christian science-第10章
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libraries； old people's homes； or any other object that appeals to a
human being's purse through his heart。
I have hunted； hunted； and hunted； by correspondence and otherwise； and
have not yet got upon the track of a farthing that the Trust has spent
upon any worthy object。 Nothing makes a Scientist so uncomfortable as to
ask him if he knows of a case where Christian Science has spent money on
a benevolence； either among its own adherents or elsewhere。 He is
obliged to say 〃No〃 And then one discovers that the person questioned has
been asked the question many times before； and that it is getting to be a
sore subject with him。 Why a sore subject？ Because he has written his
chiefs and asked with high confidence for an answer that will confound
these questionersand the chiefs did not reply。 He has written again；
and then againnot with confidence； but humbly； nowand has begged for
defensive ammunition in the voice of supplication。 A reply does at last
come to this effect： 〃We must have faith in Our Mother； and rest content
in the conviction that whatever She does with the money it is in
accordance with orders from Heaven； for She does no act of any kind
without first 'demonstrating over' it。〃
That settles itas far as the disciple is concerned。 His mind is
satisfied with that answer； he gets down his Annex and does an
incantation or two； and that mesmerizes his spirit and puts that to
sleepbrings it peace。 Peace and comfort and joy； until some inquirer
punctures the old sore again。
Through friends in America I asked some questions； and in some cases got
definite and informing answers； in other cases the answers were not
definite and not valuable。 To the question； 〃Does any of the money go to
charities？〃 the answer from an authoritative source was： 〃No； not in the
sense usually conveyed by this word。〃 （The italics are mine。） That
answer is cautious。 But definite； I thinkutterly and unassailably
definitealthough quite Christian…Scientifically foggy in its phrasing。
Christian…Science testimony is generally foggy； generally diffuse；
generally garrulous。 The writer was aware that the first word in his
phrase answered the question which I was asking； but he could not help
adding nine dark words。 Meaningless ones； unless explained by him。 It
is quite likely； as intimated by him； that Christian Science has invented
a new class of objects to apply the word 〃charity〃 to； but without an
explanation we cannot know what they are。 We quite easily and naturally
and confidently guess that they are in all cases objects which will
return five hundred per cent。 on the Trust's investment in them； but
guessing is not knowledge； it is merely； in this case； a sort of nine…
tenths certainty deducible from what we think we know of the Trust's
trade principles and its sly and furtive and shifty ways。
Sly？ Deep？ Judicious？ The Trust understands its business。 The Trust
does not give itself away。 It defeats all the attempts of us
impertinents to get at its trade secrets。 To this day； after all our
diligence； we have not been able to get it to confess what it does with
the money。 It does not even let its own disciples find out。 All it says
is； that the matter has been 〃demonstrated over。〃 Now and then a lay
Scientist says； with a grateful exultation； that Mrs。 Eddy is enormously
rich； but he stops there； as to whether any of the money goes to other
charities or not； he is obliged to admit that he does not know。 However；
the Trust is composed of human beings； and this justifies the conjecture
that if it had a charity on its list which it was proud of； we should
soon hear of it。
〃Without money and without price。〃 Those used to be the terms。 Mrs。
Eddy's Annex cancels them。 The motto of Christian Science is； 〃The
laborer is worthy of his hire。〃 And now that it has been 〃demonstrated
over；〃 we find its spiritual meaning to be； 〃Do anything and everything
your hand may find to do； and charge cash for it； and collect the money
in advance。〃 The Scientist has on his tongue's end a cut…and…dried；
Boston…supplied set of rather lean arguments； whose function is to show
that it is a Heaven…commanded duty to do this； and that the croupiers of
the game have no choice but to obey。
The Trust seems to be a reincarnation。 Exodus xxxii。 4。
I have no reverence for the Trust； but I am not lacking in reverence for
the sincerities of the lay membership of the new Church。 There is every
evidence that the lay members are entirely sincere in their faith； and I
think sincerity is always entitled to honor and respect； let the
inspiration of the sincerity be what it may。 Zeal and sincerity can
carry a new religion further than any other missionary except fire and
sword； and I believe that the new religion will conquer the half of
Christendom in a hundred years。 I am not intending this as a compliment
to the human race； I am merely stating an opinion。 And yet I think that
perhaps it is a compliment to the race。 I keep in mind that saying of an
orthodox preacherquoted further back。 He conceded that this new
Christianity frees its possessor's life from frets； fears； vexations；
bitterness； and all sorts of imagination…propagated maladies and pains；
and fills his world with sunshine and his heart with gladness。 If
Christian Science； with this stupendous equipmentand final salvation
addedcannot win half the Christian globe； I must be badly mistaken in
the make…up of the human race。
I think the Trust will be handed down like Me other Papacy； and will
always know how to handle its limitless cash。 It will press the button；
the zeal； the energy； the sincerity； the enthusiasm of its countless
vassals will do the rest。
CHAPTER VIII
The power which a man's imagination has over his body to heal it or make
it sick is a force which none of us is born without。 The first man had
it； the last one will possess it。 If left to himself； a man is most
likely to use only the mischievous half of the forcethe half which
invents imaginary ailments for him and cultivates them； and if he is one
of thesevery wise people； he is quite likely to scoff at the beneficent
half of the force and deny its existence。 And so； to heal or help that
man； two imaginations are required： his own and some outsider's。 The
outsider； B； must imagine that his incantations are the healing…power
that is curing A； and A must imagine that this is so。 I think it is not
so； at all； but no matter； the cure is effected； and that is the main
thing。 The outsider's work is unquestionably valuable； so valuable that
it may fairly be likened to the essential work performed by the engineer
when he handles the throttle and turns on the steam； the actual power is
lodged exclusively in the engine； but if the engine were left alone it
would never start of itself。 Whether the engineer be named Jim； or Bob；
or Tom； it is all onehis services are necessary； and he is entitled to
such wage as he can get you to pay。 Whether he be named Christian
Scientist； or Mental Scientist； or Mind Curist； or King's…Evil Expert； or
Hypnotist； it is all one； he is merely the Engineer； he simply turns on
the same old steam and the engine does the whole work。
The Christian…Scientist engineer drives exactly the same trade as the
other engineers； yet he out…prospers the whole of them put together。
Is it because he has captured the takingest name？ I think that that is
only a small part of it。 I think that the secret of his high prosperity
lies elsewhere。
The Christian Scientist has organized the business。 Now that was
certainly a gigantic idea。 Electricity； in limitless volume； has existed
in the air and the rocks and the earth and everywhere since time began
and was going to waste all the while。 In our time we have organized that
scattered and wandering force and set it to work； and backed the business
with capital； and concentrated it in few and competent hands； and the
results are as we see。
The Christian Scientist has taken a force which has been lying idle in
every member of the human race since time began； and has organized it；
and backed the business with capital； and concentrated it
