第6章

14。TheharnessingofallChristianSciencewedding-teams，membersofthebranchChurch，mustbedonebydulyauthorizedandconsecratedChristianSciencefunctionaries。Herfactoryistheonlyonethatmakesandlicensesthem。

[15。Nothingissaidaboutchristenings。ItisinferablefromthisthataChristianSciencechildisbornaChristianScientistandrequiresnotinkering。]

[16。Nothingissaidaboutfunerals。Itisinferable，then，thatabranchChurchisprivilegedtodointhatmatterasitmaychoose。]

Tosumup。AreanyimportantChurch-functionsabsentfromthelist？I

cannotcallanytomind。ArethereanylackingoneswhoseexercisecouldmakethebranchinanynoticeablewayindependentoftheMother。Church？

——eveninanytriflingdegree？Ithinkofnone。IfthenamedfunctionswereabolishedwouldtherestillbeaChurchleft？WouldtherebeevenashadowofaChurchleft？Wouldtherebeanythingatallleft？eventhebarename？

Manifestlynot。Thereisn\'tasinglevitalandessentialChurch-functionofanykind，thatisnotnamedinthelist。AndovereveryoneofthemtheMother-Churchhaspermanentandunchallengeablecontrol，uponeveryoneofthemMrs。Eddyhassetherirremovablegrip。Sheholds，inperpetuity，autocraticandindisputablesovereigntyandcontrolovereverybranchChurchintheearth；andyetsays，inthatsugary，naive，angel-beguilingwayofhers，thattheMother-Church：

"shallassumenoofficialcontrolofotherchurchesofthisdenomination。"

Whereasintruththeunmeddled-withlibertiesofabranchChristianScienceChurcharebutvery，veryfewinnumber，andarethese：

1。Itcanappointitsownfurnace-stoker，winters。

2。Itcanappointitsownfan-distributors，summers。

3。Itcan，inaccordancewithitsownchoiceinthematter，burn，bury，orpreservememberswhoarepretendingtobedead——whereasthereisnosuchthingasdeath。

4。Itcantakeupacollection。

ThebranchChurcheshavenoimportantliberties，nonethatgivethemanimportantvoiceintheirownaffairs。Thosearealllockedup，andMrs。

Eddyhasthekey。"LocalSelf-Government"isalargenameandsoundswell；butthebranchChurcheshavenomoreofitthanhavetheprivatesintheKingofDahomey\'sarmy。

"MOTHER-CHURCHUNIQUE"

Mrs。Eddy，withanenviousandadmiringeyeuponthesolitaryandrivallessandworld-shadowingmajestyofSt。Peter\'s，revealsinherBy-

lawsherpurposetosettheMother-ChurchapartbyitselfinastatelyseclusionandmakeitduplicatethatlonesublimityundertheWesternsky。TheBy-lawheaded"Mother-ChurchUnique"says——

"InitsrelationtootherChristianSciencechurches，theMother-Churchstandsalone。

"ItoccupiesapositionthatnootherChurchcanfill。

"ThenforabranchChurchtoassumesuchpositionwouldbedisastroustoChristianScience，"Therefore——"

ThereforenobranchChurchisallowedtohavebranches。ThereshallbenoChristianScienceSt。Peter\'sintheearthbutjustone——theMother-

ChurchinBoston。

"NOFIRSTMEMBERS"

ButforthethoughtfulBy-lawthusentitled，everySciencebranchintheearthwouldimitatetheMother-Churchandsetupanaristocracy。Everylittlegroupofground-floorSmithsandFurgusonsandShadwellsandSimpsonsthatorganizedabranchwouldassumethatgreattitle，of"FirstMembers，"alongwithitsvastprivilegesof"discussing"theweatherandcastingblankballots，andsoontherewouldbesuchalocust-plagueofthemburdeningtheglobethatthetitlewouldloseitsvalueandhavetobeabolished。

Butwherebusinessandgloryareconcerned，Mrs。Eddythinksofeverything，andsoshedidnotfailtotakecareofherAborigines，herstatelyandexclusiveOneHundred，hercollegeoffunctionlesscardinals，herSanhedrinofPrivilegedTalkers（Limited）。AftertakingawayallthelibertiesofthebranchChurches，andinthesamebreathdisclaimingallofficialcontrolovertheiraffairs，shesmitesthemonthemouthwiththis——theverymouththatwaswateringforthosenobbyground-floorhonors——

"NoFirstMembers。BranchChurchesshallnotorganizewithFirstMembers，thatspecialmethodoforganizationbeingadaptedtotheMother-

Churchalone。"

Andso，firstmembersbeingprohibited，wepiercethroughthecloudofMrs。Eddy\'sEnglishandperceivethattheymustthennecessarilyorganizewithSubsequentMembers。Thereisnootherway。Itwilloccurtothemby-and-bytofoundanaristocracyofEarlySubsequentMembers。ThereisnoBy-lawagainstit。

"THE"

Iuncovertothatimperialword。Andtothemind，too，thatconceivedtheideaofseizingandmonopolizingitasatitle。IbelieveitisMrs。

Eddy\'sdazzlingestinvention。Forshow，andstyle，andgrandeur，andthunderandlightningandfireworksitoutclassesallthepreviousinventionsofman，andraisesthelimitonthePope。Hecanneverputhisavidhandonthatwordofwords——itispre-empted。Andcopyrighted，ofcourse。ItliftstheMother-Churchawayupinthesky，andfellowshipsitwiththerareandselectandexclusivelittlecompanyoftheTHE\'sofdeathlessglory——personsandthingswhereofhistoryandtheagescouldfurnishonlysingleexamples，nottwo：theSaviour，theVirgin，theMilkyWay，theBible，theEarth，theEquator，theDevil，theMissingLink——andnowTheFirstChurch，Scientist。AndbyclamorofedictandBy-lawMrs。EddygivespersonalnoticetoallbranchScientistChurchesonthisplanettoleavethatTHEalone。

