Christian science, the faith and its founder

Preface

/CHRISTIAN SCIENCE has long en- ^•^ gaged my interest. For years I discouraged none who sought its heahng ministry. The undiscriminating censure visited upon it in apparent ignorance or prejudice made no impression on me. The desire Christian Scientists were constantly expressing to be judged by their fruits seemed to me to be both Christian and scientific.

A year or two ago, however, closer observation and more serious consideration brought me to three conclusions which appear to me unquestionably true:

1. That when members of any Christian church turn to Christian Science healing they usually turn away from historic Christianity.

2. That there are in the theory of Christian Science certain structural weaknesses which may easily be overlooked by people unschooled in philosophy, theology, or science.

3. That the answers of the accredited exponents of the movement to the criticisms

iii

IV

Preface which are steadily gaining headway satisfy none save Christian Scientists and such others as read carelessly and think loosely.

This volume grew out of a booklet of mine which was never regularly pubHshed, but for which there soon came to be a large demand from all parts of the country. It was at the suggestion, altogether unexpected, of G. P. Putnam's Sons that I have expanded the monograph into a book.

My purpose, as the reader will discover, has been to write a book in which the average man who is outside of Christian Science can find the things he wants to know about its theory and practice. If to my readers it may now and then appear that I unduly emphasise the defects of the system, I ask them to observe that the good in Christian Science is the good in other religions and therefore requires no special emphasis, while the evil is distinctive and needs analysis and publicity to make it evident.

In studying the theory of Christian Science I have read various editions of Science and Healthy covering its entire development, together with other writings of Mrs. Eddy, and the literature, now abundant, both in explanation and in criticism of the system. To read-

Preface v

ing I have added interviews and correspondence with representative apologists and critics of the movement.

In considering Mrs. Eddy's personal history, I have made free use of Georgine Milmine's articles in McClure's, I have taken the pains, however, in each instance to verify her statements by correspondence or by interviews with those concerned. For this purpose alone I have travelled more than twenty-five hundred miles and am glad to be able to testify to the singular accuracy of the articles and the thoroughness with which they have been prepared.

In the chance that there might be witnesses whom Georgine Milmine overlooked to contradict the witnesses she introduces in the open court of a great magazine, I took counsel with the Committee on Publication of the Christian Science organisation. He referred me to the author of the Human Life articles on the same subject, but I was no more fortunate with her than with the Committee. I am, therefore, satisfied, so far as it is possible to be, that there is no significant evidence to offset the evidence presented in McClure's,

To name all who have in one way or another helped me in my work would be impossible.

VI

Preface

But I must at least mention the following to whom I am especially indebted: Mr. Alfred Farlow, Mrs. Benjamin Welles, Mr. George A. Quimby, Mr. F. W. Peabody, Professor R. W. Micou, Rev. Dr. C. E. Holmes, Rev. Dr. A. E. Dunning, Mr. George Perry Morris, Mr. Horatio W. Dresser, Dr. A. M. Gushing, Mr. Livingston Wright, Rev. John Snyder, Rev. Wm. L. Chaffin, Mr. Robert K. Shaw, Rev. Dr. J. M. Buckley, Rev. Dr. S. A. Eliot, Rev. Dr. E. H. Delk, Mr. Richard Kennedy, Mr. Daniel H. Spofford, Mrs. Sarah G. Crosby, Mrs. Julia Russell Walcott, Mr. H. T. Wentworth, Mrs. Joseph French Johnson, Mrs. S. A. K. Robinson, Miss Florence Ben-Oliel, Mr. Henry B. Hinckley, Dr. John B. Huber, Dr. John S. Hitchcock, Dr. Elmer H. Copeland, and the librarians of Northampton, Springfield, and Worcester, Massachusetts.

To my wife, Gertrude Wilson Powell, I am under the deepest obligation for many aids which she alone could give. To the editorial skill of my nephew, Harold Ayres Powell, I owe much for a searching criticism of the manuscript. To Dr. Talcott Wilhams I am grateful, as often in the past, for the use of his comprehensive collection of magazine articles

Preface vil

and newspaper clippings which cover practically every subject of human interest, and can nowhere be duplicated.

