,,retrospection ,,and ,,introspection ,,by ,,mary ,,baker ,,eddy ,,author ,,of ,,science ,,and ,,health ,,with ,,key ,,to ,,the ,,scriptures ,registered ,u4,s4 ,patent ,office ,published by ,the ,trustees under the ,will of ,mary ,baker ,g4 ,eddy ,,boston1 ,u4,s4,a4 ,authorized ,literature of ,,the ,,first ,,church ,,of ,,christ1 ,,scientist in ,boston1 ,massachusetts ,copyright1 #ahia1 #ahib ,,by ,,mary ,,baker ,g4 ,,eddy ,copyright renewed #aiai and #aibj ,all rights reserved ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,contents ,,ancestral ,,shadows ,,autobiographic ,,reminiscences ,,voices ,,not ,,our ,,own ,,early ,,studies ,,girlhood ,,composition ,,theological ,,reminiscence ,,the ,,country-,,seat 7,,poem7 ,,marriage ,,and ,,parentage ,,emergence ,,into ,,light ,,the ,,great ,,discovery ,,foundation ,,work ,,medical ,,experiments ,,first ,,publication ,,the ,,precious ,,volume ,,recuperative ,,incident ,a ,,true ,,man ,,college ,,and ,,church ,,feed ,,my ,,sheep 7,,poem7 ,,college ,,closed ,,general ,,associations ,,and ,,our ,,magazine ,,faith-,,cure ,,foundation-,,stones ,,the ,,great ,,revelation ,,sin1 ,,sinner1 ,,and ,,ecclesiasticism ,,the ,,human ,,concept ,,personality ,,plagiarism ,,admonition ,,exemplification ,,waymarks ,,retrospection ,,and ,,introspection ,,ancestral ,,shadows ,my ancestors1 according to the flesh1 were from both ,scotland and ,england1 my great-grandfather1 on my father's side1 being ,john ,mc,neil of ,edinburgh4 ,his wife1 my great-grandmother1 was ,marion ,moor1 and her family is said to have been in some way related to ,hannah ,more1 the pious and popular ,english authoress of a century ago4 ,i remember reading1 in my childhood1 certain manuscripts containing ,scriptural sonnets1 besides other verses and enigmas which my grandmother said were written by my great-grandmother4 ,but because my great-grandmother wrote a stray sonnet and an occasional riddle1 it was no sign that she inherited a spark from ,hannah ,more1 or was her relative4 ,john and ,marion ,moor ,mc,neil had a daughter1 who perpetuated her mother's name4 ,this second ,marion ,mc,neil in due time was married to an ,englishman1 named ,joseph ,baker1 and so became my paternal grandmother1 the ,scotch and ,english elements thus mingling in her children4 ,mrs4 ,marion ,mc,neil ,baker was reared among the ,scotch ,covenanters1 and had in her character that sturdy ,calvinistic devotion to ,protestant liberty which gave those religionists the poetic daring and pious picturesqueness which we find so graphically set forth in the pages of ,sir ,walter ,scott and in ,john ,wilson's sketches4 ,joseph ,baker and his wife1 ,marion ,mc,neil1 came to ,america seeking freedom to worship ,god2 though they could hardly have crossed the ,atlantic more than a score of years prior to the ,revolutionary period4 ,with them they brought to ,new ,england a heavy sword1 encased in a brass scabbard1 on which was inscribed the name of a kinsman upon whom the weapon had been bestowed by ,sir ,william ,wallace1 from whose patriotism and bravery comes that heart-stirring air1 ,scots wha hae wi' ,wallace bled4 ,my childhood was also gladdened by one of my ,grandmother ,baker's books1 printed in olden type and replete with the phraseology current in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries4 ,among grandmother's treasures were some newspapers1 yellow with age4 ,some of these1 however1 were not very ancient1 nor had they crossed the ocean2 for they were ,american newspapers1 one of which contained a full account of the death and burial of ,george ,washington4 ,a relative of my ,grandfather ,baker was ,general ,henry ,knox of ,revolutionary fame4 ,i was fond of listening1 when a child1 to grandmother's stories about ,general ,knox1 for whom she cherished a high regard4 ,in the line of my ,grandmother ,baker's family was the late ,sir ,john ,macneill1 a ,scotch knight1 who was prominent in ,british politics1 and at one time held the position of ambassador to ,persia4 ,my grandparents were likewise connected with ,capt4 ,john ,lovewell of ,dunstable1 ,new ,hampshire1 whose gallant leadership and death1 in the ,indian troubles of #agbb-agbe1 caused that prolonged contest to be known historically as ,lovewell's ,war4 ,a cousin of my grandmother was ,john ,macneil1 the ,new ,hampshire general who fought at ,lundy's ,lane1 and won distinction in #ahad at the neighboring battle of ,chippewa1 towards the close of the ,war of #ahab4 ,,autobiographic ,,reminiscences ,this venerable grandmother had thirteen children1 the youngest of whom was my father1 ,mark ,baker1 who inherited the homestead1 and with his brother1 ,james ,baker1 he inherited my grandfather's farm of about five hundred acres1 lying in the adjoining towns of ,concord and ,bow1 in the ,state of ,new ,hampshire4 ,one hundred acres of the old farm are still cultivated and owned by ,uncle ,james ,baker's grandson1 brother of the ,hon4 ,henry ,moore ,baker of ,washington1 ,d4,c4 ,the farm-house1 situated on the summit of a hill1 commanded a broad picturesque view of the ,merrimac ,river and the undulating lands of three townships4 ,but change has been busy4 ,where once stretched broad fields of bending grain waving gracefully in the sunlight1 and orchards of apples1 peaches1 pears1 and cherries shone richly in the mellow hues of autumn1--now the lone night-bird cries1 the crow caws cautiously1 and wandering winds sigh low requiems through dark pine groves4 ,where green pastures bright with berries1 singing brooklets1 beautiful wild flowers1 and flecked with large flocks and herds1 covered areas of rich acres1--now the scrub-oak1 poplar1 and fern flourish4 ,the wife of ,mark ,baker was ,abigail ,barnard ,ambrose1 daughter of ,deacon ,nathaniel ,ambrose of ,pembroke1 a small town situated near ,concord1 just across the bridge1 on the left bank of the ,merrimac ,river4 ,grandfather ,ambrose was a very religious man1 and gave the money for erecting the first ,congregational ,church in ,pembroke4 ,in the ,baker homestead at ,bow ,i was born1 the youngest of my parents' six children and the object of their tender solicitude4 ,during my childhood my parents removed to ,tilton1 eighteen miles from ,concord1 and there the family remained until the names of both father and mother were inscribed on the stone memorials in the ,park ,cemetery of that beautiful village4 ,my father possessed a strong intellect and an iron will4 ,of my mother ,i cannot speak as ,i would1 for memory recalls qualities to which the pen can never do justice4 ,the following is a brief extract from the eulogy of the ,rev4 ,richard ,s4 ,rust1 ,d4,d41 who for many years had resided in ,tilton and knew my sainted mother in all the walks of life4 ,the character of ,mrs4 ,abigail ,ambrose ,baker was distinguished for numerous excellences4 ,she possessed a strong intellect1 a sympathizing heart1 and a placid spirit4 ,her presence1 like the gentle dew and cheerful light1 was felt by all around her4 ,she gave an elevated character to the tone of conversation in the circles in which she moved1 and directed attention to themes at once pleasing and profitable4 ,as a mother1 she was untiring in her efforts to secure the happiness of her family4 ,she ever entertained a lively sense of the parental obligation1 especially in regard to the education of her children4 ,the oft-repeated impressions of that sainted spirit1 on the hearts of those especially entrusted to her watch-care1 can never be effaced1 and can hardly fail to induce them to follow her to the brighter world4 ,her life was a living illustration of ,christian faith4 ,my childhood's home ,i remember as one with the open hand4 ,the needy were ever welcome1 and to the clergy were accorded special household privileges4 ,among the treasured reminiscences of my much respected parents1 brothers1 and sisters1 is the memory of my second brother1 ,albert ,baker1 who was1 next to my mother1 the very dearest of my kindred4 ,to speak of his beautiful character as ,i cherish it1 would require more space than this little book can afford4 ,my brother ,albert was graduated at ,dartmouth ,college in #ahcd1 and was reputed one of the most talented1 close1 and thorough scholars ever connected with that institution4 ,for two or three years he read law at ,hillsborough1 in the office of ,franklin ,pierce1 afterwards ,president of the ,united ,states2 but later ,albert spent a year in the office of the ,hon4 ,richard ,fletcher of ,boston4 ,he was consequently admitted to the bar in two ,states1 ,massachusetts and ,new ,hampshire4 ,in #ahcg he succeeded to the law-office which ,mr4 ,pierce had occupied1 and was soon elected to the ,legislature of his native ,state1 where he served the public interests faithfully for two consecutive years4 ,among other important bills which were carried through the ,legislature by his persistent energy was one for the abolition of imprisonment for debt4 ,in #ahda he received further political preferment1 by nomination to ,congress on a majority vote of seven thousand1--it was the largest vote of the ,state2 but he passed away at the age of thirty-one1 after a short illness1 before his election4 ,his noble political antagonist1 the ,hon4 ,isaac ,hill1 of ,concord1 wrote of my brother as follows3-- ,albert ,baker was a young man of uncommon promise4 ,gifted with the highest order of intellectual powers1 he trained and schooled them by intense and almost incessant study throughout his short life4 ,he was fond of investigating abstruse and metaphysical principles1 and he never forsook them until he had explored their every nook and corner1 however hidden and remote4 ,had life and health been spared to him1 he would have made himself one of the most distinguished men in the country4 ,as a lawyer he was able and learned1 and in the successful practice of a very large business4 ,he was noted for his boldness and firmness1 and for his powerful advocacy of the side he deemed right4 ,his death will be deplored1 with the most poignant grief1 by a large number of friends1 who expected no more than they realized from his talents and acquirements4 ,this sad event will not be soon forgotten4 ,it blights too many hopes2 it carries with it too much of sorrow and loss4 ,it is a public calamity4 ,,voices ,,not ,,our ,,own ,many peculiar circumstances and events connected with my childhood throng the chambers of memory4 ,for some twelve months1 when ,i was about eight years old1 ,i repeatedly heard a voice1 calling me distinctly by name1 three times1 in an ascending scale4 ,i thought this was my mother's voice1 and sometimes went to her1 beseeching her to tell me what she wanted4 ,her answer was always1 ,nothing1 child6 ,what do you mean8 ,then ,i would say1 ,mother1 who did call me8 ,i heard somebody call ,mary1 three times6 ,this continued until ,i grew discouraged1 and my mother was perplexed and anxious4 ,one day1 when my cousin1 ,mehitable ,huntoon1 was visiting us1 and ,i sat in a little chair by her side1 in the same room with grandmother1--the call again came1 so loud that ,mehitable heard it1 though ,i had ceased to notice it4 ,greatly surprised1 my cousin turned to me and said1 ,your mother is calling you6 but ,i answered not1 till again the same call was thrice repeated4 ,mehitable then said sharply1 ,why don't you go8 your mother is calling you6 ,i then left the room1 went to my mother1 and once more asked her if she had summoned me8 ,she answered as always before4 ,then ,i earnestly declared my cousin had heard the voice1 and said that mother wanted me4 ,accordingly she returned with me to grandmother's room1 and led my cousin into an adjoining apartment4 ,the door was ajar1 and ,i listened with bated breath4 ,mother told ,mehitable all about this mysterious voice1 and asked if she really did hear ,mary's name pronounced in audible tones4 ,my cousin answered quickly1 and emphasized her affirmation4 ,that night1 before going to rest1 my mother read to me the ,scriptural narrative of little ,samuel1 and bade me1 when the voice called again1 to reply as he did1 ,speak1 ,lord2 for ,thy servant heareth4 ,the voice came2 but ,i was afraid1 and did not answer4 ,afterward ,i wept1 and prayed that ,god would forgive me1 resolving to do1 next time1 as my mother had bidden me4 ,when the call came again ,i did answer1 in the words of ,samuel1 but never again to the material senses was that mysterious call repeated4 ,is it not much that ,i may worship ,him1 ,with naught my spirit's breathings to control1 ,and feel ,his presence in the vast and dim ,and whispering woods1 where dying thunders roll ,from the far cataracts8 ,shall ,i not rejoice ,that ,i have learned at last to know ,his voice ,from man's8--,i will rejoice6 ,my soaring soul ,now hath redeemed her birthright of the day1 ,and won1 through clouds1 to ,him1 her own unfettered way6 --,,mrs4 ,,hemans4 ,,early ,,studies ,my father was taught to believe that my brain was too large for my body and so kept me much out of school1 but ,i gained book-knowledge with far less labor than is usually requisite4 ,at ten years of age ,i was as familiar with ,lindley ,murray's ,grammar as with the ,westminster ,catechism2 and the latter ,i had to repeat every ,sunday4 ,my favorite studies were natural philosophy1 logic1 and moral science4 ,from my brother ,albert ,i received lessons in the ancient tongues1 ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,latin4 ,my brother studied ,hebrew during his college vacations4 ,after my discovery of ,christian ,science1 most of the knowledge ,i had gleaned from schoolbooks vanished like a dream4 ,learning was so illumined1 that grammar was eclipsed4 ,etymology was divine history1 voicing the idea of ,god in man's origin and signification4 ,syntax was spiritual order and unity4 ,prosody1 the song of angels1 and no earthly or inglorious theme4 ,,girlhood ,,composition ,from childhood ,i was a verse-maker4 ,poetry suited my emotions better than prose4 ,the following is one of my girlhood productions4 ,,alphabet ,,and ,,bayonet ,if fancy plumes aerial flight1 ,go fix thy restless mind ,on learning's lore and wisdom's might1 ,and live to bless mankind4 ,the sword is sheathed1 'tis freedom's hour1 ,no despot bears misrule1 ,where knowledge plants the foot of power ,in our ,god-blessed free school4 ,forth from this fount the streamlets flow1 ,that widen in their course4 ,hero and sage arise to show ,science the mighty source1 ,and laud the land whose talents rock ,the cradle of her power1 ,and wreaths are twined round ,plymouth ,rock1 ,from erudition's bower4 ,farther than feet of chamois fall1 ,free as the generous air1 ,strains nobler far than clarion call ,wake freedom's welcome1 where ,minerva's silver sandals still ,are loosed1 and not