ShehasdemonstratedoveritandmadeitsacredtotheMother-Church：

"Thearticle\'The\'mustnotbeusedbeforethetitlesofbranchChurches——

"Norwrittenonapplicationsformembershipinnamingsuchchurches。"

Thosearetheterms。TherecanandwillbeamillionFirstChurchesofChrist，Scientist，scatteredovertheworld，inamilliontownsandvillagesandhamletsandcities，andeachmaycallitself（suppressingthearticle），"FirstChurchofChrist。Scientist"——itispermissible，andnoharm；butthereisonlyoneTheChurchofChrist，Scientist，andtherewillneverbeanother。Andwhetherthatgreatwordfallinthemiddleofasentenceoratthebeginningofit，itmustalwayshaveitscapitalT。

Idonotsupposethatajuvenilepassionforfussylittleworldlyshowsandvanitiescanfurnishamatchtothis，anywhereinthehistoryofthenursery。Mrs。Eddydoesseemtobeashadefonderoflittlespecialdistinctionsandpompsthanisusualwithhumanbeings。

Sheinstitutedthatimmodest"The"withherownhand；shedidnotwaitforsomebodyelsetothinkofit。

ALIFE-TERMMONOPOLY

ThereisbutonehumanPastorinthewholeChristianScienceworld；shereservesthatexaltedplacetoherself。

APERPETUALONE

ThereisbutoneotherobjectinthewholeChristianScienceworldhonoredwiththattitleandholdingthatoffice：itisherbook，theAnnex——permanentPastorofTheFirstChurch，andofallbranchChurches。

WithherownhandshedraughtedtheBy-lawswhichmakehertheonlyreallyabsolutesovereignthatlivesto-dayinChristendom。

Shedoesnotallowanyobjectionablepicturestobeexhibitedintheroomwhereherbookissold，noranyindulgenceinidlegossipthere；andfromthegenerallookofthatBy-lawIjudgethatalightsomeandimproperpersoncanbeasuncomfortableinthatplaceashecouldbeinheaven。

THESANCTUMSANCTORUMANDSACREDCHAIR

InaroominTheFirstChurchofChrist，Scientist，thereisamuseumofobjectswhichhaveattainedtoholinessthroughcontactwithMrs。Eddy——

amongthemanelectricallylightedoil-pictureofachairwhichsheusedtositin——anddisciplesfromallabouttheworldgosoftlyinthere，inrestrictedgroups，underproperguard，andreverentlygazeuponthoserelics。Itisworship。Mrs。Eddycouldstopitifshewasnotfondofit，forhersovereigntyoverthattempleissupreme。

Thefitting-upofthatplaceasashrineisnotanaccident，noracasual，unweighedidea；itisimitatedfromage——oldreligiouscustom。

InTrevesthepilgrimreverentlygazesupontheSeamlessRobe，andhumblyworships；anddoesthesameinthatothercontinentalchurchwheretheykeepaduplicate；anddoeslikewiseintheChurchoftheHolySepulchre，inJerusalem，wherememorialsoftheCrucifixionarepreserved；andnow，bygoodfortunewehaveourHolyChairandthings，andamarketforouradorationsnearerhome。

Butistherenotadetailthatisnew，fresh，original？Yes，whateveroldthingMrs。Eddytouchesgetssomethingnewbythecontact——somethingnotthoughtofbeforebyanyone——somethingoriginal，allherown，andcopyrightable。Thenewfeatureisselfworship——exhibitedinpermittingthisshrinetobeinstalledduringherlifetime，andwinkinghersacredeyeatit。

AprominentChristianScientisthasassuredmethattheScientistsdonotworshipMrs。Eddy，andIthinkitlikelythattheremaybefiveorsixofthecultintheworldwhodonotworshipher，butsheherselfiscertainlynotofthatcompany。Anyhealthy-mindedpersonwhowillexamineMrs。Eddy\'slittleAutobiographyandtheManualofBy-lawswrittenbyherwillbeconvincedthatsheworshipsherself；andthatshebringstothisserviceafervorofdevotionsurpassingeventhatwhichsheformerlylaidatthefeetoftheDollar，andequallinganywhichrisestotheThroneofGracefromanyquarter。

IthinkthisisasgoodaplaceasanytosalveahurtwhichIwasthemeansofinflictinguponaChristianScientistlately。Thefirstthirdofthisbookwaswrittenin1899inVienna。UntillastsummerIhadsupposedthatthatthirdhadbeenprintedinabookwhichIpublishedaboutayearlater——ahapwhichhadnothappened。IthensentthechapterscomposingittotheNorthAmericanReview，butfailed。inoneinstance，todatethem。Andso，InanundatedchapterIsaidaladytoldme"lastnight"soandso。Therewasnothingtoindicatetothereaderthatthat"lastnight"wasseveralyearsold，thereforethephraseseemedtorefertoanightofveryrecentdate。Whattheladyhadtoldmewas，thatinapartoftheMother-ChurchinBostonshehadseenScientistsworshippingaportraitofMrs。Eddybeforewhichalightwaskeptconstantlyburning。

AScientistcametomeandwishedmetoretractthat"untruth。"Hesaidtherewasnosuchportrait，andthatifIwantedtobesureofitIcouldgotoBostonandseeformyself。Iexplainedthatmy"lastnight"meantagoodwhileago；thatIdidnotdoubthisassertionthattherewasnosuchportraittherenow，butthatIshouldcontinuetobelieveithadbeenthereatthetimeofthelady\'svisituntilsheshouldretractherstatementherself。Iwasatnotimevouchingforthetruthoftheremark，neverthelessIconsidereditworthpar。

AndyetIamsorrytheladytoldme，sinceawoundwhichbringsmenohappinesshasresulted。IammostwillingtoapplysuchsalveasIcan。