Christian Scientists will say as usual that the truths of Christian Science are self -authenticating, and that another critic has, in undertaking to set forth the case, missed the essential point. But others will, I trust, believe that I have brought to one of the most elusive problems of the time a truth-seeking spirit, and that whether all my conclusions stand or not, the variety of quotation from Christian Science writings and the definiteness and comprehensiveness of the facts presented will convince people that it is perilous to commit themselves to this crude faith, which is repudiated with indignation by historic Christianity and with contempt by science, without a clearer understanding than is common of its insecure foundations and its inevitable implications.

L. P. P.

St. John's Rectory, Northampton, Mass.

August 20, 1907.

Foreword To Second Edition

THEN years ago the central interest of the '■' reading public was Christian Science. A novel cult seemed suddenly to take the center of the stage and its founder and leader to become the subject of more discussion than any woman of her time, perhaps of modern days.

Clergymen were obliged to take heed of the movement because some of their members in many places drifted off to Christian Science. As rector of the parish in Northampton, where the church is almost at the heart of the Smith College campus, my turn came. During the winter of 1906 a few members of my flock became interested in Christian Science. I encouraged them to accept any help it appeared to offer without abandoning their Church. When I found it seemed impossible for them to get help from Christian Science and remain Episcopalians I myself began to look into the subject. Of Science and Health I made about as little as many others who were then attempting from the outside to read the book.

IX

X Foreword

The Rev. Dr. William H. Van Allen directed me toward several books of a polemical character on the subject, and his well-known opposition to Christian Science he stated with his usual clearness and conviction.

During the year that followed I read practically everything in print on the subject on either side of the Atlantic. My first reflections went into a booklet I prepared for my own parish. Then as magazines like McClure^s began to publish original studies of Mrs. Eddy, my booklet grew into this book. At that time, there was, perhaps, overmuch both of fulsome adulation and extreme condemnation of the movement and its founder. No one seemed disposed to be judicial minded. The McClure's articles were easily the most exhaustive as to facts; some of their inferences from the same were not convincing. Sibyl Wilbur's biography gave no evidence either of much first-hand study of the facts or of value as an interpretation of the same.

My ambition grew to produce a book which would steer a course between extremists of both types, a book authoritative as to facts, judicial and fair-minded in their exposition. When it appeared ten years ago, reviewers generally gave the author credit for honesty of

Foreword xi

purpose. The Springfield Republican said that the book was "not the less destructive for its moderation and fairness." The Outlook spoke as follows: "Mr. Powell's book will not be satisfactory to the advocates of Christian Science, because it does not advocate Christian Science; it will not be satisfactory to the assailants of Christian Science, because it does not assail Christian Science. It ought to be satisfactory to those who wish a fair-minded and judicial interpretation of Christian Science by one who is neither its assailant nor its defender."

These ten years past there has been some reason to believe that the book has maintained its place in the literature of the subject. Of course my many Christian Science friends think I am mistaken. My Christian friends as frankly say that with the facts set forth by me I might properly have been less judicial.

Whatever value the book still has arises, I think, from an honest effort to find the proper place for Christian Science in the history of religion and medicine. No one has had any excuse since the book appeared to confuse New Thought, Mental Science, or other healing cults with Christian Science. The Emmanuel Movement was an effort highly successful in xii Foreword

the circumstances to show that people can get all the good there is in Christian Science without leaving their own minister or doctor; and though the term has disappeared, the philosophy and methods of the Emmanuel Movement seem to have been adopted the whole country over both by churches and by physicians, who have used with more consciousness the principle of suggestion, which every successful doctor has always used in one way or another.

In the years that followed the appearance of this book the author studied psychotherapy in all of its relationships, wrote several other books upon the general subject of psychotherapy, many magazine articles, and at last abandoned special interest simply because what had been an avocation was encroaching upon his vocation and also because the subject seemed to be too well understood to need more explanation. Looking back across the years Christian Science still seems to be what it is pictured in this book, — suggestion reinforced by a profound but very unconvincing theology.