effete2 ,where echoes still my day-dreams thrill1 ,woke by her fancied feet4 ,,theological ,,reminiscence ,at the age of twelve,a ,i was admitted to the ,congregational 7,trinitarian7 ,church1 my parents having been members of that body for a half-century4 ,in connection with this event1 some circumstances are noteworthy4 ,before this step was taken1 the doctrine of unconditional election1 or predestination1 greatly troubled me2 for ,i was unwilling to be saved1 if my brothers and sisters were to be numbered among those who were doomed to perpetual banishment from ,god4 ,so perturbed was ,i by the thoughts aroused by this erroneous doctrine1 that the family doctor was summoned1 and pronounced me stricken with fever4 ,my father's relentless theology emphasized belief in a final judgment-day1 in the danger of endless punishment1 and in a ,jehovah merciless towards unbelievers2 and of these things he now spoke1 hoping to win me from dreaded heresy4 ,my mother1 as she bathed my burning temples1 bade me lean on ,god's love1 which would give me rest1 if ,i went to ,him in prayer1 as ,i was wont to do1 seeking ,his guidance4 ,i prayed2 and a soft glow of ineffable joy came over me4 ,the fever was gone1 and ,i rose and dressed myself1 in a normal condition of health4 ,mother saw this1 and was glad4 ,the physician marvelled2 and the horrible decree of predestination--as ,john ,calvin rightly called his own tenet--forever lost its power over me4 ,when the meeting was held for the examination of candidates for membership1 ,i was of course present4 ,the pastor was an old-school expounder of the strictest ,presbyterian doctrines4 ,he was apparently as eager to have unbelievers in these dogmas lost1 as he was to have elect believers converted and rescued from perdition2 for both salvation and condemnation depended1 according to his views1 upon the good pleasure of infinite ,love4 ,however1 ,i was ready for his doleful questions1 which ,i answered without a tremor1 declaring that never could ,i unite with the church1 if assent to this doctrine was essential thereto4 ,distinctly do ,i recall what followed4 ,i stoutly maintained that ,i was willing to trust ,god1 and take my chance of spiritual safety with my brothers and sisters1--not one of whom had then made any profession of religion1--even if my creedal doubts left me outside the doors4 ,the minister then wished me to tell him when ,i had experienced a change of heart2 but tearfully ,i had to respond that ,i could not designate any precise time4 ,nevertheless he persisted in the assertion that ,i had been truly regenerated1 and asked me to say how ,i felt when the new light dawned within me4 ,i replied that ,i could only answer him in the words of the ,psalmist3 ,search me1 ,o ,god1 and know my heart3 try me1 and know my thoughts3 and see if there be any wicked way in me1 and lead me in the way everlasting4 ,this was so earnestly said1 that even the oldest church-members wept4 ,after the meeting was over they came and kissed me4 ,to the astonishment of many1 the good clergyman's heart also melted1 and he received me into their communion1 and my protest along with me4 ,my connection with this religious body was retained till ,i founded a church of my own1 built on the basis of ,christian ,science1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone4 ,in confidence of faith1 ,i could say in ,david's words1 ,i will go in the strength of the ,lord ,god3 ,i will make mention of ,thy righteousness1 even of ,thine only4 ,o ,god1 ,thou hast taught me from my youth3 and hitherto have ,i declared ,thy wondrous works4 7,psalms lxxi4 #af1 #ag47 ,in the year #ahgh ,i was called to preach in ,boston at the ,baptist ,tabernacle of ,rev4 ,daniel ,c4 ,eddy1 ,d4,d41--by the pastor of this church4 ,i accepted the invitation and commenced work4 ,the congregation so increased in number the pews were not sufficient to seat the audience and benches were used in the aisles4 ,at the close of my engagement we parted in ,christian fellowship1 if not in full unity of doctrine4 ,our last vestry meeting was made memorable by eloquent addresses from persons who feelingly testified to having been healed through my preaching4 ,among other diseases cured they specified cancers4 ,the cases described had been treated and given over by physicians of the popular schools of medicine1 but ,i had not heard of these cases till the persons who divulged their secret joy were healed4 ,a prominent churchman agreeably informed the congregation that many others present had been healed under my preaching1 but were too timid to testify in public4 ,one memorable ,sunday afternoon1 a soprano1--clear1 strong1 sympathetic1--floating up from the pews1 caught my ear4 ,when the meeting was over1 two ladies pushing their way through the crowd reached the platform4 ,with tears of joy flooding her eyes--for she was a mother--one of them said1 ,did you hear my daughter sing8 ,why1 she has not sung before since she left the choir and was in consumption6 ,when she entered this church one hour ago she could not speak a loud word1 and now1 oh1 thank ,god1 she is healed6 ,it was not an uncommon occurrence in my own church for the sick to be healed by my sermon4 ,many pale cripples went into the church leaning on crutches who went out carrying them on their shoulders4 ,and these signs shall follow them that believe4 ,the charter for ,the ,mother ,church in ,boston was obtained ,june1 #ahgi1;,b and the same month the members1 twenty-six in number1 extended a call to ,mary ,b4,g4 ,eddy to become their pastor4 ,she accepted the call1 and was ordained ,a4,d4 #ahha4 ,,the ,,country-,,seat ,written in youth1 while visiting a family friend in the beautiful suburbs of ,boston4 ,wild spirit of song1--midst the zephyrs at play ,in bowers of beauty1--,i bend to thy lay1 ,and woo1 while ,i worship in deep sylvan spot1 ,the ,muses' soft echoes to kindle the grot4 ,wake chords of my lyre1 with musical kiss1 ,to vibrate and tremble with accents of bliss4 ,here morning peers out1 from her crimson repose1 ,on proud ,prairie ,queen and the modest ,moss-rose2 ,and vesper reclines--when the dewdrop is shed ,on the heart of the pink--in its odorous bed2 ,but ,flora has stolen the rainbow and sky1 ,to sprinkle the flowers with exquisite dye4 ,here fame-honored hickory rears his bold form1 ,and bares a brave breast to the lightning and storm1 ,while palm1 bay1 and laurel1 in classical glee1 ,chase tulip1 magnolia1 and fragrant fringe-tree2 ,and sturdy horse-chestnut for centuries hath given ,its feathery blossom and branches to heaven4 ,here is life6 ,here is youth6 ,here the poet's world-wish1-- ,cool waters at play with the gold-gleaming fish2 ,while cactus a mellower glory receives ,from light colored softly by blossom and leaves2 ,and nestling alder is whispering low1 ,in lap of the pear-tree1 with musical flow4,c ,dark sentinel hedgerow is guarding repose1 ,midst grotto and songlet and streamlet that flows ,where beauty and perfume from buds burst away1 ,and ope their closed cells to the bright1 laughing day2 ,yet1 dwellers in ,eden1 earth yields you her tear1-- ,oft plucked for the banquet1 but laid on the bier4 ,earth's beauty and glory delude as the shrine ,or fount of real joy and of visions divine2 ,but hope1 as the eaglet that spurneth the sod1 ,may soar above matter1 to fasten on ,god1 ,and freely adore all ,his spirit hath made1 ,where rapture and radiance and glory ne'er fade4 ,oh1 give me the spot where affection may dwell ,in sacred communion with home's magic spell6 ,where flowers of feeling are fragrant and fair1 ,and those we most love find a happiness rare2 ,but clouds are a presage1--they darken my lay3 ,this life is a shadow1 and hastens away4 ,,marriage ,,and ,,parentage ,in #ahdc ,i was united to my first husband1 ,colonel ,george ,washington ,glover of ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 the ceremony taking place under the paternal roof in ,tilton4 ,after parting with the dear home circle ,i went with him to the ,south2 but he was spared to me for only one brief year4 ,he was in ,wilmington1 ,north ,carolina1 on business1 when the yellow-fever raged in that city1 and was suddenly attacked by this insidious disease1 which in his case proved fatal4 ,my husband was a freemason1 being a member in ,saint ,andrew's ,lodge1 ,number #aj1 and of ,union ,chapter1 ,number #c1 of ,royal ,arch masons4 ,he was highly esteemed and sincerely lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances1 whose kindness and sympathy helped to support me in this terrible bereavement4 ,a month later ,i returned to ,new ,hampshire1 where1 at the end of four months1 my babe was born4 ,colonel ,glover's tender devotion to his young bride was remarked by all observers4 ,with his parting breath he gave pathetic directions to his brother masons about accompanying her on her sad journey to the ,north4 ,here it is but justice to record1 they performed their obligations most faithfully4 ,after returning to the paternal roof ,i lost all my husband's property1 except what money ,i had brought with me2 and remained with my parents until after my mother's decease4 ,a few months before my father's second marriage1 to ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,patterson ,duncan1 sister of ,lieutenant-,governor ,george ,w4 ,patterson of ,new ,york1 my little son1 about four years of age1 was sent away from me1 and put under the care of our family nurse1 who had married1 and resided in the northern part of ,new ,hampshire4 ,i had no training for self-support1 and my home ,i regarded as very precious4 ,the night before my child was taken from me1 ,i knelt by his side throughout the dark hours1 hoping for a vision of relief from this trial4 ,the following lines are taken from my poem1 ,mother's ,darling1 written after this separation3-- ,thy smile through tears1 as sunshine o'er the sea1 ,awoke new beauty in the surge's roll6 ,oh1 life is dead1 bereft of all1 with thee1-- ,star of my earthly hope1 babe of my soul4 ,my second marriage was very unfortunate1 and from it ,i was compelled to ask for a bill of divorce1 which was granted me in the city of ,salem1 ,massachusetts4 ,my dominant thought in marrying again was to get back my child1 but after our marriage his stepfather was not willing he should have a home with me4 ,a plot was consummated for keeping us apart4 ,the family to whose care he was committed very soon removed to what was then regarded as the ,far ,west4 ,after his removal a letter was read to my little son1 informing him that his mother was dead and buried4 ,without my knowledge a guardian was appointed him1 and ,i was then informed that my son was lost4 ,every means within my power was employed to find him1 but without success4 ,we never met again until he had reached the age of thirty-four1 had a wife and two children1 and by a strange providence had learned that his mother still lived1 and came to see me in ,massachusetts4 ,meanwhile he had served as a volunteer throughout the war for the ,union1 and at its expiration was appointed ,united ,states ,marshal of the ,territory of ,dakota4 ,it is well to know1 dear reader1 that our material1 mortal history is but the record of dreams1 not of man's real existence1 and the dream has no place in the ,science of being4 ,it is as a tale that is told1 and as the shadow when it declineth4 ,the heavenly intent of earth's shadows is to chasten the affections1 to rebuke human consciousness and turn it gladly from a material1 false sense of life and happiness1 to spiritual joy and true estimate of being4 ,the awakening from a false sense of life1 substance1 and mind in matter1 is as yet imperfect2 but for those lucid and enduring lessons of ,love which tend to this result1 ,i bless ,god4 ,mere historic incidents and personal events are frivolous and of no moment1 unless they illustrate the ethics of ,truth4 ,to this end1 but only to this end1 such narrations may be admissible and advisable2 but if spiritual conclusions are separated from their premises1 the nexus is lost1 and the argument1 with its rightful conclusions1 becomes correspondingly obscure4 ,the human history needs to be revised1 and the material record expunged4 ,the ,gospel narratives bear brief testimony even to the life of our great ,master4 ,his spiritual noumenon and phenomenon silenced portraiture4 ,writers less wise than the apostles essayed in the ,apocryphal ,new ,testament a legendary and traditional history of the early life of ,jesus4 ,but ,st4 ,paul summarized the character of ,jesus as the model of ,christianity1 in these words3 ,consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself4 ,who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross1 despising the shame1 and is set down at the right hand of the throne of ,god4 ,it may be that the mortal life-battle still wages1 and must continue till its involved errors are vanquished by victory-bringing ,science2 but this triumph will come6 ,god is over all4 ,he alone is our origin1 aim1 and being4 ,the real man is not of the dust1 nor is he ever created through the flesh2 for his father and mother are the one ,spirit1 and his brethren are all the children of one parent1 the eternal good4 ,,emergence ,,into ,,light ,the trend of human life was too eventful to leave me undisturbed in the illusion that this so-called life could be a real and abiding rest4 ,all things earthly must ultimately yield to the irony of fate1 or else be merged into the one infinite ,love4 ,as these pungent lessons became clearer1 they grew sterner4 ,previously the cloud of mortal mind seemed to have a silver lining2 but now it was not even fringed with light4 ,matter was no longer spanned with its rainbow of promise4 ,the world was dark4 ,the oncoming hours were indicated by no floral dial4 ,the senses could not prophesy sunrise or starlight4 ,thus it was when the moment arrived of the heart's bridal to more spiritual existence4 ,when the door opened1 ,i was waiting and watching2 and1 lo1 the bridegroom came6 ,the character of the ,christ was illuminated by the midnight torches of ,spirit4 ,my heart knew its ,redeemer4 ,he whom my affections had diligently sought was as the ,one altogether lovely1 as the chiefest1 the only1 among ten thousand4 ,soulless famine had fled4 ,agnosticism1 pantheism1 and theosophy were void4 ,being was beautiful1 its substance1 cause1 and currents were ,god and ,his idea4 ,i had touched the hem of ,christian ,science4 ,,the ,,great ,,discovery ,it was in ,massachusetts1 in ,february1 #ahff1 and after the death of the magnetic doctor1 ,mr4 ,p4,p4 ,quimby1 whom spiritualists would associate therewith1 but who was in no wise connected with this event1 that ,i discovered the ,science of divine metaphysical healing