Thebestwaytosetthematterrightandmakeeverythingpleasantandagreeableallaroundwillbetoprintinthisplaceadescriptionoftheshrineasitappearedtoarecentvisitor，Mr。FrederickW。Peabody，ofBoston。Iwillcopyhisnewspaperaccount，andthereaderwillseethatMrs。Eddy\'sportraitisnottherenow：

"WelatelystoodonthethresholdoftheHolyofHoliesoftheMother-

Church，andwithacrowdofworshipperspatientlywaitedforadmittancetothehallowedprecinctsofthe\'Mother\'sRoom。\'Overthedoorwaywasasigninformingusthatbutfourpersonsatatimewouldbeadmitted；thattheywouldbepermittedtoremainbutfiveminutesonly，andwouldpleaseretirefromthe\'Mother\'sRoom\'attheringingofthebell。Enteringwiththreeofthefaithful，welookedwithprofaneeyesupontheconsecratedfurnishings。Ashow-womaninattendancemonotonouslyannouncedthecharacterofthedifferentappointments。Setinarecessofthewallandilluminedwithelectriclightwasanoil-paintingtheshow-womanseriouslydeclaredtobealifelikeandrealisticpictureoftheChairinwhichtheMothersatwhenshecomposedher\'inspired\'work。

Itwasapictureofanold-fashioned？country，hairclothrocking-chair，andanexceedinglycommonplace-lookingtablewithapileofmanuscript，anink-bottle，andpenconspicuouslyuponit。Onthefloorweresheetsofmanuscript。\'Themantel-pieceisofpureonyx，\'continuedtheshow-

woman，\'andthebeehiveuponthewindow-sillismadefromonesolidblockofonyx；therugismadeofahundredbreastsofeider-downducks，andthetoilet-roomyouseeinthecornerisofthelatestdesign，withgold-

plateddrain-pipes；thepaintedwindowsarefromtheMother\'spoem，"ChristandChristmas，"andthatcasecontainscompletecopiesofalltheMother\'sbooks。\'ThechairsuponwhichthesacredpersonoftheMotherhadreposedwereprotectedfromsacrilegioustouchbyabroadbandofsatinribbon。Mycompanionsexpressedtheiradmirationinsubduedandreverenttones，andatthetinklingofthebellwereverentlytiptoedoutoftheroomtoadmitanotherdelegationofthepatientwaitersatthedoor。"

Now，then，Ihopethewoundishealed。Iamwillingtorelinquishtheportrait，andcompromiseontheChair。Atthesametime，ifIweregoingtoworshipeither，IshouldnotchoosetheChair。

Asapicturesquelyandpersistentlyinterestingpersonage，thereisnomatetoMrs。Eddy，theacceptedEqualoftheSaviour。ButsomeofhertastesaresodifferentfromHis！IfinditquiteimpossibletoimagineHim，inlife，standingsponsorforthatmuseumthere，andtakingpleasureinitssumptuousshows。IbelieveHewouldputthatChairinthefire，andthebellalongwithit；andIthinkHewouldmaketheshow-womangoaway。IthinkHewouldbreakthoseelectricbulbs，andthe"mantel-pieceofpureonyx，"andsayreproachfulthingsaboutthegoldendrain-pipesofthelavatory，andgivethecostlyrugofduck-breaststothepoor，andseverthesatinribbonandinvitethewearytorestandeasetheirachesintheconsecratedchairs。WhatHewoulddowiththepaintedwindowswecanbetterconjecturewhenwecomepresentlytoexaminetheirpeculiarities。

THECHRISTIANSCIENCEPASTOR-UNIVERSAL

WhenMrs。EddyturnedthepastorsoutofalltheChristianSciencechurchesandabolishedtheofficeforalltimeasfarashumanoccupancyisconcerned——sheappointedtheHolyGhosttofilltheirplace。Ifthislanguagebeblasphemous，Ididnotinventtheblasphemy，Iammerelystatingafact。Iwillquotefrompage227ofScienceandHealth（edition1899），asafirststeptowardsanexplanationofthisstartlingmatter——apassagewhichsetsforthandclassifiestheChristianScienceTrinity：

"Life，Truth，andLoveconstitutethetriuneGod，ortriplydivinePrinciple。Theyrepresentatrinityinunity，threeinone——thesameinessence，thoughmultiforminoffice：GodtheFather；ChristthetypeofSonship；DivineScience，ortheHolyComforter……

"TheHolyGhost，orSpirit，revealsthistriunePrinciple，and（theHolyGhost）isexpressedinDivineScience，whichistheComforter，leadingintoallTruth，andrevealingthedivinePrincipleoftheuniverse——

universalandperpetualharmony。"

Iwillciteanotherpassage。SpeakingofJesus——

"HisstudentsthenreceivedtheHolyGhost。Bythisismeant，thatbyalltheyhadwitnessedandsufferedtheywererousedtoanenlargedunderstandingofDivineScience，eventothespiritualinterpretation……ofHisteachings，"etc。

Also，page579，inthechaptercalledtheGlossary：

"HOLYGHOST。DivineScience；thedevelopmentsofLife，Truth，andLove。"

TheHolyGhostrevealsthemassedspiritofthefusedtrinity；thismassedspiritisexpressedinDivineScience，andistheComforter；

DivineScienceconveystomenthe"spiritualinterpretation"oftheSaviour\'steachings。Thatseemstobethemeaningofthequotedpassages。

DivineScienceisChristianScience；thebookScienceandHealthisa"revelation"ofthewholespiritoftheTrinity，andistherefore"TheHolyGhost"；itconveystomenthe"spiritualinterpretation"oftheBible\'steachings。andthereforeis"theComforter。"

