MESSAGE OF THE PASTOR EMERTITUS TO THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST,
Boston, Mass., June 15, 1902.
THE OLD AND THE NEW COMMANDMENT.
Beloved Brethren:
Another year of God's loving providence for His people in times of persecution has marked the history of Christian Science. With no special effort to achieve this result, our church communicants constantly increase in number, unity, steadfastness. 2,784 members have been added to our church during the year ending June 1902, making total 24,415 members; while our branch churches are multiplying everywhere and blossoming as the rose. Evil, though combined in formidable conspiracyEditorial Note: The persecution spoken of here might be a reference to a lawsuit brought against Eddy by a former Christian Scientist, Josephine Curtis Woodbury. This suit precipitated considerable negative publicity for Christian Science and was concluded in Eddy's favor in the summer of 1901., is made to glorify God. The scripture declares, "The wrath of man shall praise Him, and the remainder thereof He will restrain"Ps 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. .
Whatever seems calculated to displace or discredit the ordinary systems of religious beliefs and opinions wrestling only with material observation, has always met with opposition and detraction; this ought not so to be, for a system that honors God and benefits mankind should be welcomed and sustained. While Christian Science, engaging the attention of philosopher and sage, is circling the globe, — only the earnest, honest investigator sees through the mist of mortal strife this day-star, and whither it guides.
To live and let live, without clamor for distinction or recognition; to wait on divine Love; to write truth first on the tablet of one's own heart, — this is the sanity and perfection of living, and my human ideal. The Science of man and the universe, in contradistinction to all error, is on the way, and Truth makes haste to meet and to welcome it. It is purifying all peoples, religions, ethics and learning, and making the children our teachers.
Within the last decade religion in the United States has passed from stern Protestantism to doubtful liberalism. God speed the right! The wise builders will build on the Stone at the head of the cornerPs 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Matt 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. ; and so Christian Science, the little leaven hid in three measures of mealMatt 13:33 ¶Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. , — ethics, medicine, and religion, — is rapidly fermenting, and illuminating the world with the glory of untrammeled truth. The present modifications in ecclesiasticism are an outcome of progress; dogmatism, relegate to the past, gives place to a more spiritual manifestation, wherein Christ is Alpha and OmegaRev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. . It was an inherent characteristic of my nature, a kind of birth-mark, to love the church; and the church once loved me. Then why not remain friends, or at least agree to disagree, in love, — part fair foes. I never left the church, either in heart or in doctrine; I but began where the church left off. When the churches and I round the gospel of grace, in the circle of love, we shall meet again never to part. I have always taught the student to overcome evil with good, used no other means myself; and ten thousand loyal Christian Scientists, to one disloyal, bear testimony to this fact.
The loosening cords of non-christian religions in the Orient are apparent. It is cause for joy that among the educated classes, Buddhism and Shintoism are said to be regarded now more as a philosophy than as a religion.
I rejoice that the President of the United States has put an endEditorial Note: This is probably a reference to the Charleston Exposition, a kind of "world's fair" held in Charleston, South Carolina. Its purpose was to rebuild the prosperity and commercial interests of the city after these had been decimated by the Civil War. The Exposition opened on December 2, 1901 and closed on May 31, 1902. President Theodore Roosevelt attended the Exposition on April 9, 1902, was given a military parade, and 24,000 people turned out to see him., at Charleston, to any lingering sense of the North's half-hostility to the South, thus reinstating the old national family pride and joy in the sisterhood of states.
Our nation's forward step was the inauguration of home rule in Cuba, — our military forces withdrawingEditorial Note: Military occupation of Cuba by the United States had begun during the Spanish American War in 1898 and its government was turned over to the United States on January 1, 1899. The occupation ended on May 20, 1902., and leaving her in the enjoyment of self-government under improved laws. It is well that our government, in its brief occupation of that pearl of the ocean, has so improved her public school system, that her dusky children are learning to read and write.