Meanwhile Mrs. Eddy has died, and as Mark Twain predicted both in private letters to me and in his well-known book on Chris-

Foreword xiii

tian Science, the Board of Directors have succeeded to her authority. So far as it is possible to tell the Directors have exercised the same with caution and efficiency. Some of the bizarre and extravagant Interests in Christian Science are no longer stressed. It is not the habit of Christian Scientists to disavow outgrown beliefs. They simply stop talking about them. Certain views which Invited much ridicule ten years ago are rarely mentioned In these days and only by a few.

But the appreciation of the virtues of the Christian Scientists set forth frankly in this book still stands. In the last ten years Christian Science has certainly encouraged daily Bible reading, until now Christian Scientists are probably the most assiduous Bible readers In the world. They still avoid antagonisms. They keep singularly serene. They average high in other-worldliness. It looks as though the cult were profiting by experience and endeavouring to make the most of the spiritual reality which those who study far into the movement easily discover.

The criticisms offered In the book in general remain. Nothing has happened in the years that have followed Its first appearance to xiv Foreword

shake them. But a somewhat different slant has certainly in some quarters been given to the Christian Science movement. A new adaptability has been shown by the management. The Christian Science Monitor has proved the power of the movement to develop a daily paper as reliable as it is clean, and barring the persistence still marked in some places to discourage an appeal which the author believes should be made to the physician, there would seem to be no excuse for what once looked like persecution of the Christian Scientists. Of course men like the late Professor William James, who in the interest of fair play would allow the Christian Scientist or anybody else to treat any disease, can no longer maintain themselves. It is the duty of the state to see that where there is good reason to believe that only a doctor can save life, no one else should be allowed to practise medicine. The author stands firm by this position.

Those who believe in Christian unity must continue to regret that during these years, culminating in the recent suggestions of the Vatican, of renewed interest in Christian unity, the theology of Christian Science would seem to be a barrier as insuperable to Christian

Foreword xv

unity as its therapeutics is a challenge to scientific medicine.

However in this matter as in all others light rather than heat is indicated. If Christian Scientists and historic Christians will but keep their tempers toward each other and try to get together at least in Christian love, the time may come when the Christian Church will absorb a Christian Science rid of certain of its dogmas.

This certainly must be if there is even the slightest justification for the words which Mark Twain wrote awhile before he died: "the thing back of it is wholly gracious and beautiful; the power, through loving mercifulness and compassion, to heal fleshly ills and pains and griefs — all — with a word, with a touch of the hand! This power was given by the Saviour to the Disciples, and to all the converted. 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 'possible to human flesh and hone. These things are true, or they are not. If they were true seventeen and eighteen and nineteen xvi Foreword

centuries ago It would be difficult to satisfactorily explain why or how or by what argument that power should be non-existent in Christians now. "

Lyman P. Powell.

HoBART College, Geneva, N. Y., January 15, 19 17.

Chapter I Christian Science And Historic Christianity

PAGES

A Strained Relationship — The Cause — Aim of Christian Science — Its Criticism of the Churches — Mrs. Eddy's Purpose — Conscientious Proselyting — The Virtues of the Scientists — Weakness of Christian Churches — The Danger Point 1-11

Chapter II

Source of its Authority — Takes Precedence of the Bible — ^Exorbitant Selling Price — Its Healing Power — Relationship to New Thought Literature — Faults of Style — Value as a Commentary on the Bible — Fantastic Exegesis — Element of Peril — How it Differs from the Bible — The House upon the Sand 12-27

CHAPTER in

Modem Claim of their OriginaUty — The Conflict with the Author's Earlier Words — The Quimby Panegyrics — Teaching Quimbyism — Cooling Gratitude — Absolute Disavowals — Mesmeric Explanations — Crux of the Situation — 1862 versus 1888 — Quimby's Scrap-book — Dr. Evans's Testimony — Incapacity of Mrs. Eddy's Modern