Idonotfindthisanalyzingworkeasy，Iwouldrathersawwood；andapersoncannevertellwhetherhehasaddedupaScienceandHealthsumrightornot，anyway，afterallhistrouble。NeithercanheeasilyfindoutwhetherthetextsarestillonthemarketorhavebeendiscardedfromtheBook；fortwohundredandfifty-eighteditionsofithavebeenissued，andnotwoeditionsseemtobealike。Theannualchanges——intechnicalterminology；inmatterandwording；intranspositionsofchaptersandverses；inleavingoutoldchaptersandversesandputtinginnewones——seemtobenexttoinnumerable，andasthereisnoindex，thereisnowaytofindathingonewantswithoutreadingthebookthrough。IfeverIinspireaBible-AnnexIwillnotrushatitinahalf-digested，helter-skelterwayandhavetoputinthirty-eightyearstryingtogetsomeofitthewayIwantit，IwillsitdownandthinkitoutandknowwhatitisIwanttosaybeforeIbegin。AninspirercannotinspireforMrs。Eddyandkeephisreputation。Ihaveneverseensuchslipshodwork，barthetenthatinterpretedforthehomemarketthe"sellallthouhast。"Ihavequotedone"spiritual"renderingoftheLord\'sPrayer，Ihaveseenoneotherone，andamtoldtherearefivemore。YettheinspirerofMrs。EddythenewInfalliblecastsacomplacentcriticalstoneattheotherInfallibleforbeingunabletomakeupitsmindaboutsuchthings。ScienceandHealth，edition1899，page33：

"Thedecisions，byvoteofChurchCouncils，astowhatshouldandshouldnotbeconsideredHolyWrit，themanifestmistakesintheancientversions：thethirtythousanddifferentreadingsintheOldTestamentandthethreehundredthousandintheNew——thesefactsshowhowamortalandmaterialsensestoleintothedivinerecord，darkening，tosomeextent，theinspiredpageswithitsownhue。"

Tosomeextent，yes——speakingcautiously。Butitisnothing，reallynothing；Mrs。Eddyisonlyalittlewaybehind，andifherinspirerlivestogetherAnnextosuithimthatCatholicrecordwillhaveto"go\'waybackandsetdown，"astheballadsays。ListentotheboastfulsongofMrs。Eddy\'sorgan，theChristianScienceJournalforMarch，1902，aboutthatyear\'srevampingandhalf-solingofScienceandHealth，whoseofficialnameistheHolyGhost，theComforter，andwhoisnowtheOfficialPastorandInfallibleandUnerringGuideofeveryChristianSciencechurchinthetwohemispheres，hearSimpleSimonthatmetthepiemanbragoftheInfallible\'sfallibility：

"ThroughouttheentirebooktheverbalchangesaresonumerousastoindicatethevastamountoftimeandlaborMrs。Eddyhasdevotedtothisrevision。Thetimeandlaborthusbestowedisrelativelyasgreatasthatof——thecommitteewhorevisedtheBible……ThuswehaveadditionalevidenceoftheherculeaneffortsourbelovedLeaderhasmadeandisconstantlymakingforthepromulgationofTruthandthefurtheranceofherdivinelybestowedmission，"etc。

Itisasteadyjob。Icouldhelpinspireifdesired；Iamnotdoingmuchnow，andwouldworkforhalf-price，andshouldnotobjecttothecountry。

PRICEOFTHEPASTOR-UNIVERSAL

ThepriceofthePastor-Universal，ScienceandHealth，calledinScienceliteraturetheComforter——andbythatothersacredName——isthreedollarsincloth，asheretofore，sixwhenitisfinelybound，andshapedtoimitatetheTestament，andisbrokenintoverses。Marginofprofitabovecostofmanufacture，fromfivehundredtosevenhundredpercent。，asalreadynotedIntheprofanesubscription-trade，itcoststhepublisherheavilytocanvassathree-dollarbook；hemustpaythegeneralagentsixtypercent。commission——thatistosay，onedollarandeighty-

cents。Mrs。Eddyescapesthisblisteringtax，becausesheownstheChristianSciencecanvasser，andcancompelhimtoworkfornothing。

Readthefollowingcommand——notrequest——fulminatedbyMrs。Eddy，overhersignature，intheChristianScienceJournalforMarch，1897，andquotedbyMr。Peabodyinhisbook。ThebookreferredtoisScienceandHealth：

"ItshallbethedutyofallChristianScientiststocirculateandtosellasmanyofthesebooksastheycan。"

Thatisflungatalltheelect，everywherethatthesunshines，butnopenaltyisshakenovertheirheadstoscarethem。Thesamecommandwasissuedtothemembers（numberingto-daytwenty-fivethousand）ofTheMother-Church，also，butwithitwentathreat，oftheinfliction，incaseofdisobedience，ofthemostdreadedpunishmentthathasaplaceintheChurch\'slistofpenaltiesfortransgressionsofMrs。Eddy\'sedicts——excommunication：

"IfamemberofTheFirstChurchofChrist，Scientist，shallfailtoobeythisinjunction，itwillrenderhimliabletolosehismembershipinthisChurch。MARYBAKEREDDY。"

ItisthespiritoftheSpanishInquisition。

Nonebutacceptedandwellestablishedgodscanventureanaffrontlikethatanddoitwithconfidence。Butthehumanracewilltakeanythingfromthatclass。Mrs。Eddyknowsthehumanrace；knowsitbetterthananymerehumanbeinghasknownitinathousandcenturies。Myconfidenceinherhuman-beingshipisgettingshaken，myconfidenceinhergodshipisstiffening。

SEVENHUNDREDPERCENT。

AScientistoutWesthasvisitedabookseller——withintenttofindfaultwithme——andhasbroughtawaytheinformationthatthepriceatwhichMrs。EddysellsScienceandHealthisnotanunusuallyhighoneforthesizeandmakeofthebook。Thatistrue。Butinthebook-trade——thatprofit-devourerunknowntoMrs。Eddy\'sbook——athree-dollarbookthatismadeforthirty-fiveorfortycentsinlargeeditionsisputatthreedollarsbecausethepublisherhastopayauthor，middleman，andadvertising，andifthepriceweremuchbelowthreetheprofitaccruingwouldnotpayhimfairlyforhistimeandlabor。Atthesametime，ifhecouldgettendollarsforthebookhewouldtakeit，andhismoralswouldnotfallundercriticism。

