her claim had been previously

people have of our making the Author o

mer. She owned the paper; she could say what she pleased in its columns. Instead of re

w light upon those words,

st"; but, if that is the case, it looks as if Mrs. Eddy is a very unsound Christian Scientist, and needs disciplining. I be

studied, she is easily the most interesting person on the planet, and, in se

ublished in the North American Review-ready to be delivered to the printer for issue in book form. In that book, by accident and good luck, I have answered the objections made by Mr. McCrackan to my views, and therefore do not need to add an answer here. Also, in it I have corrected certain misstatements of mine which he has noticed, and several others which he h

if he will make an excursion through my book when it comes out, and will dispassionately examine her testimonies as there accumulated, I think he will in candor conc

CLU

ce Christianity. They affirm that it has added nothing new to Christianity; that it can do

hed usefulness? I think there is. I am far from being confident that it can fill it, but I will indicate that unoccupied field-wi

vate Christian, but its endeavors to make an ex

lows can be trusted to stand faithfully by the principles of honor and honesty imposed upon him by his religion. But the moment he comes forward

His Christianity is of no use to him and has no influence upon him when he is acting in a public capacity. He has sound and sturdy private morals, but he has no public ones. In the last great municipal election in New York, almost a complete one-half of the votes

rly resent-and justly-any insinuation that it would not be safe to leave unwatched money within their reach; yet you could not wound their feelings by reminding them that every time they vote ten dollars to the pension appropriation nine of it is stolen money and they the marauders. They have filched the money to take care of the party; they believe it was right to do it; they do not see how their private honor is

polls, or in Congress or anywhere else-except here and there and scattered around like lost comets in the solar system. Can Christian Science persuade t

splendid one, a sublime one, and absolutely unoccupied. Has Christian Scien

ould succeed. Then we should have a new literature, with romances entitled, How To Be an