Witnesses — The Deadly Parallel 28-49

xvii xviii Contents

Chapter IV The Founder Op The Faith

The World when she was Born — Childhood — Envu-onment and Education — First Marriage in 1843 — Widowhood and Invalidism — Second Marriage in 1853 — Visit in 1862 to Quimby — His Healing System — Mrs. Eddy's Great Mistake — The " Final Revelation" in 1866— Separation from her Second Husband and Divorce — Professional Visiting — Partnership in Lynn with Richard Kennedy in 1870 — Established as a Healer — Relationship with D. H. Spofford— The Docile Mr. Eddy— Third Marriage — Christian Science Organised in 1875 — Removed in 1881 to Boston — Court and Cabinet — College and Church — To Concord in 1889 — Christian Science To-day — An Astonishing Autocrat — The Manual — The Modern Mona Lisa — Her Virtues and her Faults. . . 50-107

Chapter V

A Phase of Idealism — Mrs. Eddy Makes a Revelation of it — The Battle Cry of Christian Science — The Question of Reality — Christian Science neither Christian nor Scientific — The Practical Objection — Difficulties of Apologists — Soul Senses — Mrs. Eddy's Isolation — An Unanswerable Criticism — No Room for Evolution — A Grave Indictment — Timely Illustrations of its Philosophical Anarchy 108-134

Chapter VI

God All-in-all — Principle not Personality — From Pantheism into Dualism — The Trinity — Christian Science is the Holy Spirit — The Incarnation an Exaggerated Nestorianism — Deifying Mrs. Eddy — Prayer Declaration not Petition — Abandoning the Sacraments — Substitution of a Breakfast for the Lord's Supper — Evil no Real Existence — The Absurd Obsession of Animal Magnetism 135-168

Contents xix

PAGES

Chapter VII

The Supreme Test of Christian Science — Mrs. Eddy's Claim that Christian Science Cures All Diseases — Her Followers' Attitude — Venturesome Experiments — Concessions to Pubhc Opinion — Inadequate Diagnoses — All Tests Dechned — Mrs. Eddy's Attack upon the Doctors — Reply of Medicine and Surgery — Healing by Understanding of the Christian Science Theory — Practical Illustrations — Chemicalisation — Jesus' Way ^—Mental ■"" HeaUng through the Centuries — Pseudo-Scientific and True Scientific Mental Healing — Principle Common to Both — The Possibihties and Limitations of Suggestion — Christian Science Admits no Limitations — Consequent Need of State Regulation— The Duty to the Truth. 169-202

CHAPTER Vin

The Gravest Defect — Christian Science Ascetic — Mrs. Eddy's Testimony Prompted by her Personal Experience — Denies the Sacramental Use of Matter — Misinterprets Jesus' Words — Teaches Possibihty of Race Perpetuation without Marriage — Some Explanations which do not Explain — Simultaneous Contradictions — The Testimony of the Manual and the Lesson Quarterly — Public Opinion Making Ready for a Final Judgment — The Alternative — Duty of the Hour. . . 203-220

BIBLIOGRAPHY

This bibliography does not profess to be complete. It includes in fact only those books and other writings which have proved useful in the preparation of this volume. The current literature on Christian Science is too abundant for mention of more than the most significant magazine articles. The arrangement is made with respect to the special needs of those who may desire to read systematically in explanation, in commendation, or in criticism of the movement.

BOOKS BY MRS. EDDY

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Boston, editions of 1875, 1881,1883, 1888, 1898, 1905, 1906. Miscellaneous Writings. Boston, 1902. Retrospection and Introspection. Boston, 1900. Pulpit and Press. Boston, 1905.

No and Yes. Boston, 1906.

Rudimental Divine Science. Boston, 1906. Christian Science versus Pantheism. Boston, 1906. Unity of Good. Boston, 1906.

Christ and Christinas. Boston, 1906. Church Manual. Boston, 1906.

PAMPHLETS BY CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS

Farlow, Alfred. A Critic Answered.

