首页 >出版文学> Christian Science>第8章
  Sciencegathersnotgrapesofthornsorfigsofthistles。Intelligenceneverproducednon-intelligence,suchasmatter:theimmortalneverproducedmortality,goodneverresultedinevil。ThescienceofMindshowsconclusivelythatmatterisamyth。Metaphysicsareabovephysics,anddragnotmatter,orwhatistermedthat,intooneofitspremisesorconclusions。Metaphysicsresolvesthingsintothoughts,andexchangestheobjectsofsensefortheideasofSoul。Theseideasareperfectlytangibleandrealtoconsciousness,andtheyhavethisadvantage——theyareeternal。MindanditsthoughtscomprisethewholeofGod,theuniverse,andofman。Reasonandrevelationcoincidewiththisstatement,andsupportitsproofeveryhour,fornothingisharmoniousoreternalthatisnotspiritual:therealizationofthiswillbringoutobjectsfromahighersourceofthought;hencemorebeautifulandimmortal。
  Thefactofspiritualizationproducesresultsinstrikingcontrasttothefarceofmaterialization:theoneproducestheresultsofchastityandpurity,theotherthedownwardtendenciesandearthwardgravitationofsensualismandimpurity。
  Theexaltingandhealingeffectsofmetaphysicsshowtheirfountain。
  Nothinginpathologyhasexceededtheapplicationofmetaphysics。
  Throughmindalonewehavepreventeddiseaseandpreservedhealth。Incasesofchronicandacutediseases,intheirseverestforms,wehavechangedthesecretions,renewedstructure,andrestoredhealth;haveelongatedshortenedlimbs,relaxedrigidmuscles,madecicatrizedjointssupple;restoredcariousbonestohealthyconditions,renewedthatwhichistermedthelostsubstanceofthelungs;andrestoredhealthyorganizationswherediseasewasorganicinsteadoffunctional。
  MRS。EDDYINERROR
  IfeelalmostsurethatMrs。Eddy'sinspiration——worksaregettingoutofrepair。Ithinksobecausetheymadesomeerrorsinastatementwhichsheutteredthroughthepressonthe17thofJanuary。Notlargeones,perhaps,stillitisafriend'sdutytostraightensuchthingsoutandgetthemrightwhenhecan。ThereforeIwillputmyotherdutiesasideforamomentandundertakethishelpfulservice。Shesaidasfollows:
  "InviewofthecirculationofcertaincriticismsfromthepenofMarkTwain,Isubmitthefollowingstatement:
  "Itisafact,wellunderstood,thatIbeggedthestudentswhofirstgavemetheendearingappellative'mother'nottonamemethus。But,withoutmyconsent,thatwordspreadlikewildfire。Istillmustthinkthenameisnotapplicabletome。IstandinrelationtothiscenturyasaChristiandiscoverer,founder,andleader。Iregardself-deificationasblasphemous;Imaybemoreloved,butIamlesslauded,pampered,providedfor,andcheeredthanothersbeforeme——andwherefore?BecauseChristianScienceisnotyetpopular,andIrefuseadulation。
  "MyvisittotheMother-Churchafteritwasbuiltanddedicatedpleasedme,andthesituationwassatisfactory。Thedearmemberswantedtogreetmewithescortandtheringingofbells,butIdeclined,andwentaloneinmycarriagetothechurch,enteredit,andkneltinthanksuponthestepsofitsaltar。Theretheforesplendorofthebeginningsoftruthfellmysteriouslyuponmyspirit。IbelieveinoneChrist,teachoneChrist,knowofbutoneChrist。Ibelieveinbutoneincarnation,oneMotherMary,andknowIamnotthatone,andneverclaimedtobe。ItsufficesmetolearntheScienceoftheScripturesrelativetothissubject。
  "ChristianScientistshavenoquarrelwithProtestants,Catholics,oranyothersect。TheyneedtobeunderstoodasfollowingthedivinePrincipleGod,Loveandnotimaginedtobeunscientificworshippersofahumanbeing。