which ,i afterwards named ,christian ,science4 ,the discovery came to pass in this way4 ,during twenty years prior to my discovery ,i had been trying to trace all physical effects to a mental cause2 and in the latter part of #ahff ,i gained the scientific certainty that all causation was ,mind1 and every effect a mental phenomenon4 ,my immediate recovery from the effects of an injury caused by an accident1 an injury that neither medicine nor surgery could reach1 was the falling apple that led me to the discovery how to be well myself1 and how to make others so4 ,even to the homoeopathic physician who attended me1 and rejoiced in my recovery1 ,i could not then explain the modus of my relief4 ,i could only assure him that the divine ,spirit had wrought the miracle--a miracle which later ,i found to be in perfect scientific accord with divine law4 ,i then withdrew from society about three years1--to ponder my mission1 to search the ,scriptures1 to find the ,science of ,mind that should take the things of ,god and show them to the creature1 and reveal the great curative ,principle1--,deity4 ,the ,bible was my textbook4 ,it answered my questions as to how ,i was healed2 but the ,scriptures had to me a new meaning1 a new tongue4 ,their spiritual signification appeared2 and ,i apprehended for the first time1 in their spiritual meaning1 ,jesus' teaching and demonstration1 and the ,principle and rule of spiritual ,science and metaphysical healing1--in a word1 ,christian ,science4 ,i named it ,christian1 because it is compassionate1 helpful1 and spiritual4 ,god ,i called immortal ,mind4 ,that which sins1 suffers1 and dies1 ,i named mortal mind4 ,the physical senses1 or sensuous nature1 ,i called error and shadow4 ,soul ,i denominated substance1 because ,soul alone is truly substantial4 ,god ,i characterized as individual entity1 but ,his corporeality ,i denied4 ,the real ,i claimed as eternal2 and its antipodes1 or the temporal1 ,i described as unreal4 ,spirit ,i called the reality2 and matter1 the unreality4 ,i knew the human conception of ,god to be that ,he was a physically personal being1 like unto man2 and that the five physical senses are so many witnesses to the physical personality of mind and the real existence of matter2 but ,i learned that these material senses testify falsely1 that matter neither sees1 hears1 nor feels ,spirit1 and is therefore inadequate to form any proper conception of the infinite ,mind4 ,if ,i bear witness of myself1 my witness is not true4 7,john v4 #ca47 ,i beheld with ineffable awe our great ,master's purpose in not questioning those he healed as to their disease or its symptoms1 and his marvellous skill in demanding neither obedience to hygienic laws1 nor prescribing drugs to support the divine power which heals4 ,adoringly ,i discerned the ,principle of his holy heroism and ,christian example on the cross1 when he refused to drink the vinegar and gall1 a preparation of poppy1 or aconite1 to allay the tortures of crucifixion4 ,our great ,way-shower1 steadfast to the end in his obedience to ,god's laws1 demonstrated for all time and peoples the supremacy of good over evil1 and the superiority of ,spirit over matter4 ,the miracles recorded in the ,bible1 which had before seemed to me supernatural1 grew divinely natural and apprehensible2 though uninspired interpreters ignorantly pronounce ,christ's healing miraculous1 instead of seeing therein the operation of the divine law4 ,jesus of ,nazareth was a natural and divine ,scientist4 ,he was so before the material world saw him4 ,he who antedated ,abraham1 and gave the world a new date in the ,christian era1 was a ,christian ,scientist1 who needed no discovery of the ,science of being in order to rebuke the evidence4 ,to one born of the flesh1 however1 divine ,science must be a discovery4 ,woman must give it birth4 ,it must be begotten of spirituality1 since none but the pure in heart can see ,god1--the ,principle of all things pure2 and none but the poor in spirit could first state this ,principle1 could know yet more of the nothingness of matter and the allness of ,spirit1 could utilize ,truth1 and absolutely reduce the demonstration of being1 in ,science1 to the apprehension of the age4 ,i wrote also1 at this period1 comments on the ,scriptures1 setting forth their spiritual interpretation1 the ,science of the ,bible1 and so laid the foundation of my work called ,science and ,health1 published in #ahge4 ,if these notes and comments1 which have never been read by any one but myself1 were published1 it would show that after my discovery of the absolute ,science of ,mind-healing1 like all great truths1 this spiritual ,science developed itself to me until ,science and ,health was written4 ,these early comments are valuable to me as waymarks of progress1 which ,i would not have effaced4 ,up to that time ,i had not fully voiced my discovery4 ,naturally1 my first jottings were but efforts to express in feeble diction ,truth's ultimate4 ,in ,longfellow's language1-- ,but the feeble hands and helpless1 ,groping blindly in the darkness1 ,touch ,god's right hand in that darkness1 ,and are lifted up and strengthened4 ,as sweet music ripples in one's first thoughts of it like the brooklet in its meandering midst pebbles and rocks1 before the mind can duly express it to the ear1--so the harmony of divine ,science first broke upon my sense1 before gathering experience and confidence to articulate it4 ,its natural manifestation is beautiful and euphonious1 but its written expression increases in power and perfection under the guidance of the great ,master4 ,the divine hand led me into a new world of light and ,life1 a fresh universe--old to ,god1 but new to ,his little one4 ,it became evident that the divine ,mind alone must answer1 and be found as the ,life1 or ,principle1 of all being2 and that one must acquaint himself with ,god1 if he would be at peace4 ,he must be ours practically1 guiding our every thought and action2 else we cannot understand the omnipresence of good sufficiently to demonstrate1 even in part1 the ,science of the perfect ,mind and divine healing4 ,i had learned that thought must be spiritualized1 in order to apprehend ,spirit4 ,it must become honest1 unselfish1 and pure1 in order to have the least understanding of ,god in divine ,science4 ,the first must become last4 ,our reliance upon material things must be transferred to a perception of and dependence on spiritual things4 ,for ,spirit to be supreme in demonstration1 it must be supreme in our affections1 and we must be clad with divine power4 ,purity1 self-renunciation1 faith1 and understanding must reduce all things real to their own mental denomination1 ,mind1 which divides1 subdivides1 increases1 diminishes1 constitutes1 and sustains1 according to the law of ,god4 ,i had learned that ,mind reconstructed the body1 and that nothing else could4 ,how it was done1 the spiritual ,science of ,mind must reveal4 ,it was a mystery to me then1 but ,i have since understood it4 ,all ,science is a revelation4 ,its ,principle is divine1 not human1 reaching higher than the stars of heaven4 ,am ,i a believer in spiritualism8 ,i believe in no ism4 ,this is my endeavor1 to be a ,christian1 to assimilate the character and practice of the anointed2 and no motive can cause a surrender of this effort4 ,as ,i understand it1 spiritualism is the antipode of ,christian ,science4 ,i esteem all honest people1 and love them1 and hold to loving our enemies and doing good to them that despitefully use you and persecute you4 ,,foundation ,,work ,as the pioneer of ,christian ,science ,i stood alone in this conflict1 endeavoring to smite error with the falchion of ,truth4 ,the rare bequests of ,christian ,science are costly1 and they have won fields of battle from which the dainty borrower would have fled4 ,ceaseless toil1 self-renunciation1 and love1 have cleared its pathway4 ,the motive of my earliest labors has never changed4 ,it was to relieve the sufferings of humanity by a sanitary system that should include all moral and religious reform4 ,it is often asked why ,christian ,science was revealed to me as one intelligence1 analyzing1 uncovering1 and annihilating the false testimony of the physical senses4 ,why was this conviction necessary to the right apprehension of the invincible and infinite energies of ,truth and ,love1 as contrasted with the foibles and fables of finite mind and material existence4 ,the answer is plain4 ,st4 ,paul declared that the law was the schoolmaster1 to bring him to ,christ4 ,even so was ,i led into the mazes of divine metaphysics through the gospel of suffering1 the providence of ,god1 and the cross of ,christ4 ,no one else can drain the cup which ,i have drunk to the dregs as the ,discoverer and teacher of ,christian ,science2 neither can its inspiration be gained without tasting this cup4 ,the loss of material objects of affection sunders the dominant ties of earth and points to heaven4 ,nothing can compete with ,christian ,science1 and its demonstration1 in showing this solemn certainty in growing freedom and vindicating the ways of ,god to man4 ,the absolute proof and self-evident propositions of ,truth are immeasurably paramount to rubric and dogma in proving the ,christ4 ,from my very childhood ,i was impelled1 by a hunger and thirst after divine things1--a desire for something higher and better than matter1 and apart from it1--to seek diligently for the knowledge of ,god as the one great and ever-present relief from human woe4 ,the first spontaneous motion of ,truth and ,love1 acting through ,christian ,science on my roused consciousness1 banished at once and forever the fundamental error of faith in things material2 for this trust is the unseen sin1 the unknown foe1--the heart's untamed desire which breaketh the divine commandments4 ,as says ,st4 ,james3 ,whosoever shall keep the whole law1 and yet offend in one point1 he is guilty of all4 ,into mortal mind's material obliquity ,i gazed1 and stood abashed4 ,blanched was the cheek of pride4 ,my heart bent low before the omnipotence of ,spirit1 and a tint of humility1 soft as the heart of a moonbeam1 mantled the earth4 ,bethlehem and ,bethany1 ,gethsemane and ,calvary1 spoke to my chastened sense as by the tearful lips of a babe4 ,frozen fountains were unsealed4 ,erudite systems of philosophy and religion melted1 for ,love unveiled the healing promise and potency of a present spiritual afflatus4 ,it was the gospel of healing1 on its divinely appointed human mission1 bearing on its white wings1 to my apprehension1 the beauty of holiness1--even the possibilities of spiritual insight1 knowledge1 and being4 ,early had ,i learned that whatever is loved materially1 as mere corporeal personality1 is eventually lost4 ,for whosoever will save his life shall lose it1 said the ,master4 ,exultant hope1 if tinged with earthliness1 is crushed as the moth4 ,what is termed mortal and material existence is graphically defined by ,calderon1 the famous ,spanish poet1 who wrote1-- ,what is life8 ',tis but a madness4 ,what is life8 ,a mere illusion1 ,fleeting pleasure1 fond delusion1 ,short-lived joy1 that ends in sadness1 ,whose most constant substance seems ,but the dream of other dreams4 ,,medical ,,experiments ,the physical side of this research was aided by hints from homoeopathy1 sustaining my final conclusion that mortal belief1 instead of the drug1 governed the action of material medicine4 ,i wandered through the dim mazes of materia medica1 till ,i was weary of scientific guessing1 as it has been well called4 ,i sought knowledge from the different schools1--allopathy1 homoeopathy1 hydropathy1 electricity1 and from various humbugs1--but without receiving satisfaction4 ,i found1 in the two hundred and sixty-two remedies enumerated by ,jahr1 one pervading secret2 namely1 that the less material medicine we have1 and the more ,mind1 the better the work is done2 a fact which seems to prove the ,principle of ,mind-healing4 ,one drop of the thirtieth attenuation of ,natrum muriaticum1 in a tumbler-full of water1 and one teaspoonful of the water mixed with the faith of ages1 would cure patients not affected by a larger dose4 ,the drug disappears in the higher attenuations of homoeopathy1 and matter is thereby rarefied to its fatal essence1 mortal mind2 but immortal ,mind1 the curative ,principle1 remains1 and is found to be even more active4 ,the mental virtues of the material methods of medicine1 when understood1 were insufficient to satisfy my doubts as to the honesty or utility of using a material curative4 ,i must know more of the unmixed1 unerring source1 in order to gain the ,science of ,mind1 the ,all-in-all of ,spirit1 in which matter is obsolete4 ,nothing less could solve the mental problem4 ,if ,i sought an answer from the medical schools1 the reply was dark and contradictory4 ,neither ancient nor modern philosophy could clear the clouds1 or give me one distinct statement of the spiritual ,science of ,mind-healing4 ,human reason was not equal to it4 ,i claim for healing scientifically the following advantages3 ,first3 ,it does away with all material medicines1 and recognizes the antidote for all sickness1 as well as sin1 in the immortal ,mind2 and mortal mind as the source of all the ills which befall mortals4 ,second3 ,it is more effectual than drugs1 and cures when they fail1 or only relieve2 thus proving the superiority of metaphysics over physics4 ,third3 ,a person healed by ,christian ,science is not only healed of his disease1 but he is advanced morally and spiritually4 ,the mortal body being but the objective state of the mortal mind1 this mind must be renovated to improve the body4 ,,first ,,publication ,in #ahgj ,i copyrighted the first publication on spiritual1 scientific ,mind-healing1 entitled ,the ,science of ,man4 ,this little book is converted into the chapter on ,recapitulation in ,science and ,health4 ,it was so new--the basis it laid down for physical and moral health was so hopelessly original1 and men were so unfamiliar with the subject--that ,i did not venture upon its publication until later1 having learned that the merits of ,christian ,science must be proven before a work on this subject could be profitably published4 ,the truths of ,christian ,science are not interpolations of the ,scriptures1 but the spiritual interpretations thereof4 ,science is the prism of ,truth1 which divides its rays and brings out the hues of ,deity4 ,human hypotheses have darkened the glow and grandeur of evangelical religion4 ,when speaking of his true followers in every period1 ,jesus said1 ,they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 ,there is no authority for querying the authenticity of this declaration1 for it already was and is demonstrated as practical1 and its