The world rejoices with our sister nationEditorial Note: Great Britain over the close of the conflict in South Africa; now, British and Boer may prosper in peaceEditorial Note: The Boer War, also know as the Second Boer War, The South African War, and the Anglo-Boer War, was a conflict between Great Britain and Dutch settlers in two independent Boer republics in South Africa. It began on October 11, 1899 and concluded on May 31, 1902, with the annexation of the two republics by Great Britain. wiser at the close than the beginning of war. The dazzling diadem of royalty will sit easier on the brow of good King EdwardEditorial Note: A reference to British King Edward VII (1841-1910) who became King on January 22, 1901 upon the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. His coronation took place on August 9, 1902. It was originally scheduled for June 26, 1902, but was postponed due to Edward's bout with appendicitis at that time. He reigned until his death on May 6, 1910., — the muffled fear of death and triumph, canker not his coronation, and woman's thoughts — the joy of the sainted Queen, and the lay of angels, hallow the ring of state.
It does not follow that power must mature into oppression; indeed, right is the only real potency; and the only true ambition is, to serve God, and to help the race. Envy is the atmosphere of hell. According to Holy Writ, the first lie and leap into perdition began with, "believe in me". Competition in commerce, deceit in councils, dishonor in nations, dishonesty in trusts, begin with: "Who shall be greatest?" I again repeat follow your Leader, only, as she follows Christ.
I cordially congratulate our Board of Lectureship, and Publication Committee on their adequacy and correct analysis of Christian Science. Let us all pray at this communion season for more grace, a more fulfilled life and spiritual understanding, bringing music to the ear, rapture to the heart — a fathomless peace between Soul and sense — and that our works be as worthy as our words.
My subject to-day embraces the First CommandmentEx 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. in the Hebrew DecalogueAs Written:decalogue, and the New CommandmentJohn 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. in the Gospel of Peace Note: , both ringing like soft vesper chimes adown the corridors of time, and echoing and reechoing through the measureless rounds of eternity.
GOD AS LOVE.
The First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. , is a law never to be abrogated — a divine statute for yesterday, and to-day, and forever. I shall briefly consider these two commandments in a few of their infinite meanings, applicable to all periods —past, present, and future.
Alternately transported and alarmed by abstruse problems of Scripture, we are liable to turn from them as impractical, or beyond the ken of mortals, — and past finding out. Our thoughts of the Bible utter our lives. As silent night foretells the dawn and din of morn; as the dullness of to-day prophesies renewed energy for to-morrow, — so the pagan philosophies and tribal religions of yesterday but foreshadowed the spiritual dawn of the twentieth century — religion parting with its materiality.
Christian Science stills all distress over doubtful interpretations of the Bible; it lights the fires of the Holy Ghost, and floods the world with the baptism of Jesus. It is this ethereal flame, this almost unconceived light of divine love, that heaven husbands in the First Commandment.
For man to be thoroughly subordinated to this Commandment of divine Love, God must be intelligently considered and understood. The ever-recurring human question and wonder, What is God? Can never be answered satisfactorily by human hypotheses or philosophy. Divine Metaphysics and St. JohnEditorial Note: Here Eddy is referring to the author of the epistle of I John in the New Testament. Mainstream Bible scholars today believe that the author of this epistle was not John the disciple of Jesus. have answered this great question forever in these words: "God is love"I John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. . This absolute definition of Deity is the theme for time and for eternity; it is iterated in the law of God, reiterated in the gospel of Christ, voiced in the thunder of Sinai, and breathed in the Sermon on the Mount. Hence our Master's saying, — "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil"Matt 5:17 ¶Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. .
Since God is Love, and infinite, why should mortals conceive of a law, propound a question, formulate a doctrine, or speculate on the existence of anything which is an antipode of infinite Love and the manifestation thereof? The sacred command "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. , divine Love, silences all questions on this subject, and forever forbids the thought of any other reality, since it is impossible to have aught unlike the Infinite.