ButifhewereaninspiredpersoncommissionedbytheDeitytoreceiveandprintandspreadbroadcastamongsorrowingandsufferingandpoormenapreciousmessageofhealingandcheerandsalvation，hewouldhavetodoasBibleSocietiesdo——sellthebookatapinchedmarginabovecosttosuchascouldpay，andgiveitfreetoallthatcouldn\'t；andhisnamewouldbepraised。Butifhesolditatsevenhundredpercent。profitandputthemoneyinhispocket，hisnamewouldbemockedandderided。

JustasMrs。Eddy\'sis。Andmostjustifiably，asitseemstome。

ThecompleteBiblecontainsonemillionwords。TheNewTestamentbyitselfcontainstwohundredandfortythousandwords。

My\'84editionofScienceandHealthcontainsonehundredandtwentythousandwords——justhalfasmanyastheNewTestament。

ScienceandHealthhassincebeensoinflatedbylaterinspirationsthatthe1902editioncontainsonehundredandeightythousandwords——notcountingthethirtythousandattheback，devotedbyMrs。Eddytoadvertisingthebook\'shealingabilities——andtheinspiringcontinuesrightalong。

Ifyouhaveabookwhosemarketissosureandsogreatthatyoucangiveaprinteraneverlastingorderforthirtyorfortyorfiftythousandcopiesayearhewillfurnishthematacheaprate，becausewheneverthereisaslacktimeinhispress-roomandbinderyhecanfilltheidleintervalsonyourbookandbemakingsomethinginsteadoflosing。ThatisthekindofcontractthatcanbeletonScienceandHealtheveryyear。

Iamobligedtodoubtthatthethree-dollarScienceandHealthcostsMrs。

Eddyabovefifteencents，orthatthesixdollarcopycostsheraboveeightycents。Ifeelquitesurethattheaverageprofittoheronthesebooks，abovecostofmanufacture，isallofsevenhundredpercent。

EveryproperChristianScientisthastobuyandown（andcanvassfor）

ScienceandHealth（onehundredandeightythousandwords），andhemustalsoownaBible（onemillionwords）。Hecanbuytheoneforfromthreetosixdollars，andtheotherforfifteencents。Or，ifthreedollarsisallthemoneyhehas，hecangethisBiblefornothing。WhentheSupremeBeingdisseminatesasavingMessagethroughuninspiredagents——theNewTestament，forinstance——itcanbedoneforfivecentsacopy，butwhenHesendsonecontainingonlytwo-thirdsasmanywordsthroughtheshopofaDivinePersonage，itcostssixtytimesasmuch。Ithinkthatinmattersofsuchimportanceitisbadeconomytoemployawild-catagency。

Herearesomefigureswhichareperfectlyauthentic，andwhichseemtojustifymyopinion。

"These[Bible]societies，inspiredonlybyasenseofreligiousduty，areissuingtheBibleatapricesosmallthattheyhavemadeitthecheapestbookprinted。Forexample，theAmericanBibleSocietyoffersaneditionofthewholeBibleaslowasfifteencentsandtheNewTestamentatfivecents，andtheBritishSocietyatsixpenceandonepenny，respectively。

Theselowprices，madepossiblebytheirpolicyofsellingthebooksatcostorbelowcost，"etc。——NewYorkSun，February25，1903。

CHAPTERIX

Wemaynowmakeafinalfooting-upofMrs。Eddy，andseewhatsheis，inthefulnessofherpowers。SheisTheMassachusettsMetaphysicalCollegePastorEmeritus；

President；

BoardofDirectors；

BoardofEducation；

BoardofLectureships；

FutureBoardofTrustees，ProprietorofthePublishing-HouseandPeriodicals；

Treasurer；

Clerk；

ProprietoroftheTeachers；

ProprietoroftheLecturers；

ProprietoroftheMissionaries；

ProprietoroftheReaders；

DictatoroftheServices；soleVoiceofthePulpit；

ProprietoroftheSanhedrin；

SoleProprietoroftheCreed。（Copyrighted。）；

IndisputableAutocratoftheBranchChurches，withtheirlifeanddeathinherhands；

SoleThinkerforTheFirstChurch（andtheothers）；

SoleandInfallibleExpounderofDoctrine，inlifeandindeath；

SolepermissibleDiscoverer，Denouncer，Judge，andExecutionerofOstensibleHypnotists；

Fifty-handedGodofExcommunication——withathunderboltineveryhand；

AppointerandInstallerofthePastorofalltheChurches——thePerpetualPastor-Universal，ScienceandHealth，"theComforter。"

CHAPTERX

Thereshestands-paintedbyherself。Nowitnessbutherselfhasbeenallowedtotestify。Shestandstherepaintedbyheracts，anddecoratedbyherwords。Whenshetalks，shehasonlyadecorativevalueasawitness，eitherfororagainstherself，forshedealsmainlyinunsupportedassertion；andintherarecaseswheresheputsforwardaverifiablefactshegetsoutofitameaningwhichitrefusestofurnishtoanybodyelse。Also，whenshetalks，sheisunstable，shewanders，sheisincurablyinconsistent；whatshesaysto-dayshecontradictstomorrow。

Butheractsareconsistent。Theyarealwaysfaithfultoher，theynevermisinterprether，theyareamirrorwhichalwaysreflectsherexactly，precisely，minutely，unerringly，andalwaysthesame，todate，withonlythoseprogressivelittlenaturalchangesinstature，dress，complexion，mood，andcarriagethatmark——exteriorly——themarchoftheyearsandrecordtheaccumulationsofexperience，while——interiorly——throughallthissteadydriftofevolutiontheoneessentialdetail，thecommandingdetail，themasterdetailofthemake-upremainsasitwasinthebeginning，suffersnochangeandcansuffernone；thebasisofthecharacter；thetemperament，thedisposition，thatindestructibleironframeworkuponwhichthecharacterisbuilt，andwhoseshapeitmusttake，andkeep，throughoutlife。Wecallitaperson\'snature。