  "Intheaforesaidarticle,ofwhichIhaveseenonlyextracts,MarkTwain'switwasnotwastedIncertaindirections。ChristianScienceeschewsdivinerightsinhumanbeings。Iftheindividualgovernedhumanconsciousness,mystatementofChristianSciencewouldbedisproved,buttounderstandthespiritualideaisessentialtodemonstrateScienceanditspuremonotheism——oneGod,oneChrist,noidolatry,nohumanpropaganda。Jesustaughtandprovedthatwhatfeedsafewfeedsall。
  Hislife-worksubordinatedthematerialtothespiritual,andHeleftthislegacyoftruthtomankind。Hismetaphysicsisnotthesportofphilosophy,religion,orScience;ratheritisthepithandfinaleofthemall。
  "IhavenottheinspirationoraspirationtobeafirstorsecondVirgin-
  Mother——herduplicate,antecedent,orsubsequent。WhatIamremainstobeprovedbythegoodIdo。Weneedmuchhumility,wisdom,andlovetoperformthefunctionsofforeshadowingandforetastingheavenwithinus。
  Thisgloryismolteninthefurnaceofaffliction。"
  ShestillthinksthenameofOurMothernotapplicabletoher;andsheisalsoabletorememberthatitdistressedherwhenitwasconferreduponher,andthatshebeggedtohaveitsuppressed。Hermemoryisatfaulthere。IfshewilltakeherBy-laws,andrefertoSection1ofArticleXXII。,writtenwithherownhand——shewillfindthatshehasreservedthattitletoherself,andissopleasedwithit,andso——maywesayjealous?——aboutit,thatshethreatenswithexcommunicationanysisterScientistwhoshallcallherselfbyit。ThisisthatSection1:
  "TheTitleofMother。Intheyear1895loyalChristianScientistshadgiventotheauthoroftheirtext-book,theFounderofChristianScience,theindividual,endearingtermofMother。Therefore,ifastudentofChristianScienceshallapplythistitle,eithertoherselfortoothers,exceptasthetermforkinshipaccordingtotheflesh,itshallberegardedbytheChurchasanindicationofdisrespectfortheirPastorEmeritus,andunfitnesstobeamemberoftheMother-Church。"
  Mrs。EddyisherselftheMother-Church——itspowersandauthoritiesareinherpossessionsolely——andshecanabolishthattitlewheneveritmaypleasehertodoso。Shehasonlytocommandherpeople,wherevertheymaybeintheearth,touseitnomore,anditwillneverbeutteredagain。Sheisawareofthis。
  Itmaybethatshe"refusesadulation"whensheisnotawake,butwhensheisawakesheencouragesitandpropagatesitinthatmuseumcalled"OurMother'sRoom,"inherChurchinBoston。Shecouldabolishthatinstitutionwithaword,ifshewantedto。Sheisawareofthat。Iwillsayafurtherwordaboutthemuseumpresently。
  Furtherdownthecolumn,hermemoryisunfaithfulagain:
  "Ibelievein……butoneMotherMary,andknowIamnotthatone,andneverclaimedtobe。"
  AtasessionoftheNationalChristianScienceAssociation,heldinthecityofNewYorkonthe27thofMay,1890,thesecretarywas"instructedtosendtoourMothergreetingsandwordsofaffectionfromherassembledchildren。"
  HertelegraphicresponsewasreadtotheAssociationatnextday'smeeting:
  "Allhail!HehathfilledthehungrywithgoodthingsandthesickhathHenotsentemptyaway。——MOTHERMARY。"
  WhichMotherMaryisthisone?Aretheretwo?Ifso,sheisbothofthem;for,whenshesignedthistelegraminthissatisfiedandunprotestingway,theMother-titlewhichshewasgoingtosostrenuouslyobjectto,andputfromherwithhumility,andseizewithbothhands,andreserveashersoleproperty,andprotecthermonopolyofitwithasternBy-law,whilerecognizingwithdiffidencethatitwas"notapplicable"toher(thenandto-day)——thatMother——titlewasnotyetborn,andwouldnotbeofferedtoheruntilfiveyearslater。Thedateoftheabove"MotherMary"is1890;the"individual,endearingtitleofMother"wasgivenher"in1895"——accordingtoherowntestimony。SeeherBy-lawquotedabove。
  InhisopeningAddresstothatConventionof1890,thePresidentrecognizedthisMary——ourMary-andabolishedallpreviousones。Hesaid:
  "ThereisbutoneMoses,oneJesus;andthereisbutoneMary。"
  Theconfusionsbeingnowdispersed,wehavethisclarifiedresult:
  WerehadbeenaMosesatonetime,andonlyone;therehadbeenaJesusatonetime,andonlyone;thereisaMaryand"onlyone。"SheisnotaHasBeen,sheisanIs——the"AuthorofScienceandHealth;andwecannotignoreher。"
  1。In1890,therewasbutoneMotherMary。ThePresidentsaidso。
  2。Mrs。Eddywasthatone。Shesaidso,insigningthetelegram。
  3。Mrs。Eddywasnotthatoneforshesaysso,inherAssociatedPressutteranceofJanuary17th。
  4。Andhas"neverclaimedtobe"thatone——unlessthesignaturetothetelegramisaclaim。
  ThusitstandsprovenandestablishedthatsheisthatMaryandisn't,andthoughtshewasandknowsshewasn't。Thatmuchisclear。
  Sheisalso"TheMother,"bytheelectionof1895,anddidnotwantthetitle,andthinksitisnotapplicabletoher,endwillexcommunicateanyonethattriestotakeitawayfromher。Sothatisclear。
  IthinkthattheonlyreallytroublesomeconfusionconnectedwiththeseparticularmattershasarisenfromthenameMary。Muchvexation,muchmisunderstanding,couldhavebeenavoidedifMrs。Eddyhadusedsomeofherothernamesinplaceofthatone。"MotherMary"wascertaintostirupdiscussion。Itwouldhavebeenmuchbetterifshehadsignedthetelegram"MotherBaker";thentherewouldhavebeennoBiblicalcompetition,and,ofcourse,thatisathingtoavoid。Butitisnottoolate,yet。
  Iwishtobreakinherewithaparenthesis,andthentakeupthisexaminationofMrs。Eddy'sClaimofJanuary17thagain。
  Thehistoryofher"MotherMary"telegram——astoldtomebyonewhooughttobeaverygoodauthority——iscuriousandinteresting。Thetelegramostensiblyquotesverse53fromthe"Magnificat,"butreallymakessomeprettyformidablechangesinit。ThisisSt。Luke'sversion:
  "Hehathfilledthehungrywithgoodthings,andtherichHehathsentemptyaway。"
  Thisis"MotherMary's"telegraphedversion:
  "Hehathfilledthehungrywithgoodthings,andthesickhathHenotsentemptyaway。"
  TojudgebytheOfficialReport,theburstingofthisbombshellinthatmassedconventionoftrainedChristianscreatednoastonishment,sinceitcausednoremark,andthebusinessoftheconventionwenttranquillyon,thereafter,asifnothinghadhappened。
  Didthosepeopledetectthosechanges?Wecannotknow。Ithinktheymusthavenoticedthem,thewordingofSt。Luke'sversebeingasfamiliartoallChristiansasisthewordingoftheBeatitudes;andI
  thinkthatthereasonthenewversionprovokednosurpriseandnocommentwas,thattheassemblagetookitfora"Key"——aspiritualizedexplanationofverse53,newlysentdownfromheaventhroughMrs。Eddy。ForallScientistsstudytheirBiblesdiligently,andtheyknowtheirMagnificat。
  IbelievethattheirconfidenceintheauthenticityofMrs。Eddy'sinspirationsissolimitlessandsofirmlyestablishedthatnochange,howeverviolent,whichshemightmakeinaBibletextcoulddisturbtheircomposureorprovokefromthemaprotest。
  Herimprovedrenditionofverse53wentintotheconvention'sreportandappearedinaNewYorkpaperthenextday。The(atthattime)ScientistwhomImentionedaminuteago,andwhohadnotbeenpresentattheconvention,sawitandmarvelled;marvelledandwasindignant——indignantwiththeprinterorthetelegrapher,formakingsocarelessandsodreadfulanerror。Andgreatlydistressed,too;for,ofcourse,thenewspaperpeoplewouldfallfoulofit,andbesarcastic,andmakefunofit。andhaveablithetimeoverit,andbeproperlythankfulforthechance。Itshowshowinnocenthewas;itshowsthathedidnotknowthelimitationsofnewspapermeninthematterofBiblicalknowledge。Thenewverse53raisednoinsurrectioninthepress;infact,itwasnotevenremarkedupon;Icouldhavetoldhimtheboyswouldnotknowtherewasanythingthematterwithit。Ihavebeenanewspapermanmyself,andinthosedaysIhadmylimitationsliketheothers。