The knowledge of life, substance, or law, apart or other than God — Good — is forbidden. The curse of Love and Truth was pronounced upon a lie, upon false knowledge, the fruits of the flesh not Spirit. Since knowledge of evil, of something besides God, good, brought death into the world on the basis of a lieGen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Gen 3:9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Gen 3:13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Gen 3:14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Gen 3:22 ¶And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Gen 3:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. , Love and Truth destroy this knowledge, — and Christ, Truth, demonstrated and continues to demonstrate this grand verity, saving the sinner and healing the sick. Jesus said a lie fathers itselfJohn 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. , thereby showing that God neither made evil nor its consequences. Here all human woe is seen to obtain, in a false claim, an untrue consciousness, a impossible creation, yea something that is not of God. The ChristianizationAs Written:christianization of mortals whereby the mortal concept and all it includes is obliterated, lets in the divine sense of being, fulfils the law in righteousness, and consummates the First Commandment Thou shalt have no other gods before me"Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. . All Christian faith, hope, and prayer, all devout desire, virtually petition, Make me the image and likeness of divine Love. Through Christ, Truth, Divine Metaphysics points the way, demonstrates Heaven here, the struggle over, and victory on the side of Truth. In the degree that man becomes spiritually minded he becomes God-like. St. Paul writes: "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace"Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. . Divine Science fulfils the law and the gospel, wherein God is infinite Love, including nothing unlovely, producing nothing unlike Himself, the true nature of Love intact and eternal. Divine Metaphysics concedes no origin, or causation apart from God. It accords all to God, Spirit, and His infinite manifestations of love — man and the universe.
In the first chapter of Genesis, matter, sin, disease, and death enter not into the category of creation or consciousness. Minus this spiritual understanding of Scripture, of God, and of His creation, neither philosophy, nature nor grace can give man the true idea of God — divine Love — sufficiently to fulfillAs Written:fulfil the First Commandment, Thou shalt have no other gods.
The Latin omni, which signifies all, used as an English prefix to the words potence, presence, science, signify all-power, all-presence, all-science. Use these words to define God, and nothing is left to consciousness but Love, without beginning and without end, even the forever I am, and All, than which there is naught else. Thus we have scriptural authority for Divine Metaphysics — spiritual man and the universe coexistent with God. No other logical conclusion can be drawn from the premises, and no other scientific proposition can be Christianly entertained.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Here we proceed to another scriptural passage which serves to confirm Christian Science. Christ Jesus saith, — "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you"John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. . It is obvious that he called his disciples' special attention to his new commandment. And wherefore? Because it emphasizes the apostle's declaration, God is LoveI John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. , — it elucidates Christianity, illustrates God, and man as His likeness, and commands man to love as Jesus loved.
The law and the gospel concur, and both will be fulfilled. Is it necessary to say that the likeness of God, Spirit, is spiritual, and the likeness of Love is loving? When loving, we learn that "God is Love"; mortals hating, or unloving, are neither Christians nor Scientists. The new commandment of Christ Jesus shows what true spirituality is, and its harmonious effects on the sick and the sinner. No person can heal or reform mankind unless he is actuated by love and good will towards men. The coincidence between the law and the gospel, between the old and the new commandment, confirms the fact that God and Love are one. The spiritually minded are inspired with tenderness, Truth, and Love. The life of Christ Jesus, His words, and His deeds, demonstrate Love. We have no evidence of being Christian Scientists except we possess this inspiration, and its power to heal and to save. The energy that saves sinners and heals the sick is divine: and Love is the Principle thereof. Scientific ChristianityAs Written:christianity works out the rule of spiritual love; it makes man , it prompts perpetual goodness, for the ego, or I, goes to the FatherJohn 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; , whereby man IS Godlike. Love, purity, meekness, coexist in Divine Science. Lust, hatred, revenge, coincide in material sense. Christ Jesus reckoned man in Science, having the kingdom of Heaven withinLuke 17:20 ¶And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Editorial Note: See Luke:17:20-21. Although the King James Version of the Bible translates the Greek word "entos" as "within," modern translators point out that the word also means "among" or "in the midst of," and they believe that this is a better translation than "within." In other words, Jesus is not saying that the Kingdom of God is an inner mental state in the hearts and minds of believers, but is rather pointing out that the Kingdom is even then present and breaking into human life in his ministry. him. He spake of man not as the offspring of Adam, a departure from God, or His lost likeness, but as God's child. Spiritual love makes man conscious that God is his Father, and the consciousness of God as Love gives man power with untold furtherance. Then God becomes to him the All-Presence — quenching sin; the All-Power — giving life, health, holiness; the All-Science — all law and gospel.