Themanwhoisbornstingycanbetaughttogiveliberally——withhishands；butnotwithhisheart。Themanbornkindandcompassionatecanhavethatdispositioncrusheddownoutofsightbyembitteringexperience；butifitwereanorganthepost-mortemwouldfinditstillinhiscorpse。Themanbornambitiousofpowerandglorymaylivelongwithoutfindingitout，butwhentheopportunitycomeshewillknow，willstrikeforthelargestthingwithinthelimitofhischancesatthetime-

constable，perhaps——andwillbegladandproudwhenhegetsit，andwillwritehomeaboutit。Buthewillnotstopwiththatstart；hisappetitewillcomeagain；andby-and-byagain，andyetagain；andwhenhehasclimbedtopolicecommissioneritwillatlastbegintodawnuponhimthatwhathisNapoleonsoulwantsandwasbornforissomethingawayhigherup——hedoesnotquiteknowwhat，butCircumstanceandOpportunitywillindicatethedirectionandhewillcutaroadthroughandfindout。

IthinkMrs。Eddywasbornwithafar-seeingbusiness-eye，butdidnotknowit；andwithagreatorganizingandexecutivetalent，anddidnotknowit；andwithalargeappetiteforpoweranddistinction，anddidnotknowit。IthinkthereasonthathermakedidnotshowupuntilmiddlelifewasthatshehadGeneralGrant\'sluck——CircumstanceandOpportunitydidnotcomeherwaywhenshewasyounger。Thequalitiesthatwereborninherhadtowaitforcircumstanceandopportunity——buttheywerethere：

theyweretheretostay，whethertheyevergotachancetofructifyornot。Iftheyhadcomeearly，theywouldhavefoundherreadyandcompetent。Andthey——notshe——wouldhavedeterminedwhattheywouldsetheratandwhattheywouldmakeofher。Iftheyhadelectedtocommissionherassecond-assistantcookinabankruptboarding-house，Iknowtherestofit——Iknowwhatwouldhavehappened。Shewouldhaveownedtheboarding-housewithinsixmonths；shewouldhavehadthelateproprietoronsalaryandhumpinghimself，astheworldlysay；shewouldhavehadthatboarding-housespewingmoneylikeamint；shewouldhaveworkedtheservantsandthelatelandlorduptothelimit；shewouldhavesqueezedtheboarderstilltheywailed，andbysomemysteriousqualityborninhershewouldhavekepttheaffectionsofcertainofthelotwhoseloveandesteemshevalued，andflungtheothersdownthebackarea；intwoyearsshewouldownalltheboarding-housesinthetown，infivealltheboarding-housesintheState，intwentyallthehotelsinAmerica，infortyallthehotelsontheplanet，andwouldsitathomewithherfingeronabuttonandgovernthewholecombinationaseasilyasabench-managergovernsadog-show。

Itwouldbeagrandthingtosee，andIfeelakindofdisappointment——

butnevermind，areligionisbetterandlarger；andthereismoretoit。

AndIhavenotbeensteepingmyselfinChristianSciencealltheseweekswithoutfindingoutthattheonesensiblethingtodowithadisappointmentistoputitoutofyourmindandthinkofsomethingcheerfuler。

WeoutsiderscannotconceiveofMrs。Eddy\'sChristianScienceReligionasbeingasuddenandmiraculousbirth，butonlyasagrowthfromaseedplantedbycircumstances，anddevelopedstagebystagebycommandandcompulsionofthesameforce。Whatthestageswerewecannotknow，butareprivilegedtoguess。Shemayhavegottenthemental-healingideafromQuimby——ithadbeenexperimentedwithforages，andwasnoone\'sspecialproperty。[Forthepresent，forconvenience\'sake，letusproceeduponthehypothesisthatthatwasallshegotofhim，andthatsheputuptherestoftheassetsherself。Thiswillstrainus，butletustryit。]Ineachandallitsformsandunderallitsmanynames，mentalhealinghadhadlimits，always，andtheywererathernarrowones——

Mrs。Eddy，letusimagine，removedthefence，abolishedthefrontiers。

Notbyexpandingmental-healing，butbyabsorbingitssmallbulkintothevasterbulkofChristianScience——DivineScience，TheHolyGhost，theComforter——whichwasaquitedifferentandsublimerforce，andonewhichhadlonglaindormantandunemployed。

TheChristianScientistbelievesthattheSpiritofGod（lifeandlove）

pervadestheuniverselikeanatmosphere；thatwhosowillstudyScienceandHealthcangetfromitthesecretofhowtoinhalethattransformingair；thattobreatheitistobemadenew；thatfromthenewmanallsorrow，allcare，allmiseriesofthemindvanishaway，forthatonlypeace，contentmentandmeasurelessjoycanliveinthatdivinefluid；

thatitpurifiesthebodyfromdisease，whichisaviciouscreationofthegrosshumanmind，andcannotcontinuetoexistinthepresenceoftheImmortalMind，therenewingSpiritofGod。

TheScientistfindsthisreasonable，natural，andnothardertobelievethanthatthediseasegerm，acreatureofdarkness，perisheswhenexposedtothelightofthegreatsun——anewrevelationofprofanesciencewhichnoonedoubts。Heremindsusthattheactinicray，shininguponlupus，curesit——ahorriblediseasewhichwasincurablefifteenyearsago，andhadbeenincurablefortenmillionyearsbefore；thatthiswonder，unbelievablebythephysiciansatfirst，isbelievedbythemnow；andsoheistranquillyconfidentthatthetimeiscomingwhentheworldwillbeeducateduptoapointwhereitwillcomprehendandgrantthatthelightoftheSpiritofGod，shiningunobstructeduponthesoul，isanactinicraywhichcanpurgebothmindandbodyfromdiseaseandsetthemfreeandmakethemwhole。