claim is substantiated1--a claim too immanent to fall to the ground beneath the stroke of artless workmen4 ,though a man were girt with the ,urim and ,thummim of priestly office1 and denied the perpetuity of ,jesus' command1 ,heal the sick1 or its application in all time to those who understand ,christ as the ,truth and the ,life1 that man would not expound the gospel according to ,jesus4 ,five years after taking out my first copyright1 ,i taught the ,science of ,mind-healing1 alias ,christian ,science1 by writing out my manuscripts for students and distributing them unsparingly4 ,this will account for certain published and unpublished manuscripts extant1 which the evil-minded would insinuate did not originate with me4 ,,the ,,precious ,,volume ,the first edition of my most important work1 ,science and ,health1 containing the complete statement of ,christian ,science1--the term employed by me to express the divine1 or spiritual1 ,science of ,mind-healing1 was published in #ahge4 ,when it was first printed1 the critics took pleasure in saying1 ,this book is indeed wholly original1 but it will never be read4 ,the first edition numbered one thousand copies4 ,in ,september1 #ahia1 it had reached sixty-two editions4 ,those who formerly sneered at it1 as foolish and eccentric1 now declare ,bishop ,berkeley1 ,david ,hume1 ,ralph ,waldo ,emerson1 or certain ,german philosophers1 to have been the originators of the ,science of ,mind-healing as therein stated4 ,even the ,scriptures gave no direct interpretation of the scientific basis for demonstrating the spiritual ,principle of healing1 until our heavenly ,father saw fit1 through the ,key to the ,scriptures1 in ,science and ,health1 to unlock this mystery of godliness4 ,my reluctance to give the public1 in my first edition of ,science and ,health1 the chapter on ,animal ,magnetism1 and the divine purpose that this should be done1 may have an interest for the reader1 and will be seen in the following circumstances4 ,i had finished that edition as far as that chapter1 when the printer informed me that he could not go on with my work4 ,i had already paid him seven hundred dollars1 and yet he stopped my work4 ,all efforts to persuade him to finish my book were in vain4 ,after months had passed1 ,i yielded to a constant conviction that ,i must insert in my last chapter a partial history of what ,i had already observed of mental malpractice4 ,accordingly1 ,i set to work1 contrary to my inclination1 to fulfil this painful task1 and finished my copy for the book4 ,as it afterwards appeared1 although ,i had not thought of such a result1 my printer resumed his work at the same time1 finished printing the copy he had on hand1 and then started for ,lynn to see me4 ,the afternoon that he left ,boston for ,lynn1 ,i started for ,boston with my finished copy4 ,we met at the ,eastern depot in ,lynn1 and were both surprised1--,i to learn that he had printed all the copy on hand1 and had come to tell me he wanted more1--he to find me en route for ,boston1 to give him the closing chapter of my first edition of ,science and ,health4 ,not a word had passed between us1 audibly or mentally1 while this went on4 ,i had grown disgusted with my printer1 and become silent4 ,he had come to a standstill through motives and circumstances unknown to me4 ,science and ,health is the textbook of ,christian ,science4 ,whosoever learns the letter of this book1 must also gain its spiritual significance1 in order to demonstrate ,christian ,science4 ,when the demand for this book increased1 and people were healed simply by reading it1 the copyright was infringed4 ,i entered a suit at law1 and my copyright was protected4 ,,recuperative ,,incident ,through four successive years ,i healed1 preached1 and taught in a general way1 refusing to take any pay for my services and living on a small annuity4 ,at one time ,i was called to speak before the ,lyceum ,club1 at ,westerly1 ,rhode ,island4 ,on my arrival my hostess told me that her next-door neighbor was dying4 ,i asked permission to see her4 ,it was granted1 and with my hostess ,i went to the invalid's house4 ,the physicians had given up the case and retired4 ,i had stood by her side about fifteen minutes when the sick woman rose from her bed1 dressed herself1 and was well4 ,afterwards they showed me the clothes already prepared for her burial2 and told me that her physicians had said the diseased condition was caused by an injury received from a surgical operation at the birth of her last babe1 and that it was impossible for her to be delivered of another child4 ,it is sufficient to add her babe was safely born1 and weighed twelve pounds4 ,the mother afterwards wrote to me1 ,i never before suffered so little in childbirth4 ,this scientific demonstration so stirred the doctors and clergy that they had my notices for a second lecture pulled down1 and refused me a hearing in their halls and churches4 ,this circumstance is cited simply to show the opposition which ,christian ,science encountered a quarter-century ago1 as contrasted with its present welcome into the sickroom4 ,many were the desperate cases ,i instantly healed1 without money and without price1 and in most instances without even an acknowledgment of the benefit4 ,a ,,true ,,man ,my last marriage was with ,asa ,gilbert ,eddy1 and was a blessed and spiritual union1 solemnized at ,lynn1 ,massachusetts1 by the ,rev4 ,samuel ,barrett ,stewart1 in the year #ahgg4 ,dr4 ,eddy was the first student publicly to announce himself a ,christian ,scientist1 and place these symbolic words on his office sign4 ,he forsook all to follow in this line of light4 ,he was the first organizer of a ,christian ,science ,sunday ,school1 which he superintended4 ,he also taught a special ,bible-class2 and he lectured so ably on ,scriptural topics that clergymen of other denominations listened to him with deep interest4 ,he was remarkably successful in ,mind-healing1 and untiring in his chosen work4 ,in #ahhb he passed away1 with a smile of peace and love resting on his serene countenance4 ,mark the perfect man1 and behold the upright3 for the end of that man is peace4 7,psalms xxxvii4 #cg47 ,,college ,,and ,,church ,in #ahfg ,i introduced the first purely metaphysical system of healing since the apostolic days4 ,i began by teaching one student ,christian ,science ,mind-healing4 ,from this seed grew the ,massachusetts ,metaphysical ,college in ,boston1 chartered in #ahha4 ,no charter was granted for similar purposes after #ahhc4 ,it is the only ,college1 hitherto1 for teaching the pathology of spiritual power1 alias the ,science of ,mind-healing4 ,my husband1 ,asa ,g4 ,eddy1 taught two terms in my ,college4 ,after ,i gave up teaching1 my adopted son1 ,ebenezer ,j4 ,foster-,eddy1 a graduate of the ,hahneman ,medical ,college of ,philadelphia1 and who also received a certificate from ,dr4 ,w4,w4 ,keen's 7allopathic7 ,philadelphia ,school of ,anatomy and ,surgery1--having renounced his material method of practice and embraced the teachings of ,christian ,science1 taught the ,primary1 ,normal1 and ,obstetric class one term4 ,gen4 ,erastus ,n4 ,bates taught one ,primary class1 in #ahhi1 after which ,i judged it best to close the institution4 ,these students of mine were the only assistant teachers in the ,college4 ,the first ,christian ,scientist ,association was organized by myself and six of my students in #ahgf1 on the ,centennial ,day of our nation's freedom4 ,at a meeting of the ,christian ,scientist ,association1 on ,april #ab1 #ahgi1 it was voted to organize a church to commemorate the words and works of our ,master1 a ,mind-healing church1 without a creed1 to be called the ,church of ,christ1 ,scientist1 the first such church ever organized4 ,the charter for this church was obtained in ,june1 #ahgi1;,d and during the same month the members1 twenty-six in number1 extended a call to me to become their pastor4 ,i accepted the call1 and was ordained in #ahha1 though ,i had preached five years before being ordained4 ,when ,i was its pastor1 and in the pulpit every ,sunday1 my church increased in members1 and its spiritual growth kept pace with its increasing popularity2 but when obliged1 because of accumulating work in the ,college1 to preach only occasionally1 no student1 at that time1 was found able to maintain the church in its previous harmony and prosperity4 ,examining the situation prayerfully and carefully1 noting the church's need1 and the predisposing and exciting cause of its condition1 ,i saw that the crisis had come when much time and attention must be given to defend this church from the envy and molestation of other churches1 and from the danger to its members which must always lie in ,christian warfare4 ,at this juncture ,i recommended that the church be dissolved4 ,no sooner were my views made known1 than the proper measures were adopted to carry them out1 the votes passing without a dissenting voice4 ,this measure was immediately followed by a great revival of mutual love1 prosperity1 and spiritual power4 ,the history of that hour holds this true record4 ,adding to its ranks and influence1 this spiritually organized ,church of ,christ1 ,scientist1 in ,boston1 still goes on4 ,a new light broke in upon it1 and more beautiful became the garments of her who bringeth good tidings1 that publisheth peace4 ,despite the prosperity of my church1 it was learned that material organization has its value and peril1 and that organization is requisite only in the earliest periods in ,christian history4 ,after this material form of cohesion and fellowship has accomplished its end1 continued organization retards spiritual growth1 and should be laid off1--even as the corporeal organization deemed requisite in the first stages of mortal existence is finally laid off1 in order to gain spiritual freedom and supremacy4 ,from careful observation and experience came my clue to the uses and abuses of organization4 ,therefore1 in accord with my special request1 followed that noble1 unprecedented action of the ,christian ,scientist ,association connected with my ,college when dissolving that organization1--in forgiving enemies1 returning good for evil1 in following ,jesus' command1 ,whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek1 turn to him the other also4 ,i saw these fruits of ,spirit1 long-suffering and temperance1 fulfil the law of ,christ in righteousness4 ,i also saw that ,christianity has withstood less the temptation of popularity than of persecution4 ,,feed ,,my ,,sheep ,lines penned when ,i was pastor of the ,church of ,christ1 ,scientist1 in ,boston4 ,shepherd1 show me how to go ,o'er the hillside steep1 ,how to gather1 how to sow1-- ,how to feed ,thy sheep2 ,i will listen for ,thy voice1 ,lest my footsteps stray2 ,i will follow and rejoice ,all the rugged way4 ,thou wilt bind the stubborn will1 ,wound the callous breast1 ,make self-righteousness be still1 ,break earth's stupid rest4 ,strangers on a barren shore1 ,lab'ring long and lone1 ,we would enter by the door1 ,and ,thou know'st ,thine own4 ,so1 when day grows dark and cold1 ,tear or triumph harms1 ,lead ,thy lambkins to the fold1 ,take them in ,thine arms2 ,feed the hungry1 heal the heart1 ,till the morning's beam2 ,white as wool1 ere they depart1 ,shepherd1 wash them clean4 ,,college ,,closed ,the apprehension of what has been1 and must be1 the final outcome of material organization1 which wars with ,love's spiritual compact1 caused me to dread the unprecedented popularity of my ,college4 ,students from all over our continent1 and from ,europe1 were flooding the school4 ,at this time there were over three hundred applications from persons desiring to enter the ,college1 and applicants were rapidly increasing4 ,example had shown the dangers arising from being placed on earthly pinnacles1 and ,christian ,science shuns whatever involves material means for the promotion of spiritual ends4 ,in view of all this1 a meeting was called of the ,board of ,directors of my ,college1 who1 being informed of my intentions1 unanimously voted that the school be discontinued4 ,a ,primary class student1 richly imbued with the spirit of ,christ1 is a better healer and teacher than a ,normal class student who partakes less of ,god's love4 ,after having received instructions in a ,primary class from me1 or a loyal student1 and afterwards studied thoroughly ,science and ,health1 a student can enter upon the gospel work of teaching ,christian ,science1 and so fulfil the command of ,christ4 ,but before entering this field of labor he must have studied the latest editions of my works1 be a good ,bible scholar and a consecrated ,christian4 ,the ,massachusetts ,metaphysical ,college drew its breath from me1 but ,i was yearning for retirement4 ,the question was1 ,who else could sustain this institute1 under all that was aimed at its vital purpose1 the establishment of genuine ,christian ,science healing8 ,my conscientious scruples about diplomas1 the recent experience of the church fresh in my thoughts1 and the growing conviction that every one should build on his own foundation1 subject to the one builder and maker1 ,god1--all these considerations moved me to close my flourishing school1 and the following resolutions were passed3-- ,at a special meeting of the ,board of the ,metaphysical ,college ,corporation1 ,oct4 #bi1 #ahhi1 the following are some of the resolutions which were presented and passed unanimously3-- ,,whereas1 ,the ,massachusetts ,metaphysical ,college1 chartered in ,january1 #ahha1 for medical purposes1 to give instruction in scientific methods of mental healing on a purely practical basis1 to impart a thorough understanding of metaphysics1 to restore health1 hope1 and harmony to man1--has fulfilled its high and noble destiny1 and sent to all parts of our country1 and into foreign lands1 students instructed in ,christian ,science ,mind-healing1 to meet the demand of the age for something higher than physic or drugging2 and ,,whereas1 ,the material organization was1 in the beginning in this institution1 like the baptism of ,jesus1 of which he said1 ,suffer it to be so now1 though the teaching was a purely spiritual and scientific impartation of ,truth1 whose ,christly spirit has led to higher ways1 means1 and understanding1--the ,president1 the ,rev4 ,mary ,b4,g4 ,eddy1 at the height of prosperity in the institution1 which yields a large income1 is willing to sacrifice all for the advancement of the world in ,truth and ,love2 and ,,whereas1 ,other institutions for instruction in ,christian ,science1 which are working out their periods of organization1 will doubtless follow the example of the ,alma ,mater after having accomplished the worthy purpose for which they were organized1 and the hour has come wherein the great need is