Jesus' commanded, "Let the dead bury their dead, and follow thou me"Matt 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. ; in other words, Let the world, popularity, pride, and ease concern you less, and love thou. When the full significance of this saying is understood, we shall have better practitioners, and Truth will arise in human thought with healing in its wings, regenerating mankind and fulfilling the apostle'sEditorial Note: The apostle Paul. saying: "for the law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death"Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. . Loving chords set discords in harmony. Every condition implied by the great Master, every promise fulfilled, was loving and spiritual, urging a state of consciousness that leaves the minor tones of so-called material life, and abides in Christlikeness. The unity of God and man is not the dream of a heated brain; it is the spirit of the healing Christ, that dwelt forever in the bosom of the Father, and should abide forever in man. When first I heard the life-giving sound thereof, and knew not whence it came nor whither it tended, it was the proof of its divine origin, and healing power, that opened my closed eyes.
Did the age's thinkers laugh long over Morse's discovery of telegraphyEditorial Note: Building on the work of several inventors before him, Samuel Morse (1791-1872) made practical the electric telegraph during the 1830s. Eddy and her secretaries made extensive use of this system, and the collection of their documents in The Mary Baker Eddy Library contains many telegrams they sent.? Did they quarrel long with the inventor of a steam engine? Is it cause for bitter comment and personal abuse that an individual has met the need of mankind with some new-old truth that counteracts ignorance and superstition? Whatever enlarges man's facilities for knowing and doing good, and subjugates matter, has a fight with the flesh. Utilizing the capacities of the human mind uncovers new ideas, unfolds spiritual forces, the divine energies, and their power over matter, molecule, space, time, mortality; and mortals cry out, —"Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"Matt 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Then dispute the facts, call them false or in advance of the time, and reiterate, Let me alone! Hence the footprints of a reformer are stained with blood. Rev. Hugh BlackEditorial Note: Hugh Black (1869 -1953) was a minister, theologian, and author of several books. Born in Scotland, he emigrated to the United States in 1906 where he served as a pastor and professor of theology. writes: "The birthplace of civilization is not Athens, but Calvary".
When the human mind is advancing above itself towards the Divine, it is subjugating the body, subduing matter, taking steps outward and upward. This upward tendency of humanity will finally gain the scope of Jacob's vision, and rise from sense to Soul, from earth to Heaven.
Religions in general admit that man becomes finally spiritual. If such is man's ultimate, his predicate tending thereto is correct, and inevitably spiritual. Wherefore then smite the reformer who finds the more spiritual way, shortens the distance, discharges burdensome baggage, and increases the speed of mortals' transit from matter to Spirit — yea from sin to holiness? This is indeed our sole proof that Christ, Truth, is the way. The old and recurring martyrdom of God's best witnesses is the infirmity of evil, the modus operandi of human error, carnality, opposition to God and his power in man. Persecuting a reformer is like sentencing a man for communicating with foreign nations in other ways than by walking every step over the land route, and swimming the ocean with a letter in his hand to leave on a foreign shore. Our heavenly Father never destined mortals, who seek for a better country, to wander on the shores of time disappointed travelers, tossed to and fro by adverse circumstances, inevitably subject to sin, disease, and death. Divine Love waits and pleads to save mankind — and awaits with warrant and welcome, grace and glory, the earth-weary and heavy-laden who find and point the path to Heaven.