  TheScientisthastenedtoConcordandtoldMrs。Eddywhatadisastrousmistakehadbeenmade,buthefoundtohisbewildermentthatshewastranquilaboutit,andwasnotproposingtocorrectit。Hewasnotabletogethertopromisetomakeacorrection。Heaskedhersecretaryifhehadheardarightwhenthetelegramwasdictatedtohim;thesecretarysaidhehad,andtookthefiledcopyofitandverifieditsauthenticitybycomparingitwiththestenographicnotes。
  Mrs。Eddydidmakethecorrection,twomonthslater,inherofficialorgan。ItattractednoattentionamongtheScientists;and,naturally,noneelsewhere,forthatperiodical'scirculationwaspracticallyconfinedtodisciplesofthecult。
  Thatisthetaleasitwastoldtomebyanex-Scientist。Verse53——
  renovatedandspiritualized——hadanarrowescapefromatremendouscelebrity。ThenewspapermenwouldhavemadeitasfamousastheassassinationofCaesar,butfortheirlimitations。
  ToreturntotheClaim。IfindmyselfgreatlyembarrassedbyMrs。Eddy'sremark:"Iregardself-deificationasblasphemous。"Ifsheisrightaboutthat,Ihavewrittenahalf-reamofmanuscriptthispastweekwhichImustnotprint,eitherinthebookwhichIamwriting,orelsewhere:
  foritgoesintothatverymatterwithextensiveelaboration,citing,indetail,wordsandactsofMrs。Eddy'swhichseemtometoprovethatsheisafaithfulanduntiringworshipperofherself,andhascarriedself-
  deificationtoalengthwhichhasnotbeenbeforeventuredinages。Ifever。ThereisnotroomenoughinthischapterforthatSurvey,butI
  canepitomizeaportionofithere。
  Withherownuntaughtanduntrainedmind,andwithoutoutsidehelp,shehaserecteduponafirmandlastingfoundationthemostminutelyperfect,andwonderful,andsmoothlyandexactlyworking,andbestsafe-guardedsystemofgovernmentthathasyetbeendevisedintheworld,asI
  believe,andasIamsureIcouldproveifIhadroomformydocumentaryevidenceshere。
  Itisadespotism(onthisdemocraticsoil);asovereigntymoreabsolutethantheRomanPapacy,moreabsolutethantheRussianCzarship;ithasnotasinglepower,notashredofauthority,legislativeorexecutive,whichisnotlodgedsolelyinthesovereign;allitsdreams,itsfunctions,itsenergies,haveasingleobject,asinglereasonforexisting,andonlytheone——tobuildtotheskythegloryofthesovereign,andkeepitbrighttotheendoftime。
  Mrs。Eddyisthesovereign;shedevisedthatgreatplaceforherself,sheoccupiesthatthrone。
  In1895,shewrotealittleprimer,alittlebodyofautocraticlaws,calledtheManualofTheFirstChurchofChrist,Scientist,andputthoselawsinforce,inpermanence。Hergovernmentisallthere;allinthatdeceptivelyinnocent-lookinglittlebook,thatcunninglittledevilishbook,thatslumberinglittlebrownvolcano,withhellinitsbowels。Inthatbookshehasplannedouthersystem,andclassifiedanddefineditspurposesandpowers。
  MAINPARTSOFTHEMACHINE
  ASupremeChurch。AtBoston。
  BranchChurches。AllovertheworldOnePastorforthewholeofthem:towit,herbook,ScienceandHealth。
  Termofthebook'soffice——forever。
  IneveryC。S。pulpit,two"Readers,"amanandawoman。Notalkers,nopreachers,inanyChurch-readersonly。ReadersoftheBibleandherbooks——noothers。Nocommentatorsallowedtowriteorprint。
  AChurchService。Shehasframedit——foralltheC。S。Churches——
  selecteditsreadings,itsprayers,andthehymnstobeused,andhasappointedtheorderofprocedure。Nochangespermitted。
  ACreed。Shewroteit。AllC。S。Churchesmustsubscribetoit。Nootherpermitted。
  ATreasury。AtBoston。Shecarriesthekey。
  AC。S。Book——PublishingHouse。Forbooksapprovedbyher。Nootherspermitted。
