第8章

类别:其他 作者:Mark Twain字数:13617更新时间:19/01/04 15:11:24
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。