Envy, or abuse of him who having a new idea, or a more spiritual understanding of God, hastens to help on his fellow-mortals, is neither Christian nor Science. If a postal service, a steam engine, a submarine cable, a wireless telegraph, each in turn has helped mankind, how much more is accomplished when the race is helped onward by a new-old message from God, even the knowledge of salvation from sin, disease, and death.
The world's wickedness gave our glorified Master a bitter cup — which he drank, giving thanks, then gave it to his followers to drinkMatt 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; . Therefore it is thine, advancing Christian, and this is thy Lord's benediction upon it: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you"Matt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matt 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. .
Of old the Jews put to death the Galilean prophet, the best Christian on earth, for
the truths he said and did: while to-day Jew and Christian can unite in doctrine and
in practice on the very basis of His words and works. The Jew believes that the Messiah
or the Christ has not yet come; the Christian believes that Christ is come and is
God. Here Christian Science intervenes, explains these doctrinal points, cancels the
disagreement, and settles the whole question, on the basis that Christ, is the Messiah, the true spiritual idea, and this ideal of God is now and forever, here and everywhere. The Jew who believes in the First Commandment is a monotheist, he
has one omnipresent God: thus the Jew unites with the Christian idea that God is come,
and is ever present. The Christian who believes in the First Commandment is a monotheist:
thus he virtually unites with the Jew's belief in one God, and that Jesus Christ is
not God, as he himself declared, but is the Son of God. This declaration of Christ,
understood, conflicts not at all with another of his sayings: "I and my Father are one"John 10:30 I and my Father are one. , — that is, one in quality, not in quantity. As a drop of water is one with ocean,
a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being.
The Scriptures read: "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being."Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets
have said, For we are also his offspring. Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures360:28Of old, the Jews put to death the Galilean Prophet,
the best Christian on earth, for the truth he spoke and
360:30demonstrated, while to-day, Jew and Christian can unite
in doctrine and denomination on the very basis of Jesus’
words and works. The Jew believes that the Messiah or361:1Christ has not yet come; the Christian believes that
Christ is God. Here Christian Science intervenes, ex‐
361:3plains these doctrinal points, cancels the disagreement,
and settles the question. Christ, as the true spiritual idea,
is the ideal of God now and forever, here and everywhere.
361:6The Jew who believes in the First Commandment is a
monotheist; he has one omnipresent God. Thus the Jew
unites with the Christian’s doctrine that God is come and
361:9is present now and forever. The Christian who believes
in the First Commandment is a monotheist. Thus he
virtually unites with the Jew’s belief in one God, and
361:12recognizes that Jesus Christ is not God, as Jesus himself
declared, but is the Son of God. This declaration of
Jesus, understood, conflicts not at all with another of his
361:15sayings: “I and my Father are one,” — that is, one in
quality, not in quantity. As a drop of water is one with
the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God
361:18and man, Father and son, are one in being. The Scrip‐
ture reads: “For in Him we live, and move, and have
our being.”
Here allow me to interpolate some matters of business that ordinarily find no place in my Message. It is a privilege to acquaint communicants with the financial transactions of this church, so far as I know them, and especially before making another united effort to purchase more land and enlarge our church edifice so as to seat the large number who annually favor us with their presence on Communion Sunday.
When founding the institutions and early movements of the cause of Christian Science, I furnished the money from my own private earnings to meet the expenses involved. In this endeavor self was forgotten, peace sacrificed, Christ and our cause my only incentives, and each success incurred a sharper fire from envy. .