  JournalsandMagazines。Theseareorgansofhers,andarecontrolledbyher。
  ACollege。ForteachingC。S。
  DISTRIBUTIONOFTHEMACHINE'SPOWERSANDDIGNITIES
  SupremeChurch。
  PastorEmeritus——Mrs。Eddy。
  BoardofDirectors。
  BoardofEducation。
  BoardofFinance。
  CollegeFaculty。
  VariousCommittees。
  Treasurer。
  Clerk。
  FirstMembers(oftheSupremeChurch)。
  MembersoftheSupremeChurch。
  Itlooksfair,itlooksreal,butitisallafiction。
  Eventhelittle"PastorEmeritus"isafiction。Insteadofbeingmerelyanhonoraryandornamentalofficial,Mrs。Eddyistheonlyofficialintheentirebodythathastheslightestpower。InherManual,shehasprovidedaprodigalityofwaysandformswherebyshecanridherselfofanyfunctionaryinthegovernmentwhenevershewantsto。Theofficialsareallshadows,saveherself;sheistheonlyreality。Sheallowsnoonetoholdofficemorethanayear——noonegetsachancetobecomeover-popularorover-useful,anddangerous。"Excommunication"isthefavoritepenalty-itisthreatenedateveryturn。ItisevidentlythepetdreadandterroroftheChurch'smembership。
  Thememberwhothinks,withoutgettinghisthoughtfromMrs。Eddybeforeutteringit,isbanishedpermanently。Oneortwokindsofsinnerscanpleadtheirwaybackintothefold,butthisone,never。Tothink——intheSupremeChurch——istheNewUnpardonableSin。
  Tonearlyeverysevereandfiercerule,Mrs。Eddyaddsthisrivet:"ThisBy-lawshallnotbechangedwithouttheconsentofthePastorEmeritus。"
  Mrs。EddyistheentireSupremeChurch,inherownperson,inthematterofpowersandauthorities。
  Althoughshehasprovidedsomanywaysofgettingridofunsatisfactorymembersandofficials,shewasstillafraidshemighthaveleftalife-
  preserverlyingaroundsomewhere,thereforeshedevisedaruletocoverthatdefect。Byapplyingit,shecanexcommunicate(andthisisperpetualagain)everyfunctionaryconnectedwiththeSupremeChurch,andeveryoneofthetwenty-fivethousandmembersofthatChurch,atanhour'snotice——anddoitallbyherselfwithoutanybody'shelp。
  ByauthorityofthisastonishingBy-law,shehasonlytosayapersonconnectedwiththatChurchissecretlypracticinghypnotismormesmerism;
  whereupon,immediateexcommunication,withoutahearing,ishisportion!
  Shedoesnothavetoorderatrialandproduceevidence——heraccusationisallthatisnecessary。
  WhereisthePope?andwheretheCzar?Astheballadsays:
  "AskofthewindsthatfarawayWithfragmentsstrewedthesea!"
  TheBranchChurch'spulpitisoccupiedbytwo"Readers。"WithoutthemtheBranchChurchisasdeadasifitsthroathadbeencut。Tohavecontrol,then,oftheReaders,istohavecontroloftheBranchChurches。
  Mrs。Eddyhasthatcontrol——acontrolwhollywithoutlimit,acontrolsharedwithnoone。
  1。NoReadercanbeappointedtoanyChurchintheChristianScienceworldwithoutherexpressapproval。
  2。ShecansummarilyexpelfromhisorherplaceanyReader,athomeorabroad,byamereletterofdismissal,overhersignature,andwithoutfurnishinganyreasonforit,toeitherthecongregationortheReader。
  ThusshehasasabsolutecontroloverallBranchChurchesasshehasovertheSupremeChurch。ThispowerexceedsthePope's。
  Insimpletruth,sheistheonlyabsolutesovereigninallChristendom。
  Theauthorityoftheothersovereignshaslimits,hershasnone,nonewhatever。Andheryokedoesnotfret,doesnotoffend。Manyofthesubjectsoftheothermonarchsfeeltheiryoke,andarerestiveunderit;
  theirloyaltyisinsincere。Itisnotsowiththisone'shumanproperty;