Itisapparent，then，thatinChristianScienceitisnotoneman\'smindactinguponanotherman\'smindthatheals；thatitissolelytheSpiritofGodthatheals；thatthehealer\'smindperformsnoofficebuttoconveythatforcetothepatient；thatitismerelythewirewhichcarriestheelectricfluid，sotospeak，anddeliversthemessage。

Therefore，ifthesethingsbetrue，mental-healingandScience-healingareseparateanddistinctprocesses，andnokinshipexistsbetweenthem。

Tohealthebodyofitsillsandpainsisamightybenefaction，butinourdayourphysiciansandsurgeonsworkathousandmiracles——prodigieswhichwouldhaverankedasmiraclesfiftyyearsago——andtheyhavesogreatlyextendedtheirdominationoverdiseasethatwefeelsowellprotectedthatweareabletolookwithagooddealofcomposureandabsenceofhystericsupontheclaimsofnewcompetitorsinthatfield。

Butthereisamightierbenefactionthanthehealingofthebody，andthatisthehealingofthespirit——whichisChristianScience\'sotherclaim。SofarasIknow，sofarasIcanfindout，itmakesitgood。

PersonallyIhavenotknownaScientistwhodidnotseemserene，contented，unharassed。IhavenotfoundanoutsiderwhoseobservationofScientistsfurnishedhimaviewthatdifferedfrommyown。Buoyantspirits，comfortofmind，freedomfromcarethesehappinessesweallhave，atintervals；butinthespacesbetween，dearme，theblackhours！

TheyhaveputacurseuponthelifeofeveryhumanbeingIhaveeverknown，youngorold。Iconcedenotasingleexception。UnlessitmightbethoseScientistsjustreferredto。Theymayhavebeenplayingapartwithme；Ihopetheywerenot，andIbelievetheywerenot。

TimewilltesttheScience\'sclaim。Iftimeshallmakeitgood；iftimeshallprovethattheSciencecanhealthepersecutedspiritofmanandbanishitstroublesandkeepitsereneandsunnyandcontent——why，thenMrs。Eddywillhaveamonumentthatwillreachabovetheclouds。Forifshedidnothituponthatimperialideaandevolveitanddeliverit，itsdiscoverercanneverbeidentifiedwithcertainty，now，Ithink。Itisthegiantfeature，itisthesunthatridesinthezenithofChristianScience，theauxiliaryfeaturesareofminorconsequence[Letusstillleavethelarge"if"aside，forthepresent，andproceedasifithadnoexistence。]

ItisnotsupposablethatMrs。Eddyrealized，atfirst，thesizeofherplunder。（No，find——thatistheword；shedidnotrealizethesizeofherfind，atfirst。）Ithadtogrowuponher，bydegrees，inaccordancewiththeinalterablecustomofCircumstance，whichworksbystages，andbystagesonly，andneverfurnishesanymindwithallthematerialsforalargeideaatonetime。

Inthebeginning，Mrs。Eddywasprobablyinterestedmerelyinthemental-

healingdetailAndperhapsmainlyinterestedinitpecuniary，forshewaspoor。

Shewouldsucceedinanythingsheundertook。Shewouldattractpupils，andhercommercewouldgrow。Shewouldinspireinpatientandpupilconfidenceinherearnestness，herhistoryisevidencethatshewouldnotfailofthat。

Thereprobablycameatime，induecourse，whenherstudentsbegantothinktherewassomethingdeeperinherteachingsthantheyhadbeensuspecting——amysterybeyondmental-healing，andhigher。Itisconceivablethatbyconsequencetheirmannertowardsherchangedlittlebylittle，andfromrespectfulbecamereverent。Itisconceivablethatthiswouldhaveaninfluenceuponher；thatitwouldinclinehertowonderiftheirsecretthought——thatshewasinspired——mightnotbeawell-groundedguess。Itisconceivablethatastimewentonthethoughtintheirmindsanditsreflectioninhersmightsolidifyintoconviction。

Shewouldremember，then，thatasachildshehadbeencalled，morethanonce，byamysteriousvoice——justashadhappenedtolittleSamuel。

（MentionedinherAutobiography。）Shewouldbeimpressedbythatancientreminiscence，now，anditcouldhaveapropheticmeaningforher。

Itisconceivablethatthepersuasiveinfluencesaroundherandwithinherwouldgiveanewandpowerfulimpulsetoherphilosophizings，andthatfromthis，intime，wouldresultthatgreatbirth，thehealingofbodyandmindbytheinpouringoftheSpiritofGod——thecentralanddominantideaofChristianScience——andthatwhenthisideacameshewouldnotdoubtthatitwasaninspirationdirectfromHeaven。

CHAPTERXI

[Imustrestalittle，now。TosithereandpainstakinglyspinoutaschemewhichimaginesMrs。Eddy，ofallpeople，workinghermindonaplaneabovecommercialism；imaginesherthinking，philosophizing，discoveringmajesticthings；andevenimaginesherdealinginsincerities——tobefrank，IfinditalargecontractButIhavebegunit，andIwillgothroughwithit。]

CHAPTERXII

Itisevidentthatshemadedisciplesfast，andthattheirbeliefinherandintheauthenticityofherheavenlyambassadorshipwasnotofthelukewarmandhalf-waysort，butwasprofoundlyearnestandsincere。Herbookwasissuedfromthepressin1875，itbeganitsworkofconvert-

making，andwithinsixyearsshehadsuccessfullylaunchedanewReligionandanewsystemofhealing，andwasteachingthemtocrowdsofeagerstudentsinaCollegeofherown，atpricessoextraordinarythatwearealmostcompelledtoacceptherstatement（no，herguardedintimation）

thattherateswerearrangedonhigh，sinceamerehumanbeingunacquaintedwithcommerceandaccustomedtothinkinpenniescouldhardlyputupsuchahandasthatwithoutsupernaturalhelp。