During the last seven years I have transferred to the Mother Church, of my personal property and funds, to the value of about $120,000; and the net profits from the business of the Christian Science Publishing Society (which was a part of this transfer) yield this church a liberal income. I receive no personal benefit therefrom except the privilege of publishing my books in their Publishing House, and desire none other.
The land on which to build The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, had been negotiated for, and about one half the price paid, when a loss of funds occurred, and I came to the rescue, purchased the mortgage on the lot corner of Falmouth and Caledonia (now Norway) streets; paying for it the sum of $4,963.50 and interest, through my legal counsel. After the mortgage had expired and the note therewith became due, legal proceedings were instituted by my counsel advertising the property in the Boston newspapers, and giving opportunity for those who had previously negotiated for the property to redeem the land by paying the amount due on mortgage. But no one offering the price I had paid for it, nor to take the property off my hands, the mortgageAs Written:mortage was foreclosed, and the land legally conveyed to me, by my counsel. This land, now valued at $20,000, I afterwards gave to my church through trustees, who were to be known as "The Christian Science Board of Directors." A copy of this deed is published in our Church Manual. About $5,000 had been paid on the land when I redeemed it. The only interest I retain in this property is to save it for my church. I can neither rent, mortgage, nor sell this church edifice nor the land whereon it stands.
I suggest as a motto for every Christian Scientist, — a living and life-giving spiritual shield against the Powers of Darkness,— "Great not like Caesar, stained with blood, But only great as I am good."Editorial Note: This quotation is from David Everett's poem, "The boy Reciter," 1891. Everett was born in Princeton, north of Worcester, Massachusetts. After studying at New Ipswich academy he taught at the town's elementary school. It was for one of his seven-year-old pupils that he wrote this well-known poem, which begins: "You'd scarce expect one of my age/To speak in public on the stage." After graduating valedictorian from Dartmouth College, Everett studied law and practiced in Boston. Interest in journalism and politics made him a contributor to several fine periodicals and then in 1809 to the founding of the Boston Patriot to serve the Democratic Party. Three years later he became editor of the Pilot. A play he wrote dealing with American patriotism was performed in Boston. Meanwhile he had been appointed Clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was cousin to Edward Everett, Unitarian Clergyman and statesman, one of America's fine orators. Sometimes this poem is sometimes wrongly attributed to him. The only genuine success possible for any Christian — and the only success I have ever achieved — has been accomplished on this solid basis. The remarkable growth and prosperity of Christian Science are its legitimate fruit. A successful end could never have been compassed on any other foundation, — with truths so counter to the common convictions of mankind to present to the world. From the beginning of the great battle every forward step has been met (not by mankind, but by a kind of men) with mockery, envy, rivalry, and falsehood — as achievement after achievement has been blazoned on the forefront of the world, and recorded in Heaven. The popular philosophies and religions have afforded me neither favor nor protection in the great struggle. Therefore I ask: What has shielded , and prospered preeminently our great cause, but the outstretched arm of Infinite Love? This pregnant question, answered frankly and honestly, should forever silence all private criticisms, all unjust public aspersions, and afford an open field and fair play.
In the eighties, anonymous letters mailed to me contained threats to blow up the hall where I preached; yet I never lost my faith in God; and neither informed the police of these letters, nor sought the protection of the laws of my country. I leaned on God, and was safe.
Healing all manner of diseases without charge, keeping a free institute, rooming and boarding indigent students that I taught "without money and without price"Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. , — I struggled on through many years; and while dependent on the income from the sale of Science and Health, my publisher paid me not one dollar of royalty on its first Edition. Those were days wherein the connection between justice and being approached the mythical. Before entering upon my great life-work, my income from literary sources was ample, until, declining dictation as to what I should write, I became poor for Christ's sake. My husband, Col.Editorial Note: Glover was actually a Major. Glover, of Charleston, South Carolina, was considered wealthy, but much of his property was in slavesEditorial Note: There is no evidence that Glover owned slaves at the time of his death. However, he may have had rented slaves, leading Eddy to believe she was freeing them., and I declined to sell them at his decease, in 1845, for I could never believe that a human being was my property.