  theirloyaltyisgenuine,earnest,sincere,enthusiastic。Thesentimentwhichtheyfeelforherisonewhichgoesoutinsheerperfectiontonootheroccupantofathrone;foritislove,purefromdoubt,envy,exaction,fault-seeking,alovewhosesunhasnospot——thatformoflove,strong,great,uplifting,limitless,whosevastproportionsarecompassablebynowordbutone,theprodigiousword,Worship。Anditisnotasahumanbeingthathersubjectsworshipher,butasasupernaturalone,adivineone,onewhohascomradeshipwithGod,andspeaksbyHisvoice。
  Mrs。Eddyhasherselfcreatedallthesepersonalgrandeursandautocracies——withotherswhichIhavenot(inthisarticle)mentioned。
  TheyplaceheruponanAlpinesolitudeandsupremacyofpowerandspectacularshownothithertoattainedbyanyotherself-seekingenslaverdisguisedintheChristianname,andtheypersuademethat,althoughshemayregard"self-deificationasblasphemous,"sheisasfondofitasI
  amofpie。
  Sheknowsabout"OurMother'sRoom"intheSupremeChurchinBoston——
  abovereferredto——forshehasbeeninit。InarecentlypublishedNorthAmericanReviewarticle,IquotedaladyassayingMrs。Eddy'sportraitcouldbeseenthereinashrine,litbyalways-burninglights,andthatC。S。disciplescameandworshipedit。ThatremarkhurtthefeelingsofmorethanoneScientist。Theysaiditwasnottrue,andaskedmetocorrectit。Icomplywithpleasure。Whethertheportraitwastherefouryearsagoornot,itisnottherenow,forIhaveinquired。Theonlyobjectintheshrinenow,andlitbyelectrics——andworshiped——isanoil-
  portraitofthehorse-hairchairMrs。EddyusedtositinwhenshewaswritingScienceandHealth!Itseemstomethatadulationhasstruckbottom,here。
  Mrs。Eddyknowsaboutthat。Shehasbeenthere,shehasseenit,shehasseentheworshippers。Shecouldabolishthatsarcasmwithaword。Shewithholdstheword。OncemoreIseemtorecognizeinherexactlythesameappetiteforself-deificationthatIhaveforpie。Weseemtobecuriouslyalike;fortheloveofself-deificationisreallyonlythespiritualformofthematerialappetiteforpie,andnothingcouldbemorestrikinglyChristian-Scientifically"harmonious。"
  Inotethisphrase:
  "ChristianScienceeschewsdivinerightsinhumanbeings。"
  "Rights"isvague;Idonotknowwhatitmeansthere。Mrs。EddyisnotwellacquaintedwiththeEnglishlanguage,andsheisseldomabletosayinitwhatsheistryingtosay。Shehasnoearfortheexactword,anddoesnotoftengetit。"Rights。"Doesitmean"honors?""attributes?"
  "Eschews。"Thisisanotherumbrellawherethereshouldbeatorch;itdoesnotilluminethesentence,itonlydeepenstheshadows。Doesshemean"denies?""refuses?""forbids?"orsomethinginthatline?Doesshemean:
  "ChristianSciencedeniesdivinehonorstohumanbeings?"Or:
  "ChristianSciencerefusestorecognizedivineattributesinhumanbeings?"Or:
  "ChristianScienceforbidstheworshipofhumanbeings?"
  Thebulkofthesucceedingsentenceistomeatunnel,but,whenIemergeatthisendofit,Iseemtocomeintodaylight。ThenIseemtounderstandbothsentences——withthisresult:
  "ChristianSciencerecognizesbutoneGod,forbidstheworshipofhumanbeings,andrefusestorecognizethepossessionofdivineattributesbyanymemberoftherace。"
  Iamsubjecttocorrection,butIthinkthatthatisaboutwhatMrs。Eddywasintendingtoconvey。HasherEnglish——whichisalwaysdifficulttome——beguiledmeintomisunderstandingthefollowingremark,whichshemakes(callingherself"we,"afteranoldregalfashionofhers)inherprefacetoherMiscellaneousWritings?
  "Whileweentertaindecidedviewsastothebestmethodforelevatingtheracephysically,morally,andspiritually,andshallexpresstheseviewsasdutydemands,weshallclaimnoespecialgiftfromourdivineorgan,nosupernaturalpower。"
  Wasshemeaningtosay:
  "AlthoughIamofdivineoriginandgiftedwithsupernaturalpower,I
  shallnotdrawupontheseresourcesindeterminingthebestmethodofelevatingtherace?"