Fluno, F. J. Christian Science; A Reasonable and Ra-

tional View of all Things.

Hanna, S. J. Christian Science History.

Healing through Christian Science.

Christian Science and Legislation,

XX

Bibliography xxi

Hering, H. S. Christian Science: Humanity's Helper, Kimball, E. A. Christian Science and Legislation. Norton, Carol. The Christian Science Church: Its

Organisation and Polity.

Robinson, Henry. A Biographical Sketch of Rev. Mary

Baker G. Eddy.

Smith, C. P. Christian Science and Legislation.

CURRENT LITERATURE FAVOURABLE TO CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Beman, S. S., in The World To-day, June, 1907. Brisbane, Arthur, in The Cosmopolitan, August, 1907. BuRNHAM, Clara Louise, in The World To-day, February,

1907.

Dunmore, Earl of, in The Cosmopolitan, March, 1907. Eddy, Mrs., in The Independent, Nov. 22, 1906. EwiNG, Wm. G., in Success, June, 1907. Farlow, Alfred, in Government, May, 1907. Flower, B. 0., in The Arena, January, 1907. Johnston, W. A., in The Broadway Magazine, May, 1907. Kimball, E. A., in The Cosmopolitan, May, 1907. Klein, Charles, in The Cosmopolitan, January, 1907.

in The Arena, May, 1907.

McCracken, W. D., in The Arena, May, 1907. Mattox, W. S., in The American Queen, May, 1907. MiMS, Sue H., in Success, May, 1907. MosLEY, J. R., in The Cosmopolitan, July, 1907.

1907.

Wilbur, Sibyl, in Human Life, serial beginning January,

1907.

T'^iLLis, John B., in The Arena, July. Yates, Katherine M., in The American Queen, March. The list of daily papers will not be given.

BOOKS OF CRITICISM OR APPRAISAL

Buckley, J. M. , Christian Science and Other Superstitions. New York, 1902.

xxii Bibliography

BuRRELL, J. D., A New Appraisal of Christian Science. New York, 1906.

Casson, H. N., The Crime of Credulity. New York, 1901.

Clark, Gordon, The Church of Saint Bunco. New York, 1901.

Clemens, S. L. (Mark Twain), Christian Science. New York, 1907.

COE, George A., The Spiritual Life, Ch. IV. New York, 1900.

CUSHMAN, H. E., The Truth in Christian Science. Boston, 1902.

Dresser, A. G., The Philosophy of P, P, Quimby. Boston, 1895.

Dresser, H. W., Health and the Inner Life. New York, 1906.

, Methods and Problems of Spiritual Healing.

New York, 1899.

Dresser, Julius A., The True History of Mental Science. New York, 1899.

Farnsworth, Edward C, in The Arena, July.

GODDARD, H. H., The Effects of Mind on Body, as Evidenced by Faith Cures. American Journal of Psychology, volume X, 1899.

Hutchinson, Oliver W., Christian Science. Leominster,

Mass., 1906.

James, William, The Varieties of Religious Experience,

Chs. IV and V, New York, 1902.

Micou, R. W., Outline Notes on Fundamental Theology and Christian Apologetics. Alexandria, Va., 1902.

MuLDOON, W. H., Christian Science Claims Unscientific and TJn-ChristiaiR Brooklyn Eagle Library, 51. March, 1901.

Newton, R. Heber, Christian Science. New York, 1898.

OuGHTON, C. M., Crazes, Credulities, and Christian Science, Chicago, 1901.

Parmelee, Mary Platt, Christian Science. New York, 1904.

Patterson, C. B., The Will to be Well. New York, 1907.

Bibliography xxiii

Peabody, F. W., Complete Exposure of Eddyism or

Christian Science. Boston, 1907.

Powell, L. P., The Anarchy of Christian Science. Northampton, Mass., 1906.

Searchlights on Christian Science. New York, 1899. Shinn, G. W., Some Modern Substitutes for Christianity.

New York, 1896.

Snyder, John, A Little Journey in Christian Science.