Six weeks I waited on God to suggest a name for the book I had been writing. Its title, Science and Health, came to me in the silence of night, when the steadfast stars watched over the world, — when slumber had fled, — and I rose and recorded the hallowed suggestion. The following day I showed it to my literary friends, who advised me to drop both the book and the title. To this however I gave no heed, feeling sure that God had whispered that name to my waiting hope and prayer. It was to me the still small voice that came to Elijah after the earthquake and the fireI Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. . Six months thereafter Miss Dorcas Rawson, of Lynn, brought to me Wycliff's translation of the New Testament, and pointed out that identical phrase "Science and Health", rendered "Knowledge of Salvation"Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, . This was my first inkling of Wycliff's use of that combination of words, or of their rendering. To-day I am the happy possessor of a copy of Wycliff, the invaluable gift of two Christian Scientists, — Mr. W. Nicholas Miller, Q.C., And Mrs. F. L. Miller, of London, England.
GODLIKENESS.
Saint Paul writes: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord"Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: . To attain peace and holiness is to recognize the Divine presence and Allness. Jesus said: "I am the Way"John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. . Kindle the watch-fires of unselfed love, and they throw a light upon the uncomplaining agony in the life of our Lord; they open the enigmatical seals of the angelEditorial Note: This is a reference to symbolism in the book of Revelation. — standing in the sun, a glorified spiritual idea of the ever presentAs Written:everpresent God — in whom there is no darkness, but all is light, and man's immortal being. The meek might, sublime patience, wonderful works, and opening not his mouth in self-defense against false witnesses, express the life of Godlikeness. Fasting, feasting, or penance, — outside forms of religion — fail to elucidate Christianity: they reach not the heart nor renovate it, they never destroy one iota of hypocrisy, pride, self-will, envy, or hate. The mere form of Godliness, coupled with selfishness, worldliness, hatred and lust, are knells tolling the burial of Christ.
Jesus said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments"John 14:15 ¶If ye love me, keep my commandments. . He knew that obedience is the test of love; that one gladly obeys when obedience gives him happiness. Selfishly, or otherwise, all are ready to seek and obey what they love. When mortals learn to love aright; when they learn that man's highest happiness, that which has most of heaven in it, is in blessing others, and self immolation — they will obey both the old and the new Commandment, and receive the reward of obedience.
Many sleep who should keep themselves awake, and waken the world. Earth's actors change earth's scenes; but the curtain of human life should be lifted on reality, on that which outweighs time; on life perfected, and duty done; — wherein joy is real and fadeless. Who of the world's lovers ever found her true? It is wise to be willing to wait on God, and to be wiser than serpents, to hate no man, to love one's enemies, and to square accounts with each passing hour. Then thy gain outlives the sun, for the sun shines but to show man the beauty of holiness and the wealth of love. Happiness consists in being and in doing good; only what God gives, and what we give ourselves and others through His tenure, confers happiness; — conscious worth satisfies the hungry heart, and nothing else can. Consult thy every-day life; take its answer as to thy aims, motives, fondest purposes, — and this oracle of years will put to flight all care for the world's soft flattery, or its frown. Patience and resignation are the pillars of peace, that, like the sun beneath the horizon, cheers the heart susceptible of light with promised joy. Be faithful at the temple gate of conscience, wakefully guard it; then thou wilt know when the thief cometh.