for more of the spirit instead of the letter1 and ,science and ,health is adapted to work this result2 and ,,whereas1 ,the fundamental principle for growth in ,christian ,science is spiritual formation first1 last1 and always1 while in human growth material organization is first2 and ,,whereas1 ,mortals must learn to lose their estimate of the powers that are not ordained of ,god1 and attain the bliss of loving unselfishly1 working patiently1 and conquering all that is unlike ,christ and the example he gave2 therefore ,resolved1 ,that we thank the ,state for its charter1 which is the only one ever granted to a legal college for teaching the ,science of ,mind-healing2 that we thank the public for its liberal patronage4 ,and everlasting gratitude is due to the ,president1 for her great and noble work1 which we believe will prove a healing for the nations1 and bring all men to a knowledge of the true ,god1 uniting them in one common brotherhood4 ,after due deliberation and earnest discussion it was unanimously voted3 ,that as all debts of the corporation have been paid1 it is deemed best to dissolve this corporation1 and the same is hereby dissolved4 ,c4,a4 ,,frye1 ,clerk4 ,when ,god impelled me to set a price on my instruction in ,christian ,science ,mind-healing1 ,i could think of no financial equivalent for an impartation of a knowledge of that divine power which heals2 but ,i was led to name three hundred dollars as the price for each pupil in one course of lessons at my ,college1--a startling sum for tuition lasting barely three weeks4 ,this amount greatly troubled me4 ,i shrank from asking it1 but was finally led1 by a strange providence1 to accept this fee4 ,god has since shown me1 in multitudinous ways1 the wisdom of this decision2 and ,i beg disinterested people to ask my loyal students if they consider three hundred dollars any real equivalent for my instruction during twelve half-days1 or even in half as many lessons4 ,nevertheless1 my list of indigent charity scholars is very large1 and ,i have had as many as seventeen in one class4 ,loyal students speak with delight of their pupilage1 and of what it has done for them1 and for others through them4 ,by loyalty in students ,i mean this1--allegiance to ,god1 subordination of the human to the divine1 steadfast justice1 and strict adherence to divine ,truth and ,love4 ,i see clearly that students in ,christian ,science should1 at present1 continue to organize churches1 schools1 and associations for the furtherance and unfolding of ,truth1 and that my necessity is not necessarily theirs2 but it was the ,father's opportunity for furnishing a new rule of order in divine ,science1 and the blessings which arose therefrom4 ,students are not environed with such obstacles as were encountered in the beginning of pioneer work4 ,in ,december1 #ahhi1 ,i gave a lot of land in ,boston to my student1 ,mr4 ,ira ,o4 ,knapp of ,roslindale1--valued in #ahib at about twenty thousand dollars1 and rising in value1--to be appropriated for the erection1 and building on the premises thereby conveyed1 of a church edifice to be used as a temple for ,christian ,science worship4 ,,general ,,associations1 ,,and ,,our ,,magazine ,for many successive years ,i have endeavored to find new ways and means for the promotion and expansion of scientific ,mind-healing1 seeking to broaden its channels and1 if possible1 to build a hedge round about it that should shelter its perfections from the contaminating influences of those who have a small portion of its letter and less of its spirit4 ,at the same time ,i have worked to provide a home for every true seeker and honest worker in this vineyard of ,truth4 ,to meet the broader wants of humanity1 and provide folds for the sheep that were without shepherds1 ,i suggested to my students1 in #ahhf1 the propriety of forming a ,national ,christian ,scientist ,association4 ,this was immediately done1 and delegations from the ,christian ,scientist ,association of the ,massachusetts ,metaphysical ,college1 and from branch associations in other ,states1 met in general convention at ,new ,york ,city1 ,february #aa1 #ahhf4 ,the first official organ of the ,christian ,scientist ,association was called ,journal of ,christian ,science4 ,i started it1 ,april1 #ahhc1 as editor and publisher4 ,to the ,national ,christian ,scientist ,association1 at its meeting in ,cleveland1 ,ohio1 ,june1 #ahhi1 ,i sent a letter1 presenting to its loyal members ,the ,christian ,science ,journal1 as it was now called1 and the funds belonging thereto4 ,this monthly magazine had been made successful and prosperous under difficult circumstances and was designed to bear aloft the standard of genuine ,christian ,science4 ,,faith-,,cure ,it is often asked1 ,why are faith-cures sometimes more speedy than some of the cures wrought through ,christian ,scientists8 ,because faith is belief1 and not understanding2 and it is easier to believe1 than to understand spiritual ,truth4 ,it demands less cross-bearing1 self-renunciation1 and divine ,science to admit the claims of the corporeal senses and appeal to ,god for relief through a humanized conception of ,his power1 than to deny these claims and learn the divine way1--drinking ,jesus' cup1 being baptized with his baptism1 gaining the end through persecution and purity4 ,millions are believing in ,god1 or good1 without bearing the fruits of goodness1 not having reached its ,science4 ,belief is virtually blindness1 when it admits ,truth without understanding it4 ,blind belief cannot say with the apostle1 ,i know whom ,i have believed4 ,there is danger in this mental state called belief2 for if ,truth is admitted1 but not understood1 it may be lost1 and error may enter through this same channel of ignorant belief4 ,the faith-cure has devout followers1 whose ,christian practice is far in advance of their theory4 ,the work of healing1 in the ,science of ,mind1 is the most sacred and salutary power which can be wielded4 ,my ,christian students1 impressed with the true sense of the great work before them1 enter this strait and narrow path1 and work conscientiously4 ,let us follow the example of ,jesus1 the master ,metaphysician1 and gain sufficient knowledge of error to destroy it with ,truth4 ,evil is not mastered by evil2 it can only be overcome with good4 ,this brings out the nothingness of evil and the eternal somethingness1 vindicates the divine ,principle1 and improves the race of ,adam4 ,,foundation-,,stones ,the following ideas of ,deity1 antagonized by finite theories1 doctrines1 and hypotheses1 ,i found to be demonstrable rules in ,christian ,science1 and that we must abide by them4 ,whatever diverges from the one divine ,mind1 or ,god1--or divides ,mind into minds1 ,spirit into spirits1 ,soul into souls1 and ,being into beings1--is a misstatement of the unerring divine ,principle of ,science1 which interrupts the meaning of the omnipotence1 omniscience1 and omnipresence of ,spirit1 and is of human instead of divine origin4 ,war is waged between the evidences of ,spirit and the evidences of the five physical senses2 and this contest must go on until peace be declared by the final triumph of ,spirit in immutable harmony4 ,divine ,science disclaims sin1 sickness1 and death1 on the basis of the omnipotence and omnipresence of ,god1 or divine good4 ,all consciousness is ,mind1 and ,mind is ,god4 ,hence there is but one ,mind2 and that one is the infinite good1 supplying all ,mind by the reflection1 not the subdivision1 of ,god4 ,whatever else claims to be mind1 or consciousness1 is untrue4 ,the sun sends forth light1 but not suns2 so ,god reflects ,himself1 or ,mind1 but does not subdivide ,mind1 or good1 into minds1 good and evil4 ,divine ,science demands mighty wrestlings with mortal beliefs1 as we sail into the eternal haven over the unfathomable sea of possibilities4 ,neither ancient nor modern philosophy furnishes a scientific basis for the ,science of ,mind-healing4 ,plato believed he had a soul1 which must be doctored in order to heal his body4 ,this would be like correcting the principle of music for the purpose of destroying discord4 ,principle is right2 it is practice that is wrong4 ,soul is right2 it is the flesh that is evil4 ,soul is the synonym of ,spirit1 ,god2 hence there is but one ,soul1 and that one is infinite4 ,if that pagan philosopher had known that physical sense1 not ,soul1 causes all bodily ailments1 his philosophy would have yielded to ,science4 ,man shines by borrowed light4 ,he reflects ,god as his ,mind1 and this reflection is substance1--the substance of good4 ,matter is substance in error1 ,spirit is substance in ,truth4 ,evil1 or error1 is not ,mind2 but infinite ,mind is sufficient to supply all manifestations of intelligence4 ,the notion of more than one ,mind1 or ,life1 is as unsatisfying as it is unscientific4 ,all must be of ,god1 and not our own1 separated from ,him4 ,human systems of philosophy and religion are departures from ,christian ,science4 ,mistaking divine ,principle for corporeal personality1 ingrafting upon one ,first ,cause such opposite effects as good and evil1 health and sickness1 life and death2 making mortality the status and rule of divinity1--such methods can never reach the perfection and demonstration of metaphysical1 or ,christian ,science4 ,stating the divine ,principle1 omnipotence 7omnis potens71 and then departing from this statement and taking the rule of finite matter1 with which to work out the problem of infinity or ,spirit1--all this is like trying to compensate for the absence of omnipotence by a physical1 false1 and finite substitute4 ,with our ,master1 life was not merely a sense of existence1 but an accompanying sense of power that subdued matter and brought to light immortality1 insomuch that the people were astonished at his doctrine3 for he taught them as one having authority1 and not as the scribes4 ,life1 as defined by ,jesus1 had no beginning2 it was not the result of organization1 or infused into matter2 it was ,spirit4 ,,the ,,great ,,revelation ,christian ,science reveals the grand verity1 that to believe man has a finite and erring mind1 and consequently a mortal mind and soul and life1 is error4 ,scientific terms have no contradictory significations4 ,in ,science1 ,life is not temporal1 but eternal1 without beginning or ending4 ,the word ,life never means that which is the source of death1 and of good and evil4 ,such an inference is unscientific4 ,it is like saying that addition means subtraction in one instance and addition in another1 and then applying this rule to a demonstration of the science of numbers2 even as mortals apply finite terms to ,god1 in demonstration of infinity4 ,life is a term used to indicate ,deity2 and every other name for the ,supreme ,being1 if properly employed1 has the signification of ,life4 ,whatever errs is mortal1 and is the antipodes of ,life1 or ,god1 and of health and holiness1 both in idea and demonstration4 ,christian ,science reveals ,mind1 the only living and true ,god1 and all that is made by ,him1 ,mind1 as harmonious1 immortal1 and spiritual3 the five material senses define ,mind and matter as distinct1 but mutually dependent1 each on the other1 for intelligence and existence4 ,science defines man as immortal1 as coexistent and coeternal with ,god1 as made in ,his own image and likeness2 material sense defines life as something apart from ,god1 beginning and ending1 and man as very far from the divine likeness4 ,science reveals ,life as a complete sphere1 as eternal1 self-existent ,mind2 material sense defines life as a broken sphere1 as organized matter1 and mind as something separate from ,god4 ,science reveals ,spirit as ,all1 averring that there is nothing beside ,god2 material sense says that matter1 ,his antipode1 is something besides ,god4 ,material sense adds that the divine ,spirit created matter1 and that matter and evil are as real as ,spirit and good4 ,christian ,science reveals ,god and ,his idea as the ,all and ,only4 ,it declares that evil is the absence of good2 whereas1 good is ,god ever-present1 and therefore evil is unreal and good is all that is real4 ,christian ,science saith to the wave and storm1 ,be still1 and there is a great calm4 ,material sense asks1 in its ignorance of ,science1 ,when will the raging of the material elements cease8 ,science saith to all manner of disease1 ,know that ,god is all-power and all-presence1 and there is nothing beside ,him2 and the sick are healed4 ,material sense saith1 ,oh1 when will my sufferings cease8 ,where is ,god8 ,sickness is something besides ,him1 which ,he cannot1 or does not1 heal4 ,christian ,science is the only sure basis of harmony4 ,material sense contradicts ,science1 for matter and its so-called organizations take no cognizance of the spiritual facts of the universe1 or of the real man and ,god4 ,christian ,science declares that there is but one ,truth1 ,life1 ,love1 but one ,spirit1 ,mind1 ,soul4 ,any attempt to divide these arises from the fallibility of sense1 from mortal man's ignorance1 from enmity to ,god and divine ,science4 ,christian ,science declares that sickness is a belief1 a latent fear1 made manifest on the body in different forms of fear or disease4 ,this fear is formed unconsciously in the silent thought1 as when you awaken from sleep and feel ill1 experiencing the effect of a fear whose existence you do not realize2 but if you fall asleep1 actually conscious of the truth of ,christian ,science1--namely1 that man's harmony is no more to be invaded than the rhythm of the universe1--you cannot awake in fear or suffering of any sort4 ,science saith to fear1 ,you are the cause of all sickness2 but you are a self-constituted falsity1--you are darkness1 nothingness4 ,you are without 'hope1 and without ,god in the world4' ,you do not exist1 and have no right to exist1 for 'perfect ,love casteth out fear4' ,god is everywhere4 ,there is no speech nor language1 where their voice is not heard2 and this voice is ,truth that destroys error and ,love that casts out fear4 ,christian ,science reveals the fact that1 if suffering exists1 it is in the mortal mind only1 for matter has no sensation and cannot suffer4 ,if you rule out every sense of disease and suffering from mortal mind1 it cannot be found in the body4 ,posterity will have the right to demand that ,christian ,science be stated and demonstrated in its godliness and grandeur1--that however little be taught or learned1 that little shall be right4 ,let there be milk for babes1 but let not the milk be adulterated4 ,unless this method be pursued1 the ,science of ,christian healing will again be lost1 and human suffering will increase4 ,test ,christian ,science by its effect on society1 and you will find that the views here set forth--as to the