  Ifshehadleftouttheword"our,"shemightthenseemtosay:
  "Iclaimnoespecialorunusualdegreeofdivineorigin——"
  Whichisawkward——mostawkward;foroneeitherhasadivineoriginorhasn't;sharesinit,degreesofit,aresurelyimpossible。Theideaofcrossedbreedsincattleisathingwecanentertain,forweareusedtoit,anditispossible;buttheideaofadivinemongrelisunthinkable。
  Well,then,whatdoesshemean?IamsureIdonotknow,forcertain。
  Itistheword"our"thatmakesallthetrouble。Withthe"our"in,sheisplainlysaying"mydivineorigin。"Theword"from"seemstobeintendedtomean"onaccountof。"Ithastomeanthatornothing,if"our"isallowedtostay。Theclausethensays:
  "Ishallclaimnoespecialgiftonaccountofmydivineorigin。"
  AndIthinkthatthefullsentencewasintendedtomeanwhatIhavealreadysuggested:
  "AlthoughIamofdivineorigin,andgiftedwithsupernaturalpower,I
  shallnotdrawupontheseresourcesindeterminingthebestmethodofelevatingtherace。"
  WhenMrs。EddycopyrightedthatPrefacesevenyearsago,shehadlongbeenusedtoregardingherselfasadivinepersonage。IquotefromMr。
  F。W。Peabody'sbook:
  "IntheChristianScienceJournalforApril,1889,whenitwasherproperty,andpublishedbyher,itwasclaimedforher,andwithhersanction,thatshewasequalwithJesus,andelaborateeffortwasmadetoestablishtheclaim。"
  "Mrs。Eddyhasdistinctlyauthorizedtheclaiminherbehalf,thatsheherselfwasthechosensuccessortoandequalofJesus。"
  ThefollowingremarkinthatAprilnumber,quotedbyMr。Peabody,indicatesthatherclaimhadbeenpreviouslymade,andhadexcited"horror"amongsome"goodpeople":
  "Now,awordaboutthehorrormanygoodpeoplehaveofourmakingtheAuthorofScienceandHealth'equalwithJesus。'"
  Surely,ifithadexcitedhorrorinMrs。Eddyalso,shewouldhavepublishedadisclaimer。Sheownedthepaper;shecouldsaywhatshepleasedinitscolumns。Insteadofrebukinghereditor,sheletshimrebukethose"goodpeople"forobjectingtotheclaim。
  Thesethingsseemtothrowlightuponthosewords,"our[my]divineorigin。"
  Itmaybethat"ChristianScienceeschewsdivinerightsinhumanbeings,"
  andforbidsworshipofanybut"oneGod,oneChrist";but,ifthatisthecase,itlooksasifMrs。EddyisaveryunsoundChristianScientist,andneedsdisciplining。Ibelieveshehasaseriousmalady——"self-
  deification";andthatitwillbewelltohaveoneoftheexpertsdemonstrateoverit。
  Meantime,lethergoonliving——formysake。Closelyexamined,painstakinglystudied,sheiseasilythemostinterestingpersonontheplanet,and,inseveralways,aseasilythemostextraordinarywomanthatwaseverbornuponit。
  P。S。——SinceIwrotetheforegoing,Mr。McCrackan'sarticleappeared(intheMarchnumberoftheNorthAmericanReview)。Beforehisarticleappeared——thatistosay,duringDecember,January,andFebruary——Ihadwrittenanewbook,acharacter-portraitofMrs。Eddy,drawnfromherownactsandwords,anditwasthen——togetherwiththethreebriefarticlespreviouslypublishedintheNorthAmericanReview——readytobedeliveredtotheprinterforissueinbookform。Inthatbook,byaccidentandgoodluck,IhaveansweredtheobjectionsmadebyMr。McCrackantomyviews,andthereforedonotneedtoaddananswerhere。Also,initI
  havecorrectedcertainmisstatementsofminewhichhehasnoticed,andseveralotherswhichhehasnotreferredto。ThereareoneortwoimportantmattersofopinionuponwhichheandIarenotindisagreement;
  butthereareothersuponwhichwemustcontinuetodisagree,Isuppose;
  indeed,Iknowwemust;forinstance,hebelievesMrs。EddywroteScienceandHealth,whereasIamquitesureIcanconvinceapersonunhamperedbypredilectionsthatshedidnot。
  AsconcernsoneconsiderablematterIhopetoconverthim。HebelievesMrs。Eddy'sword;inhisarticlehecitesherasawitness,andtakeshertestimonyatpar;butifhewillmakeanexcursionthroughmybookwhenitcomesout,andwilldispassionatelyexaminehertestimoniesasthereaccumulated,IthinkhewillincandorconcedethatsheisbyalargepercentagethemosterraticandcontradictoryanduntrustworthywitnessthathasoccupiedthestandsincethedaysofthelamentedAnanias。
  CONCLUSION
  Broadlyspeaking,thehostilesrejectandrepudiateallthepretensionsofChristianScienceChristianity。TheyaffirmthatithasaddednothingnewtoChristianity;thatitcandonothingthatChristianitycouldnotdoandwasnotdoingbeforeChristianSciencewasborn。
  InthatcaseistherenofieldforthenewChristianity,noopportunityforusefulness,precioususefulness,greatanddistinguishedusefulness?