Boston, 1907.

Sturge, M. Carta, The Truth and Error of Christian

Science. New York, 1903.

Wood, Henry, The New Thought Simplified. Boston,

1903.

Wright, Livingston, How Rev. Wiggin Rewrote Mrs.

Eddy's Book. Reprinted from the New York World,

OTHER WRITINGS USED OR CITED

Barker, Lewellys F., The Nervous System. New York,

1899.

Bernheim, Le Dr., De la Suggestion. Paris, 1888. Bramwell, J. Milne, Hypnotism, its History, Practice,

and Theory. London, 1903.

Campbell, R. J., The New Theology. New York, 1907. Case, C. D., The Masculine in Religion. Philadelphia,

1907.

Dresser, H. W., The Facts of the Case. The Arena, May,

1899.

Dubois, Paul, The Psychic Treatment of Nervous Disorders. New York, 1906. ,The Influence of the Mind on the Body, New

York, 1906.

Evans, W. F., Mental Medicine. Boston, 1872 and 1874. Farrar, F. W., The Bible: Its Meaning and Supremacy.

New York, 1897.

Frothingham, O. B., Transcendentalism in New England.

New York, 1876.

Hopkins, H. R., The Prognosis in Eddyism, in American

Medical Quarterly, January, 1900.

xxiv Bibliography

Hudson, T. J., The Law of Mental Medicine,

Huxley, T. H., on The Miraculous, in The Nineteenth

Century, March, 1899. Chicago, 1903. Keen, W. W., Surgery, in The Progress of the Century.

New York, 1901.

Lane-Poole, Stanley, The Speeches and Table-Talk of

the Prophet Mohammed. London, 1882. Leonard, W. J., Warren Felt Evans, in Practical Ideals,

1905-6.

Lodge, Sir Oliver, The Substance of Faith Allied with

Science. New York, 1907.

Milmine, Georgine, Mary Baker G. Eddy. McClure's

Magazine, serial beginning January, 1907. Moll, Albert, Hypnotism. New York, 1894. More, Paul Elmer, The Great Refusal. Boston and

New York, 1894. j ,

MussER, John H. A Practical Treatise on Medical

Diagnosis. Philadelphia, 1900.

Myers, F. W. H., Human Personality, 2 vols. New York,

1903.

Osler, William, The Principles and Practice of Medicine,

New York, 1892. , Medicine in The Progress of the Century. New

York, 1901.

QuiMBY, George A., Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, in The

New England Magazine, March, 1888. Richardson, T. H., Race Suicide and Christian Science,

in The Canadian Journal of Medicine and Surgery.

Toronto, October, 1906.

Schofield, a. T., a Study of Faith Healing. New

York.

, Nerves in Disorder, New York, 1903.

Seaman, Major L. L., on the Japanese Army Medical

Service, in Review of Reviews, Nov. 1905. The Spectator, Feb. 16 and 23, 1907, The Power of

Suggestion.

Suzuki, S., Sanitation of the Japanese Navy, in Review

of Reviews, Nov., 1905.

Bibliography xxv

Taylor, J. Madison, Drugs and their Abuses, in Popular

Science Monthly, May, 1907.

Thomson, W. H., Brain and Personality. New York,

1907.

TuCKEY, C. Lloyd, Treatment by Hypnotism and Suggestion. New York, 1907.

Ward, Mrs. Humphrey, The History of David Grieve.

New York, 1892.

Wood, Irving F., The Spirit of God in Biblical Literature.

New York, 1904.

Woodbury, J. C, The Book and the Woman, in The Arena,

May, 1899.

Zechandelaer, Dr., Suggestion, in The Hollandsche

Revue, 1907.

Zola, Emile, Lourdes. London, 1903.

To this list should be added the collection of newspaper clippings and magazine articles of Dr. Talcott Williams of Philadelphia, to which reference is made in the Preface.

I

Chapter I Christian Science And Historic Christianity

A Strained Relationship — The Cause — Aim of Christian Science — Its Criticism of the Churches — Mrs. Eddy's Purpose — Unconscious Proselyting — The Virtues of the Scientists — Weakness of Christian Churches — The Danger Point.