illusion of sin1 sickness1 and death--bring forth better fruits of health1 righteousness1 and ,life1 than a belief in their reality has ever done4 ,a demonstration of the unreality of evil destroys evil4 ,,sin1 ,,sinner1 ,,and ,,ecclesiasticism ,why do ,christian ,scientists say ,god and ,his idea are the only realities1 and then insist on the need of healing sickness and sin8 ,because ,christian ,science heals sin as it heals sickness1 by establishing the recognition that ,god is ,all1 and there is none beside ,him1--that all is good1 and there is in reality no evil1 neither sickness nor sin4 ,we attack the sinner's belief in the pleasure of sin1 alias the reality of sin1 which makes him a sinner1 in order to destroy this belief and save him from sin2 and we attack the belief of the sick in the reality of sickness1 in order to heal them4 ,when we deny the authority of sin1 we begin to sap it2 for this denunciation must precede its destruction4 ,god is good1 hence goodness is something1 for it represents ,god1 the ,life of man4 ,its opposite1 nothing1 named evil1 is nothing but a conspiracy against man's ,life and goodness4 ,do you not feel bound to expose this conspiracy1 and so to save man from it8 ,whosoever covers iniquity becomes accessory to it4 ,sin1 as a claim1 is more dangerous than sickness1 more subtle1 more difficult to heal4 ,st4 ,augustine once said1 ,the devil is but the ape of ,god4 ,sin is worse than sickness2 but recollect that it encourages sin to say1 ,there is no sin1 and leave the subject there4 ,sin ultimates in sinner1 and in this sense they are one4 ,you cannot separate sin from the sinner1 nor the sinner from his sin4 ,the sin is the sinner1 and vice versa1 for such is the unity of evil2 and together both sinner and sin will be destroyed by the supremacy of good4 ,this1 however1 does not annihilate man1 for to efface sin1 alias the sinner1 brings to light1 makes apparent1 the real man1 even ,god's image and likeness4 ,need it be said that any opposite theory is heterodox to divine ,science1 which teaches that good is equally one and all1 even as the opposite claim of evil is one4 ,in ,christian ,science the fact is made obvious that the sinner and the sin are alike simply nothingness2 and this view is supported by the ,scripture1 where the ,psalmist saith3 ,he shall go to the generation of his fathers2 they shall never see light4 ,man that is in honor1 and understandeth not1 is like the beasts that perish4 ,god's ways and works and thoughts have never changed1 either in ,principle or practice4 ,since there is in belief an illusion termed sin1 which must be met and mastered1 we classify sin1 sickness1 and death as illusions4 ,they are supposititious claims of error2 and error being a false claim1 they are no claims at all4 ,it is scientific to abide in conscious harmony1 in health-giving1 deathless ,truth and ,love4 ,to do this1 mortals must first open their eyes to all the illusive forms1 methods1 and subtlety of error1 in order that the illusion1 error1 may be destroyed2 if this is not done1 mortals will become the victims of error4 ,if evangelical churches refuse fellowship with the ,church of ,christ1 ,scientist1 or with ,christian ,science1 they must rest their opinions of ,truth and ,love on the evidences of the physical senses1 rather than on the teaching and practice of ,jesus1 or the works of the ,spirit4 ,ritualism and dogma lead to self-righteousness and bigotry1 which freeze out the spiritual element4 ,pharisaism killeth2 ,spirit giveth ,life4 ,the odors of persecution1 tobacco1 and alcohol are not the sweet-smelling savor of ,truth and ,love4 ,feasting the senses1 gratification of appetite and passion1 have no warrant in the gospel or the ,decalogue4 ,mortals must take up the cross if they would follow ,christ1 and worship the ,father in spirit and in truth4 ,the ,jewish religion was not spiritual2 hence ,jesus denounced it4 ,if the religion of to-day is constituted of such elements as of old ruled ,christ out of the synagogues1 it will continue to avoid whatever follows the example of our ,lord and prefers ,christ to creed4 ,christian ,science is the pure evangelic truth4 ,it accords with the trend and tenor of ,christ's teaching and example1 while it demonstrates the power of ,christ as taught in the four ,gospels4 ,truth1 casting out evils and healing the sick2 ,love1 fulfilling the law and keeping man unspotted from the world1--these practical manifestations of ,christianity constitute the only evangelism1 and they need no creed4 ,as well expect to determine1 without a telescope1 the magnitude and distance of the stars1 as to expect to obtain health1 harmony1 and holiness through an unspiritual and unhealing religion4 ,christianity reveals ,god as ever-present ,truth and ,love1 to be utilized in healing the sick1 in casting out error1 in raising the dead4 ,christian ,science gives vitality to religion1 which is no longer buried in materiality4 ,it raises men from a material sense into the spiritual understanding and scientific demonstration of ,god4 ,,the ,,human ,,concept ,sin existed as a false claim before the human concept of sin was formed2 hence one's concept of error is not the whole of error4 ,the human thought does not constitute sin1 but vice versa1 sin constitutes the human or physical concept4 ,sin is both concrete and abstract4 ,sin was1 and is1 the lying supposition that life1 substance1 and intelligence are both material and spiritual1 and yet are separate from ,god4 ,the first iniquitous manifestation of sin was a finity4 ,the finite was self-arrayed against the infinite1 the mortal against immortality1 and a sinner was the antipode of ,god4 ,silencing self1 alias rising above corporeal personality1 is what reforms the sinner and destroys sin4 ,in the ratio that the testimony of material personal sense ceases1 sin diminishes1 until the false claim called sin is finally lost for lack of witness4 ,the sinner created neither himself nor sin1 but sin created the sinner2 that is1 error made its man mortal1 and this mortal was the image and likeness of evil1 not of good4 ,therefore the lie was1 and is1 collective as well as individual4 ,it was in no way contingent on ,adam's thought1 but supposititiously self-created4 ,in the words of our ,master1 it1 the devil 7alias evil71 was a liar1 and the father of it4 ,this mortal material concept was never a creator1 although as a serpent it claimed to originate in the name of the ,lord1 or good1--original evil2 second1 in the name of human concept1 it claimed to beget the offspring of evil1 alias an evil offspring4 ,however1 the human concept never was1 neither indeed can be1 the father of man4 ,even the spiritual idea1 or ideal man1 is not a parent1 though he reflects the infinity of good4 ,the great difference between these opposites is1 that the human material concept is unreal1 and the divine concept or idea is spiritually real4 ,one is false1 while the other is true4 ,one is temporal1 but the other is eternal4 ,our ,master instructed his students to call no man your father upon the earth3 for one is your ,father1 which is in heaven4 7,matt4 xxiii4 #i47 ,science and ,health1 the textbook of ,christian ,science1 treats of the human concept1 and the transference of thought1 as follows3-- ,how can matter originate or transmit mind8 ,we answer that it cannot4 ,darkness and doubt encompass thought1 so long as it bases creation on materiality 7p4 #eea74 ,in reality there is no mortal mind1 and consequently no transference of mortal thought and will-power4 ,life and being are of ,god4 ,in ,christian ,science1 man can do no harm1 for scientific thoughts are true thoughts1 passing from ,god to man 7pp4 #ajc1 #ajd74 ,man is the offspring of ,spirit4 ,the beautiful1 good1 and pure constitute his ancestry4 ,his origin is not1 like that of mortals1 in brute instinct1 nor does he pass through material conditions prior to reaching intelligence4 ,spirit is his primitive and ultimate source of being2 ,god is his ,father1 and ,life is the law of his being 7p4 #fc74 ,the parent of all human discord was the ,adam-dream1 the deep sleep1 in which originated the delusion that life and intelligence proceeded from and passed into matter4 ,this pantheistic error1 or so-called serpent1 insists still upon the opposite of ,truth1 saying1 ',ye shall be as gods2' that is1 ,i will make error as real and eternal as ,truth4444 ',i will put spirit into what ,i call matter1 and matter shall seem to have life as much as ,god1 ,spirit1 who is the only ,life4' ,this error has proved itself to be error4 ,its life is found to be not ,life1 but only a transient1 false sense of an existence which ends in death 7pp4 #cjf1 #cjg74 ,when will the error of believing that there is life in matter1 and that sin1 sickness1 and death are creations of ,god1 be unmasked8 ,when will it be understood that matter has no intelligence1 life1 nor sensation1 and that the opposite belief is the prolific source of all suffering8 ,god created all through ,mind1 and made all perfect and eternal4 ,where then is the necessity for recreation or procreation8 7p4 #bje74 ,above error's awful din1 blackness1 and chaos1 the voice of ,truth still calls3 ',adam1 where art thou8 ,consciousness1 where art thou8 ,art thou dwelling in the belief that mind is in matter1 and that evil is mind1 or art thou in the living faith that there is and can be but one ,god1 and keeping ,his commandment8' 7pp4 #cjg1 #cjh74 ,mortal mind inverts the true likeness1 and confers animal names and natures upon its own misconceptions4 ,ignorant of the origin and operations of mortal mind1--that is1 ignorant of itself1--this so-called mind puts forth its own qualities1 and claims ,god as their author2444 usurps the deific prerogatives and is an attempted infringement on infinity 7pp4 #eab1 #eac74 ,we do not question the authenticity of the ,scriptural narrative of the ,virgin-mother and ,bethlehem babe1 and the ,messianic mission of ,christ ,jesus2 but in our time no ,christian ,scientist will give chimerical wings to his imagination1 or advance speculative theories as to the recurrence of such events4 ,no person can take the individual place of the ,virgin ,mary4 ,no person can compass or fulfil the individual mission of ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,no person can take the place of the author of ,science and ,health1 the ,discoverer and ,founder of ,christian ,science4 ,each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity4 ,the second appearing of ,jesus is1 unquestionably1 the spiritual advent of the advancing idea of ,god1 as in ,christian ,science4 ,and the scientific ultimate of this ,god-idea must be1 will be1 forever individual1 incorporeal1 and infinite1 even the reflection1 image and likeness1 of the infinite ,god4 ,the right teacher of ,christian ,science lives the truth he teaches4 ,preeminent among men1 he virtually stands at the head of all sanitary1 civil1 moral1 and religious reform4 ,such a post of duty1 unpierced by vanity1 exalts a mortal beyond human praise1 or monuments which weigh dust1 and humbles him with the tax it raises on calamity to open the gates of heaven4 ,it is not the forager on others' wisdom that ,god thus crowns1 but he who is obedient to the divine command1 ,render to ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and to ,god the things that are ,god's4 ,great temptations beset an ignorant or an unprincipled mind-practice in opposition to the straight and narrow path of ,christian ,science4 ,promiscuous mental treatment1 without the consent or knowledge of the individual treated1 is an error of much magnitude4 ,people unaware of the indications of mental treatment1 know not what is affecting them1 and thus may be robbed of their individual rights1--freedom of choice and self-government4 ,who is willing to be subjected to such an influence8 ,ask the unbridled mind-manipulator if he would consent to this2 and if not1 then he is knowingly transgressing ,christ's command4 ,he who secretly manipulates mind without the permission of man or ,god1 is not dealing justly and loving mercy1 according to pure and undefiled religion4 ,sinister and selfish motives entering into mental practice are dangerous incentives2 they proceed from false convictions and a fatal ignorance4 ,these are the tares growing side by side with the wheat1 that must be recognized1 and uprooted1 before the wheat can be garnered and ,christian ,science demonstrated4 ,secret mental efforts to obtain help from one who is unaware of this attempt1 demoralizes the person who does this1 the same as other forms of stealing1 and will end in destroying health and morals4 ,in the practice of ,christian ,science one cannot impart a mental influence that hazards another's happiness1 nor interfere with the rights of the individual4 ,to disregard the welfare of others is contrary to the law of ,god2 therefore it deteriorates one's ability to do good1 to benefit himself and mankind4 ,the ,psalmist vividly portrays the result of secret faults1 presumptuous sins1 and self-deception1 in these words3 ,how are they brought into desolation1 as in a moment6 ,they are utterly consumed with terrors4 ,,personality ,the immortal man being spiritual1 individual1 and eternal1 his mortal opposite must be material1 corporeal1 and temporal4 ,physical personality is finite2 but ,god is infinite4 ,he is without materiality1 without finiteness of form or ,mind4 ,limitations are put off in proportion as the fleshly nature disappears and man is found in the reflection of ,spirit4 ,this great fact leads into profound depths4 ,the material human concept grew beautifully less as ,i floated into more spiritual latitudes and purer realms of thought4 ,from that hour personal corporeality became less to me than it is to people who fail to appreciate individual character4 ,i endeavored to lift thought above physical personality1 or selfhood in matter1 to man's spiritual individuality in ,god1--in the true ,mind1 where sensible evil is lost in supersensible good4 ,this is the only way whereby the false personality is laid off4 ,he who clings to personality1 or perpetually warns you of personality1 wrongs it1 or terrifies people over it1 and is the sure victim of his own corporeality4 ,constantly to scrutinize physical personality1 or accuse people of being unduly personal1 is like the sick talking sickness4 ,such errancy betrays a violent and egotistical personality1 increases one's sense of corporeality1 and begets a fear of the senses and a perpetually egotistical sensibility4 ,he who does this is ignorant of the meaning of the word personality1 and defines it by his own corpus sine pectore 7soulless body71 and fails to distinguish the individual1 or real man from the false