The constant spectacle of sin thrust upon the pure sense of the immaculate Jesus made him a man of sorrowsIsa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Editorial Note: This verse was later taken by Christians to be a prophecy of Jesus.. He lived when mortals looked ignorantly, as now, on the might of divine power manifested through man, only to mock, wonder, and perish. Sad to say, the cowardice and self-seeking of his disciples helped crown with thorns the life of Him who broke not the bruised reed, and quenched not the smoking flaxIsa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. Matt 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. , — who made not the weaker, nor spared through false pity the consuming tares. Jesus was compassionate, true, faithful to rebuke, ready to forgive. He said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"Matt 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. . "Love one another as I have loved you"John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. . No estrangement, no emulation, no deceit, enters into the heart that loves as Jesus loved. It is a false sense of love that like the summer brook soon gets dry. Jesus laid down his life for mankind: what more could he do? Beloved, how much of what he did are we doing? Yet he said, "The works that I do ye shall do"John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. .
When this prophecy of the great Teacher is fulfilled we shall have more effective healers and less theorizing; — faith without proof loses its life, and it should be buried. The ignoble conduct of his disciples towards their Master, showing their unfitness to follow him, ended in the downfall of genuine Christianity, about the year 325, — and the violent death of all his disciples save oneEditorial Note: The disciple John was traditionally identified as the disciple whose death was not recorded..
The nature of Jesus made him keenly alive to the injustice, ingratitude, treachery and brutality that he received. Yet behold his love! So soon as he burst the bonds of the tomb he hastened to console his unfaithful followers and to disarm their fears. Again: true to his divine nature, he rebuked them on the eve of his ascension, called one a "fool" — then, lifting up his hands and blessing them, he rose from earth to heaven.
The Christian Scientist cherishes no resentment; he knows that that would harm him more than all the malice of his foes. Brethren, , even as Jesus forgave, forgive thou. I say it with joy, — no person can commit an offence against me that I cannot forgive. Meekness is the armor of a Christian, his shield and his buckler. He entertains angels who listens to the lispings of repentance seen in a tear — happier than the conqueror of a world. To the burdened and weary, Jesus saith: "Come unto me"Matt 11:28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. .
O glorious hope! There remaineth a rest for the righteous, a rest in Christ, a peace in Love. The thought of it stills complaint; the heaving surf of life's troubled sea foams itself away, and underneath is a deep-settled calm.
Are earth's pleasures, its ties, and its treasures taken away from you? It is divine Love that doeth it, and saith "Ye have need of all these things". A danger besets thy path? — A spiritual behest, in reversion, awaits you.
The great Master triumphed in furnace-fires. Then, Christian Scientists, trust God, and, trusting, you will find divine Science glorifies the cross, and crowns the association with our SaviorAs Written:Saviour in his life of love. There is no redundant drop in the cup that our Father permits us. Christ walketh over the wave; on the ocean of events, mounting the billow or going down into the deep, the voice of Him who stilled the tempest saith, — "It is I, be not afraid"Matt 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. Matt 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. Matt 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. Matt 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. John 6:18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. John 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. John 6:20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. . Thus he bringeth us into the desired haven, the Kingdom of Spirit; and the hues of Heaven, tipping the dawn of everlasting day, joyfully whisper, — No drunkards within, no sorrow, no pain; and the glory of earth's woes is risen upon you, rewarding, forever satisfying, thy unfaltering faith and good works with the fullness of divine Love.
'Twas God who gave that word of might
Which swelled creation's lay, —
"Let there be light, and there was light",
That swept the clouds away, —
'Twas Love, whose finger traced aloud
A bow of promise on the cloud.Editorial Note: This is a stanza from Eddy's poem, "Love," copyrighted in 1896 and first published
in the June 1896 issue of The Christian Science Journal.
Beloved brethren, are you ready to join me in this proposition, namely, — In 1902 to begin omitting our annual gathering at Pleasant View, — thus breaking any seeming connection between the Sacrament in our Church and a pilgrimage to Concord? I shall be the loser by this change, for it gives me great joy to look in the faces of my dear church members; but in this, as all else, I can bear the cross, while gratefully appreciating the privilege of meeting you occasionally in the metropolis of my native State, whose good people welcome Christian Scientists.