T F there is to-day a strained relationship be- ^ tween historic Christianity and Christian Science, the fault chiefly, in the nature of the case, is with Christian Science. The facts in evidence are incontestable.

Christian Science has passed through no such persecution as the early Church experienced. While now and then some minister has raised his voice or pen, he has always spoken for himself alone, and hot always even then in criticism severed from appreciation.

Far from any disposition to drive out the members of their flock turned Christian Scientists, most ministers have, if I may trust my observation and inquiry, tried by kindly toleration and by friendly words to keep them in the fold. When, nevertheless, they would go out, many ministers have watched them go more in sorrow than in bitterness.

Even a careless reader of Mrs. Eddy's books is obliged to see that Mrs. Eddy came not, like Jesus, to fulfil but to destroy. She was prompt in breaking with the past. The knowledge she had gleaned from school books vanished, she remarks, when she discovered Christian Science.^ Between Christ and her, all along the intervening centuries, she hints, no thinker has appeared, and she quietly observes, " The time for thinkers has come. Truth independent of doctrines and timehonoured systems, knocks at the portal of humanity." ^

Christian Science was not the culmination of a movement. " I have found nothing," she says, " in ancient or modern systems on which to found my own." ^ It was a revelation. No one had made ready for it. No one could. It

1 Here and elsewhere the numerals in the text refer to notes at the end of the volume.

And Historic Christianity 3

flashed upon- her as soon as she was ready to receive it,^ and when it did it was " higher, clearer, and more permanent " than His revelation was to Jesus. ^

Though there are signs of late that some of her representatives do not sharply discriminate between a revelation and an evolution, Mrs. Eddy's course in this regard has been steadily consistent. She withdrew from the church of her upbringing. She founded a church of her own. She gave to it rules and by-laws " impelled by a power not her own." ^ She claims for her text-book, which contains — as she states — the revelation, a place of equal importance with the Bible in the public services of her church. She calls her book " God's Book " and the " Book of Books." ' She contends that it is as truly authorised by Christ as is the Bible. ^

A quarter of a century has passed since she began to preach in the " Mother Church in Boston," and nowhere all along the years, if her books are a criterion, has she shown any disposition to affiliate with those who do not share her point of view and who yet believe that they are Christians. In spite of Mrs. Eddy's protest in The Independent of Nov. 22, 1906, that she " loves the prosperity of

Zion, be it promoted by Catholic, by Protestant, or by Christian Science," there is no mistaking what Hes back of words Hke these, written as long ago as 1890:

Christian Science is the pure evangelic truth. It accords with the trend and tenor of Christ's teaching and example, while it demonstrates the power of Christ as taught in the four gospels. Truth, casting out evils and healing the sick; Love fulfilling the law, and keeping man unspotted from the world — these practical manifestations of Christianity constitute the only evangelism, and they need no creed.^ Outside of this science all is unstable error.i^

She calls the faith of others blind belief resting on the evidences of the senses rather than on the teaching and practice of Jesus, or the world of spirit.^^ She hints that her sense, whatever it may be, is a higher sense than yours or mine, and speaks outright about our ignorance.^^ She says that " sin makes deadly thrusts at the Christian Scientist, as naturalism and creed are summoned to give place to higher law." She gives twelve pages, above her average in clearness, in the late editions of Science and Health to the identification of modern Christians with the ancient Pharisees.^^

And Historic Christianity 5

Men may differ about even the essentials of Christian faith and yet wish each other well so long as they beheve in one another's honesty of purpose. But how can there be the entente cordiale between historic Christianity and Christian Science with Mrs. Eddy falling into what comes close to personal abuse?

As in Jesus' time, so to-day, tyranny and pride need to be whipped out of the temple, and humility and divine science welcomed in. The strong cords of scientific demonstration as twisted and wielded by Jesus are still needed, to purge the temples of their worldly policy, and make them meet dwelling places for the Most High.^*