sense of corporeality1 or egotistic self4 ,my own corporeal personality afflicteth me not wittingly2 for ,i desire never to think of it1 and it cannot think of me4 ,,plagiarism ,the various forms of book-borrowing without credit spring from this ill-concealed question in mortal mind1 ,who shall be greatest8 ,this error violates the law given by ,moses1 it tramples upon ,jesus' ,sermon on the ,mount1 it does violence to the ethics of ,christian ,science4 ,why withhold my name1 while appropriating my language and ideas1 but give credit when citing from the works of other authors8 ,life and its ideals are inseparable1 and one's writings on ethics1 and demonstration of ,truth1 are not1 cannot be1 understood or taught by those who persistently misunderstand or misrepresent the author4 ,jesus said1 ,for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name1 that can lightly speak evil of me4 ,if one's spiritual ideal is comprehended and loved1 the borrower from it is embraced in the author's own mental mood1 and is therefore honest4 ,the ,science of ,mind excludes opposites1 and rests on unity4 ,it is proverbial that dishonesty retards spiritual growth and strikes at the heart of ,truth4 ,if a student at ,harvard ,college has studied a textbook written by his teacher1 is he entitled1 when he leaves the ,university1 to write out as his own the substance of this textbook8 ,there is no warrant in common law and no permission in the gospel for plagiarizing an author's ideas and their words4 ,christian ,science is not copyrighted2 nor would protection by copyright be requisite1 if mortals obeyed ,god's law of manright4 ,a student can write voluminous works on ,science without trespassing1 if he writes honestly1 and he cannot dishonestly compose ,christian ,science4 ,the ,bible is not stolen1 though it is cited1 and quoted deferentially4 ,thoughts touched with the ,spirit and ,word of ,christian ,science gravitate naturally toward ,truth4 ,therefore the mind to which this ,science was revealed must have risen to the altitude which perceived a light beyond what others saw4 ,the spiritually minded meet on the stairs which lead up to spiritual love4 ,this affection1 so far from being personal worship1 fulfils the law of ,love which ,paul enjoined upon the ,galatians4 ,this is the ,mind which was also in ,christ ,jesus1 and knows no material limitations4 ,it is the unity of good and bond of perfectness4 ,this just affection serves to constitute the ,mind-healer a wonder-worker1--as of old1 on the ,pentecost ,day1 when the disciples were of one accord4 ,he who gains the ,god-crowned summit of ,christian ,science never abuses the corporeal personality1 but uplifts it4 ,he thinks of every one in his real quality1 and sees each mortal in an impersonal depict4 ,i have long remained silent on a growing evil in plagiarism2 but if ,i do not insist upon the strictest observance of moral law and order in ,christian ,scientists1 ,i become responsible1 as a teacher1 for laxity in discipline and lawlessness in literature4 ,pope was right in saying1 ,an honest man's the noblest work of ,god2 and ,ingersoll's repartee has its moral3 ,an honest ,god's the noblest work of man4 ,,admonition ,the neophyte in ,christian ,science acts like a diseased physique1--being too fast or too slow4 ,he is inclined to do either too much or too little4 ,in healing and teaching the student has not yet achieved the entire wisdom of ,mind-practice4 ,the textual explanation of this practice is complete in ,science and ,health2 and scientific practice makes perfect1 for it is governed by its ,principle1 and not by human opinions2 but carnal and sinister motives1 entering into this practice1 will prevent the demonstration of ,christian ,science4 ,i recommend students not to read so-called scientific works1 antagonistic to ,christian ,science1 which advocate materialistic systems2 because such works and words becloud the right sense of metaphysical ,science4 ,the rules of ,mind-healing are wholly ,christlike and spiritual4 ,therefore the adoption of a worldly policy or a resort to subterfuge in the statement of the ,science of ,mind-healing1 or any name given to it other than ,christian ,science1 or an attempt to demonstrate the facts of this ,science other than is stated in ,science and ,health--is a departure from the ,science of ,mind-healing4 ,to becloud mortals1 or for yourself to hide from ,god1 is to conspire against the blessings otherwise conferred1 against your own success and final happiness1 against the progress of the human race as well as against honest metaphysical theory and practice4 ,not by the hearing of the ear is spiritual truth learned and loved2 nor cometh this apprehension from the experiences of others4 ,we glean spiritual harvests from our own material losses4 ,in this consuming heat false images are effaced from the canvas of mortal mind2 and thus does the material pigment beneath fade into invisibility4 ,the signs for the wayfarer in divine ,science lie in meekness1 in unselfish motives and acts1 in shuffling off scholastic rhetoric1 in ridding the thought of effete doctrines1 in the purification of the affections and desires4 ,dishonesty1 envy1 and mad ambition are lusts of the flesh1 which uproot the germs of growth in ,science and leave the inscrutable problem of being unsolved4 ,through the channels of material sense1 of worldly policy1 pomp1 and pride1 cometh no success in ,truth4 ,if beset with misguided emotions1 we shall be stranded on the quicksands of worldly commotion1 and practically come short of the wisdom requisite for teaching and demonstrating the victory over self and sin4 ,be temperate in thought1 word1 and deed4 ,meekness and temperance are the jewels of ,love1 set in wisdom4 ,restrain untempered zeal4 ,learn to labor and to wait4 ,of old the children of ,israel were saved by patient waiting4 ,the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence1 and the violent take it by force6 said ,jesus4 ,therefore are its spiritual gates not captured1 nor its golden streets invaded4 ,we recognize this kingdom1 the reign of harmony within us1 by an unselfish affection or love1 for this is the pledge of divine good and the insignia of heaven4 ,this also is proverbial1 that though eternal justice be graciously gentle1 yet it may seem severe4 ,for whom the ,lord loveth ,he chasteneth1 ,and scourgeth every son whom ,he receiveth4 ,as the poets in different languages have expressed it3-- ,though the mills of ,god grind slowly1 ,yet they grind exceeding small2 ,though with patience ,he stands waiting1 ,with exactness grinds ,he all4 ,though the divine rebuke is effectual to the pulling down of sin's strongholds1 it may stir the human heart to resist ,truth1 before this heart becomes obediently receptive of the heavenly discipline4 ,if the ,christian ,scientist recognize the mingled sternness and gentleness which permeate justice and ,love1 he will not scorn the timely reproof1 but will so absorb it that this warning will be within him a spring1 welling up into unceasing spiritual rise and progress4 ,patience and obedience win the golden scholarship of experimental tuition4 ,the kindly shepherd of the ,east carries his lambs in his arms to the sheepcot1 but the older sheep pass into the fold under his compelling rod4 ,he who sees the door and turns away from it1 is guilty1 while innocence strayeth yearningly4 ,there are no greater miracles known to earth than perfection and an unbroken friendship4 ,we love our friends1 but ofttimes we lose them in proportion to our affection4 ,the sacrifices made for others are not infrequently met by envy1 ingratitude1 and enmity1 which smite the heart and threaten to paralyze its beneficence4 ,the unavailing tear is shed both for the living and the dead4 ,nothing except sin1 in the students themselves1 can separate them from me4 ,therefore we should guard thought and action1 keeping them in accord with ,christ1 and our friendship will surely continue4 ,the letter of the law of ,god1 separated from its spirit1 tends to demoralize mortals1 and must be corrected by a diviner sense of liberty and light4 ,the spirit of ,truth extinguishes false thinking1 feeling1 and acting2 and falsity must thus decay1 ere spiritual sense1 affectional consciousness1 and genuine goodness become so apparent as to be well understood4 ,after the supreme advent of ,truth in the heart1 there comes an overwhelming sense of error's vacuity1 of the blunders which arise from wrong apprehension4 ,the enlightened heart loathes error1 and casts it aside2 or else that heart is consciously untrue to the light1 faithless to itself and to others1 and so sinks into deeper darkness4 ,said ,jesus3 ,if the light that is in thee be darkness1 how great is that darkness6 and ,shakespeare puts this pious counsel into a father's mouth3-- ,this above all3 ,to thine own self be true2 ,and it must follow1 as the night the day1 ,thou canst not then be false to any man4 ,a realization of the shifting scenes of human happiness1 and of the frailty of mortal anticipations1--such as first led me to the feet of ,christian ,science1--seems to be requisite at every stage of advancement4 ,though our first lessons are changed1 modified1 broadened1 yet their core is constantly renewed2 as the law of the chord remains unchanged1 whether we are dealing with a simple ,latour exercise or with the vast ,wagner ,trilogy4 ,a general rule is1 that my students should not allow their movements to be controlled by other students1 even if they are teachers and practitioners of the same blessed faith4 ,the exception to this rule should be very rare4 ,the widest power and strongest growth have always been attained by those loyal students who rest on divine ,principle for guidance1 not on themselves2 and who locate permanently in one section1 and adhere to the orderly methods herein delineated4 ,at this period my students should locate in large cities1 in order to do the greatest good to the greatest number1 and therein abide4 ,the population of our principal cities is ample to supply many practitioners1 teachers1 and preachers with work4 ,this fact interferes in no way with the prosperity of each worker2 rather does it represent an accumulation of power on his side which promotes the ease and welfare of the workers4 ,their liberated capacities of mind enable ,christian ,scientists to consummate much good or else evil2 therefore their examples either excel or fall short of other religionists2 and they must be found dwelling together in harmony1 if even they compete with ecclesiastical fellowship and friendship4 ,it is often asked which revision of ,science and ,health is the best4 ,the arrangement of my last revision1 in #ahij1 makes the subject-matter clearer than any previous edition1 and it is therefore better adapted to spiritualize thought and elucidate scientific healing and teaching4 ,it has already been proven that this volume is accomplishing the divine purpose to a remarkable degree4 ,the wise ,christian ,scientist will commend students and patients to the teachings of this book1 and the healing efficacy thereof1 rather than try to centre their interest on himself4 ,students whom ,i have taught are seldom benefited by the teachings of other students1 for scientific foundations are already laid in their minds which ought not to be tampered with4 ,also1 they are prepared to receive the infinite instructions afforded by the ,bible and my books1 which mislead no one and are their best guides4 ,the student may mistake in his conception of ,truth1 and this error1 in an honest heart1 is sure to be corrected4 ,but if he misinterprets the text to his pupils1 and communicates1 even unintentionally1 his misconception of ,truth1 thereafter he will find it more difficult to rekindle his own light or to enlighten them4 ,hence1 as a rule1 the student should explain only ,recapitulation1 the chapter for the class-room1 and leave ,science and ,health to ,god's daily interpretation4 ,christian ,scientists should take their textbook into the schoolroom the same as other teachers2 they should ask questions from it1 and be answered according to it1--occasionally reading aloud from the book to corroborate what they teach4 ,it is also highly important that their pupils study each lesson before the recitation4 ,that these essential points are ever omitted1 is anomalous1 when we consider the necessity of thoroughly understanding ,science1 and the present liability of deviating from absolute ,christian ,science4 ,centuries will intervene before the statement of the inexhaustible topics of ,science and ,health is sufficiently understood to be fully demonstrated4 ,the teacher himself should continue to study this textbook1 and to spiritualize his own thoughts and human life from this open fount of ,truth and ,love4 ,he who sees clearly and enlightens other minds most readily1 keeps his own lamp trimmed and burning4 ,throughout his entire explanations he strictly adheres to the teachings in the chapter on ,recapitulation4 ,when closing the class1 each member should own a copy of ,science and ,health1 and continue to study and assimilate this inexhaustible subject--,christian ,science4 ,the opinions of men cannot be substituted for ,god's revelation4 ,in times past1 arrogant pride1 in attempting to steady the ark of ,truth1 obscured even the power and glory of the ,scriptures1--to which ,science and ,health is the ,key4 ,that teacher does most for his students who divests himself most of pride and self1 and by reason thereof is able to empty his students' minds of error1 that they may be filled with ,truth4 ,thus doing1 posterity will call him blessed1 and the tired tongue of history be enriched4 ,the less the teacher personally controls other minds1 and the more he trusts them to the divine ,truth and ,love1 the better it will be for both teacher and student4 ,a teacher should take charge only of his own pupils and patients1 and of those who voluntarily place themselves under his direction2 he should avoid leaving his own regular institute or place of labor1 or expending his labor where there are other teachers who should be specially responsible for doing their own work well4 ,teachers of ,christian ,science will find it advisable to band together their students into associations1 to continue the organization of churches1 and at present they can employ any other organic operative method that may commend itself as useful to the ,cause and beneficial to mankind4 ,of this also rest assured1 that books and teaching are but a ladder let down from the heaven of ,truth and ,love1 upon which angelic thoughts ascend and descend1 bearing on their pinions of light the ,christ-spirit4 ,guard yourselves against the subtly hidden suggestion that the ,son of man will be glorified1 or humanity benefited1 by any deviation from the order prescribed by supernal grace4 ,seek to occupy no position whereto you do not feel that ,god ordains you4 ,never forsake your post without due deliberation and light1 but always wait for ,god's finger to point the way4 ,the loyal ,christian ,scientist is incapable alike of abusing the practice of ,mind-healing or of healing on a material basis4 ,the tempter is vigilant1 awaiting only an opportunity to divide the ranks of ,christian ,science and scatter the sheep abroad2 but if ,god be for us1 who can be against us8 ,the ,cause1 our ,cause1 is highly prosperous1 rapidly spreading over the globe2 and the morrow will crown the effort of to-day with a diadem of gems from the ,new ,jerusalem4 ,,exemplification ,to energize wholesome spiritual warfare1 to rebuke vainglory1 to offset boastful emptiness1 to crown patient toil1 and rejoice in the spirit and power of ,christian ,science1 we must ourselves be true4 ,there is but one way of doing good1 and that is to do it6 ,there is but one way of being good1 and that is to be good6 ,art thou still unacquainted with thyself8 ,then be introduced to this self4 ,know thyself6 as said the classic ,grecian motto4 ,note well the falsity of this mortal self6 ,behold its vileness1 and remember this poverty-stricken stranger that is within thy gates4 ,cleanse every stain from this wanderer's soiled garments1 wipe the dust from his feet and the tears from his eyes1 that you may behold the real man1 the fellow-saint of a holy household4 ,there should be no blot on the escutcheon of our ,christliness when we offer our gift upon the altar4 ,a student desiring growth in the knowledge of ,truth1 can and will obtain it by taking up his cross and following ,truth4 ,if he does this not1 and another one undertakes to carry his burden and do his work1 the duty will not be accomplished4 ,no one can save himself without ,god's help1 and ,god will help each man who performs his own part4 ,after this manner and in no other way is every man cared for and blessed4 ,to the unwise helper our ,master said1 ,follow me2 and let the dead bury their dead4 ,the poet's line1 ,order is heaven's first law1 is so eternally true1 so axiomatic1 that it has become a truism2 and its wisdom is as obvious in religion and scholarship as in astronomy or mathematics4 ,experience has taught me that the rules of ,christian ,science can be far more thoroughly and readily acquired by regularly settled and systematic workers1 than by unsettled and spasmodic efforts4 ,genuine ,christian ,scientists are1 or should be1 the most systematic and law-abiding people on earth1 because their religion demands implicit adherence to fixed rules1 in the orderly demonstration thereof4 ,let some of these rules be here stated4 ,first3 ,christian ,scientists are to heal the sick as the ,master commanded4 ,in so doing they must follow the divine order as prescribed by ,jesus1--never1 in any way1 to trespass upon the rights of their neighbors1 but to obey the celestial injunction1 ,whatsoever ye would that men should do to you1 do ye even so to them4 ,in this orderly1 scientific dispensation healers become a law unto themselves4 ,they feel their own burdens less1 and can therefore bear the weight of others' burdens1 since it is only through the lens of their unselfishness that the sunshine of ,truth beams with such efficacy as to dissolve error4 ,it is already understood that ,christian ,scientists will not receive a patient who is under the care of a regular physician1 until he has done with the case and different aid is sought4 ,the same courtesy should be observed in the professional intercourse of ,christian ,science healers with one another4 ,second3 ,another command of the ,christ1 his prime command1 was that his followers should raise the dead4 ,he lifted his own body from the sepulchre4 ,in him1 ,truth called the physical man from the tomb to health1 and the so-called dead forthwith emerged into a higher manifestation of ,life4 ,the spiritual significance of this command1 ,raise the dead1 most concerns mankind4 ,it implies such an elevation of the understanding as will enable thought to apprehend the living beauty of ,love1 its practicality1 its divine energies1 its health-giving and life-bestowing qualities1--yea1 its power to demonstrate immortality4 ,this end ,jesus achieved1 both by example and precept4 ,third3 ,this leads inevitably to a consideration of another part of ,christian ,science work1--a part which concerns us intimately1--preaching the gospel4 ,this evangelistic duty should not be so warped as to signify that we must or may go1 uninvited1 to work in other vineyards than our own4 ,one would1 or should1 blush to enter unasked another's pulpit1 and preach without the consent of the stated occupant of that pulpit4 ,the ,lord's command means this1 that we should adopt the spirit of the ,saviour's ministry1 and abide in such a spiritual attitude as will draw men unto us4 ,itinerancy should not be allowed to clip the wings of divine ,science4 ,mind demonstrates omnipresence and omnipotence1 but ,mind revolves on a spiritual axis1 and its power is displayed and its presence felt in eternal stillness and immovable ,love4 ,the divine potency of this spiritual mode of ,mind1 and the hindrance opposed to it by material motion1 is proven beyond a doubt in the practice of ,mind-healing4 ,in those days preaching and teaching were substantially one4 ,there was no church preaching1 in the modern sense of the term4 ,men assembled in the one temple 7at ,jerusalem7 for sacrificial ceremonies1 not for sermons4 ,into the synagogues1 scattered about in cities and villages1 they went for liturgical worship1 and instruction in the ,mosaic law4 ,if one worshipper preached to the others1 he did so informally1 and because he was bidden to this privileged duty at that particular moment4 ,it was the custom to pay this hortatory compliment to a stranger1 or to a member who had been away from the neighborhood2 as ,jesus was once asked to exhort1 when he had been some time absent from ,nazareth but once again entered the synagogue which he had frequented in childhood4 ,jesus' method was to instruct his own students2 and he watched and guarded them unto the end1 even according to his promise1 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway6 ,nowhere in the four ,gospels will ,christian ,scientists find any precedent for employing another student to take charge of their students1 or for neglecting their own students1 in order to enlarge their sphere of action4 ,above all1 trespass not intentionally upon other people's thoughts1 by endeavoring to influence other minds to any action not first made known to them or sought by them4 ,corporeal and selfish influence is human1 fallible1 and temporary2 but incorporeal impulsion is divine1 infallible1 and eternal4 ,the student should be most careful not to thrust aside ,science1 and shade ,god's window which lets in light1 or seek to stand in ,god's stead4 ,does the faithful shepherd forsake the lambs1--retaining his salary for tending the home flock while he is serving another fold8 ,there is no evidence to show that ,jesus ever entered the towns whither he sent his disciples2 no evidence that he there taught a few hungry ones1 and then left them to starve or to stray4 ,to these selected ones 7like the elect lady to whom ,st4 ,john addressed one of his epistles7 he gave personal instruction1 and gave in plain words1 until they were able to fulfil his behest and depart on their united pilgrimages4 ,this he did1 even though one of the twelve whom he kept near himself betrayed him1 and others forsook him4 ,the true mother never willingly neglects her children in their early and sacred hours1 consigning them to the care of nurse or stranger4 ,who can feel and comprehend the needs of her babe like the ardent mother8 ,what other heart yearns with her solicitude1 endures with her patience1 waits with her hope1 and labors with her love1 to promote the welfare and happiness of her children8 ,thus must the ,mother in ,israel give all her hours to those first sacred tasks1 till her children can walk steadfastly in wisdom's ways4 ,one of my students wrote to me3 ,i believe the proper thing for us to do is to follow1 as nearly as we can1 in the path you have pursued6 ,it is gladdening to find1 in such a student1 one of the children of light4 ,it is safe to leave with ,god the government of man4 ,he appoints and ,he anoints ,his ,truth-bearers1 and ,god is their sure defense and refuge4 ,the parable of the prodigal son is rightly called the pearl of parables1 and our ,master's greatest utterance may well be called the diamond sermon4 ,no purer and more exalted teachings ever fell upon human ears than those contained in what is commonly known as the ,sermon on the ,mount1--though this name has been given it by compilers and translators of the ,bible1 and not by the ,master himself or by the ,scripture authors4 ,indeed1 this title really indicates more the ,master's mood1 than the material locality4 ,where did ,jesus deliver this great lesson--or1 rather1 this series of great lessons--on humanity and divinity8 ,on a hillside1 near the sloping shores of the ,lake of ,galilee1 where he spake primarily to his immediate disciples4 ,in this simplicity1 and with such fidelity1 we see ,jesus ministering to the spiritual needs of all who placed themselves under his care1 always leading them into the divine order1 under the sway of his own perfect understanding4 ,his power over others was spiritual1 not corporeal4 ,to the students whom he had chosen1 his immortal teaching was the bread of ,life4 ,when he was with them1 a fishing-boat became a sanctuary1 and the solitude was peopled with holy messages from the ,all-,father4 ,the grove became his class-room1 and nature's haunts were the ,messiah's university4 ,what has this hillside priest1 this seaside teacher1 done for the human race8 ,ask1 rather1 what has he not done4 ,his holy humility1 unworldliness1 and self-abandonment wrought infinite results4 ,the method of his religion was not too simple to be sublime1 nor was his power so exalted as to be unavailable for the needs of suffering mortals1 whose wounds he healed by ,truth and ,love4 ,his order of ministration was first the blade1 then the ear1 after that the full corn in the ear4 ,may we unloose the latchets of his ,christliness1 inherit his legacy of love1 and reach the fruition of his promise3 ,if ye abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will1 and it shall be done unto you4 ,,waymarks ,in the first century of the ,christian era ,jesus went about doing good4 ,the evangelists of those days wandered about4 ,christ1 or the spiritual idea1 appeared to human consciousness as the man ,jesus4 ,at the present epoch the human concept of ,christ is based on the incorporeal divine ,principle of man1 and ,science has elevated this idea and established its rules in consonance with their ,principle4 ,hear this saying of our ,master1 ,and ,i1 if ,i be lifted up from the earth1 will draw all men unto me4 ,the ideal of ,god is no longer impersonated as a waif or wanderer2 and ,truth is not fragmentary1 disconnected1 unsystematic1 but concentrated and immovably fixed in ,principle4 ,the best spiritual type of ,christly method for uplifting human thought and imparting divine ,truth1 is stationary power1 stillness1 and strength2 and when this spiritual ideal is made our own1 it becomes the model for human action4 ,st4 ,paul said to the ,athenians1 ,for in ,him we live1 and move1 and have our being4 ,this statement is in substance identical with my own3 ,there is no life1 truth1 substance1 nor intelligence in matter4 ,it is quite clear that as yet this grandest verity has not been fully demonstrated1 but it is nevertheless true4 ,if ,christian ,science reiterates ,st4 ,paul's teaching1 we1 as ,christian ,scientists1 should give to the world convincing proof of the validity of this scientific statement of being4 ,having perceived1 in advance of others1 this scientific fact1 we owe to ourselves and to the world a struggle for its demonstration4 ,at some period and in some way the conclusion must be met that whatsoever seems true1 and yet contradicts divine ,science and ,st4 ,paul's text1 must be and is false2 and that whatsoever seems to be good1 and yet errs1 though acknowledging the true way1 is really evil4 ,as dross is separated from gold1 so ,christ's baptism of fire1 his purification through suffering1 consumes whatsoever is of sin4 ,therefore this purgation of divine mercy1 destroying all error1 leaves no flesh1 no matter1 to the mental consciousness4 ,when all fleshly belief is annihilated1 and every spot and blemish on the disk of consciousness is removed1 then1 and not till then1 will immortal ,truth be found true1 and scientific teaching1 preaching1 and practice be essentially one4 ,happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth 444 for whatsoever is not of faith is sin4 7,romans xiv4 #bb1 #bc47 ,there is no lo here6 or lo there6 in divine ,science2 its manifestation must be the same yesterday1 and to-day1 and forever1 since ,science is eternally one1 and unchanging1 in ,principle1 rule1 and demonstration4 ,i am persuaded that only by the modesty and distinguishing affection illustrated in ,jesus' career1 can ,christian ,scientists aid the establishment of ,christ's kingdom on the earth4 ,in the first century of the ,christian era ,jesus' teachings bore much fruit1 and the ,father was glorified therein4 ,in this period and the forthcoming centuries1 watered by dews of divine ,science1 this tree of life will blossom into greater freedom1 and its leaves will be for the healing of the nations4 ,ask ,god to give thee skill ,in comfort's art3 ,that thou may'st consecrated be ,and set apart ,unto a life of sympathy4 ,for heavy is the weight of ill ,in every heart2 ,and comforters are needed much ,of ,christlike touch4 --,a4,e4 ,,hamilton4 ,,the ,,plimpton ,,press ,,norwood ,,mass ,,usa ,,footnotes3 ,footnote ,a3 ,see ,page #caa1 ,lines #ab to #ag1 ,the ,first ,church of ,christ1 ,scientist1 and ,miscellany4 ,footnote ,b3 ,this statement appears to be based upon the ,annual ,report of the ,secretary of ,the ,christian ,scientist ,association1 read at its meeting1 ,january #ae1 #ahhj1 in which ,june is named as the month in which the charter for ,the ,mother ,church was obtained1 instead of ,august #bc1 #ahgi1 the correct date4 ,footnote ,c3 ,an alder growing from the bent branch of a pear-tree4 ,footnote ,d3 ,steps were taken to promote the ,church of ,christ1 ,scientist1 in ,april1 ,may and ,june2 formal organization was accomplished and the charter obtained in ,august1 #ahgi