  Ithinkthereis。Iamfarfrombeingconfidentthatitcanfillit,butIwillindicatethatunoccupiedfield——withoutcharge——andifitcanconquerit,itwilldeservethepraiseandgratitudeoftheChristianworld,andwillgetit,Iamsure。
  ThepresentChristianitymakesanexcellentprivateChristian,butitsendeavorstomakeanexcellentpubliconegofornothing,substantially。
  Thisisanhonestnation——inprivatelife。TheAmericanChristianisastraightandcleanandhonestman,andinhisprivatecommercewithhisfellowscanbetrustedtostandfaithfullybytheprinciplesofhonorandhonestyimposeduponhimbyhisreligion。Butthemomenthecomesforwardtoexerciseapublictrusthecanbeconfidentlycountedupontobetraythattrustinninecasesoutoften,if"partyloyalty"shallrequireit。
  Iftherearetwoticketsinthefieldinhiscity,onecomposedofhonestmenandtheotherofnotoriousblatherskitesandcriminals,hewillnothesitatetolayhisprivateChristianhonorasideandvotefortheblatherskitesifhis"partyhonor"shallexactit。HisChristianityisofnousetohimandhasnoinfluenceuponhimwhenheisactinginapubliccapacity。Hehassoundandsturdyprivatemorals,buthehasnopublicones。InthelastgreatmunicipalelectioninNewYork,almostacompleteone-halfofthevotesrepresenting3,500,000Christianswerecastforaticketthathadhardlyamanonitwhoseearnedandproperplacewasoutsideofajail。ButthatvotewaspresentatchurchnextSundaythesameasever,andasunconsciousofitsperfidyasifnothinghadhappened。
  OurCongressesconsistofChristians。Intheirprivatelifetheyaretruetoeveryobligationofhonor;yetineverysessiontheyviolatethemall,anddoitwithoutshame;becausehonortopartyisabovehonortothemselves。Itisanacceptedlawofpubliclifethatinitamanmaysoilhishonorintheinterestofpartyexpediency——mustdoitwhenpartyexpediencyrequiresit。Inprivatelifethosemenwouldbitterlyresent——andjustly——anyinsinuationthatitwouldnotbesafetoleaveunwatchedmoneywithintheirreach;yetyoucouldnotwoundtheirfeelingsbyremindingthemthateverytimetheyvotetendollarstothepensionappropriationnineofitisstolenmoneyandtheythemarauders。
  Theyhavefilchedthemoneytotakecareoftheparty;theybelieveitwasrighttodoit;theydonotseehowtheirprivatehonorisaffected;
  thereforetheirconsciencesareclearandatrest。Byvotetheydowrongfulthingseveryday,inthepartyinterest,whichtheycouldnotbepersuadedtodoinprivatelife。Intheinterestofpartyexpediencytheygivesolemnpledges,theymakesolemncompacts;intheinterestofpartyexpediencytheyrepudiatethemwithoutablush。Theywouldnotdreamofcommittingthesestrangecrimesinprivatelife。
  Nowthen,canChristianScienceintroducetheCongressionalBlush?ThereareChristianPrivateMorals,buttherearenoChristianPublicMorals,atthepolls,orinCongressoranywhereelse——excepthereandthereandscatteredaroundlikelostcometsinthesolarsystem。CanChristianSciencepersuadethenationandCongresstothrowawaytheirpublicmoralsandusenonebuttheirprivateoneshenceforthinalltheiractivities,bothpublicandprivate?
  Idonotthinkso;butnomatteraboutme:thereisthefield——agrandone,asplendidone,asublimeone,andabsolutelyunoccupied。HasChristianScienceconfidenceenoughinitselftoundertaketoenterinandtrytopossessit?
  Maketheeffort,ChristianScience;itisamostnoblecause,anditmightsucceed。Itcouldsucceed。Thenweshouldhaveanewliterature,withromancesentitled,HowToBeanHonestCongressmanThoughaChristian;HowToBeaCreditableCitizenThoughaChristian。