Accession: A10346
Editorial Title: Christian Science Catechism, November 1908
Author: Mary Baker Eddy 
Annotator: Adam H. Dickey 
Date: November 1908
Manuscript Description: Typewritten proof sheet of an article by Mary Baker Eddy. It includes edits and an addition in Adam H. Dickey's handwriting.
Archival Note: Adam H. Dickey added a note on October 1, 1915, indicating that Eddy dictated this document to him in November 1908.
Editorial Note: The final version of this document was printed in the December 5, 1908, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel under the title, "Consistency," but it was signed by Archibald McLellan at Eddy's request.
Related Versions: L07168Digital document L07168 not available, L07169Digital document L07169 not available, A11336Digital document A11336 not available
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A10346
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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CATECHISM.

MARY BAKER G. EDDY.

Is matter real?

No; there is no matter. God is All, and God is Spirit: therefore they that worship Him, worship Him in spirit and in truthJohn 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. .

Is God Spirit?

He is.

Then, do you make God, who is real, supreme in your affections, or are you making matter, which you admit is not real, supreme?

Are you striving, in Christian Science, to be the best Christian on earth, or are you striving to have the most costly edifice on the earth?

Are you striving to make the most possible of matter, which you admit is unreal, or are you striving to make most of Spirit, which you admit is All, and that there is none beside SpiritIsa 45:5 ¶I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ?

Let every Christian Scientist answer honestly to his God the above questions, and then: "Choose you this day whom ye will serveJosh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ." If it be Spirit, let it be Spirit; and if it be matter, acknowledge it, and change your false sense of Christian Scientists. This you must do, and this you will do, if you are honest.

The more modest and less imposing material superstructures indicate a spiritual state of thought; and vice versa.

[*]Archival Note: The following circled text was later added to the document by the author or another annotator, disrupting the surrounding thought.Size?[*]Archival Note: End floating text. The house that I now occupy I have always declared against the display of material things, and said that the less we have of them the better. Since God has taught me that matter is unreal and Spirit is the only reality, any other position would be unscientific.

⇉ Handshift:Adam H. DickeyThe house I now occupy is larger than I need because I could not find what I wanted- but it is a plain house and not extravagantly As Written: extravagently furnished

The above was dictated to me by Mary Baker Eddy in November 1908

Oct. 1. 1915.

Adam H. Dickey

A10346
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
X

Copied document link to clipboard.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CATECHISM.

MARY BAKER G. EDDY.

Is matter real?

No; there is no matter. God is All, and God is Spirit: therefore they that worship Him, worship Him in spirit and in truthJohn 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. .

Is God Spirit?

He is.

Then, do you make God, who is real, supreme in your affections, or are you making matter, which you admit is not real, supreme?

Are you striving, in Christian Science, to be the best Christian on earth, or are you striving to have the most costly edifice on the earth?

Are you striving to make the most possible of matter, which you admit is unreal, or are you striving to make most of Spirit, which you admit is All, and that there is none beside SpiritIsa 45:5 ¶I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ?

Let every Christian Scientist answer honestly to his God the above questions, and then: "Choose you this day whom ye will serveJosh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ." If it be Spirit, let it be Spirit; and if it be matter, acknowledge it, and remove your name from the list of change your false sense of Christian Scientists. This you must do, and this you will do, if you are honest.

The more modest and less imposing material superstructures indicate a spiritual state of thought; and vice versa.

I repeat, Show yourselves to the world as honest in what you say and do, or withdraw your name from the list of Christian Scientists.

[*]Archival Note: The following circled text was later added to the document by the author or another annotator, disrupting the surrounding thought.Size?[*]Archival Note: End floating text. The house that I now occupy was purchased for me before I saw it or had any correct idea of its dimensions and expense. When, after leaving ConcordEditorial Note: Concord, New Hampshire and arriving at Chestnut Hill, I looked on the house I now own, I was shocked, and went to my room and wept. Had I seen the house before purchasing it, I should not now be occupying it.I have always declared against the display of material things, and said that the less we have of them the better. Since God has taught me that matter is unreal and Spirit is the only reality, any other position would be unscientific.

⇉ Handshift:Adam H. DickeyThe house I now occupy is larger than I need because I could not find what I wanted- but it is a plain house and not extravagently Corrected: extravagantly furnished

The above was dictated to me by Mary Baker Eddy in November 1908

Oct. 1. 1915.

Adam H. Dickey

 
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The following circled text was later added to the document by the author or another annotator, disrupting the surrounding thought. End floating text. Concord, New Hampshire