Fromthisstageonward——Mrs。Eddybeingwhatshewas——therestofthedevelopment——stageswouldfollownaturallyandinevitably。

Butifshehadbeenanybodyelse，therewouldhavebeenadifferentarrangementofthem，withdifferentresults。Beingtheextraordinarypersonshewas，sherealizedherpositionanditspossibilities；realizedthepossibilities，andhadthedaringtousethemforalltheywereworth。

Wehaveseenwhathermethodswereaftershepassedthestagewhereherdivineambassadorshipwasgranteditsexecuterintheheartsandmindsofherfollowers；wehaveseenhowsteadyandfearlessandcalculatedandorderlywashermarchthenceforthfromconquesttoconquest；wehaveseenherstrikedead，withouthesitancy，anyhostileorquestionableforcethatroseinherpath：first，thehordeofpretendersthatsprangupandtriedtotakeherScienceanditsmarketawayfromher——shecrushedthem，sheobliteratedthem；whenherownNationalChristianScienceAssociationbecamegreatinnumbersandinfluence，andlooselyanddangerouslygarrulous，andbegantoexpoundthedoctrinesaccordingtoitsownuninspirednotions，shetookupherspongewithoutatremoroffearandwipedthatAssociationout；whensheperceivedthatthepreachersinherpulpitswerebecomingafflictedwithdoctrine-tinkering，sherecognizedthedangerofit，anddidnothesitatenortemporize，butpromptlydismissedthewholeoftheminaday，andabolishedtheirofficepermanently；wehaveseenthat，asfastasherpowergrew，shewascompetenttotakethemeasureofit，andthatasfastasitsexpansionsuggestedtohergraduallyawakeningnativeambitionahigherstepshetookit；andso，bythisevolutionaryprocess，wehaveseenthegrossmoney-lustrelegatedtosecondplace，andthelustofempireandgloryriseaboveit。Asplendiddream；andbyforceofthequalitiesborninhersheismakingitcometrue。

Thesequalities——andthecapacitiesgrowingoutofthembythenurturinginfluencesoftraining，observation，andexperienceseemtobeclearlyindicatedbythecharacterofhercareeranditsachievements。Theyseemtobe：

Aclearheadforbusiness，andaphenomenallylongone；

Clearunderstandingofbusinesssituations；

Accuracyinestimatingtheopportunitiestheyoffer；

Intelligenceinplanningabusinessmove；

Firmnessinstickingtoitafterithasbeendecidedupon；

Extraordinarydaring；

Indestructiblepersistency；

Devouringambition；

Limitlessselfishness；

Aknowledgeoftheweaknessesandpovertiesanddocilitiesofhumannatureandhowtoturnthemtoaccountwhichhasneverbeensurpassed，ifeverequalled；

And——necessarily——thefoundation-stoneofMrs。Eddy\'scharacterisanever-waveringconfidenceinherself。

Itisagranitecharacter。And——quitenaturally——ameasureofthetalcofsmallnessescommontohumannatureismixedupinitanddistributedthroughit。WhenMrs。EddyisnotdictatingservilitiesfromherthroneinthecloudstoherofficialdomesticsinBostonortoherfar-spreadsubjectsroundabouttheplanet，butisdownontheground，sheiskintousandoneofus：sentimentalasagirl，garrulous，ungrammatical，incomprehensible，affected，vainofherlittlehumanancestry，unstable，inconsistent，unreliableinstatement，andnaivelyandeverlastinglyself-contradictory-oh，trivialandcommonandcommonplaceasthecommonestofus！justaNapoleonasMadamedeRemusatsawhim，abrassgodwithclaylegs。

CHAPTERXIII

IndrawingMrs。Eddy\'sportraitithasbeenmypurposetorestrictmyselftomaterialsfurnishedbyherself，andIbelieveIhavedonethat。IfI

havemisinterpretedanyofheracts，itwasnotdoneintentionally。

Itwillbenoticedthatinskeletonizingalistofthequalitieswhichhavecarriedhertothedizzysummitwhichsheoccupies，Ihavenotmentionedthepowerwhichwasthecommandingforceemployedinachievingthatloftyflight。Itdidnotbelonginthatlist；itwasaforcethatwasnotadetailofhercharacter，butwasanoutsideone。Itwasthepowerwhichproceededfromherpeople\'srecognitionofherasasupernaturalpersonage，conveyeroftheLatestWord，anddivinelycommissionedtodeliverittotheworld。Theformwhichsucharecognitiontakes，consciouslyorunconsciously，isworship；andworshipdoesnotquestionnorcriticize，itobeys。Theobjectofitdoesnotneedtocoddleit，bribeit，beguileit，reasonwithit，convinceit——itcommandsit；thatissufficient；theobediencerenderedisnotreluctant，butpromptandwhole-hearted。AdmirationforaNapoleon，confidenceinhim，prideinhim，affectionforhim，canlifthimhighandcarryhimfar；andtheseareformsofworship，andarestrongforces，buttheyareworshipofamerehumanbeing，afterall，andareinfinitelyfeeble，ascomparedwiththosethataregeneratedbythatotherworship，theworshipofadivinepersonage。Mrs。Eddyhasthisefficientworship，thismassedandcentralizedforce，thisforcewhichisindifferenttoopposition，untroubledbyfear，andgoestobattlesinging，likeCromwell\'ssoldiers；

andwhileshehasitshecancommandanditwillobey，andmaintainheronherthrone，andextendherempire。

Shewillhaveituntilshedies；andthenweshallseeacuriousandinterestingfurtherdevelopmentofherrevolutionaryworkbegin。