christian science-第12章
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which in our day is spreading with the sweep of a world…conflagration
through the Orient； that native home of profound thought and of subtle
intellectual fence； that fertile womb whence has sprung every great
religion that exists。 Including our own； for with all our brains we
cannot invent a religion and market it。
The language of my quoted prophets recurs to us now； and we wonder to
think how small a space in the world the mighty Mohammedan Church would
be occupying now； if a successful trade in its line of goods had been
conditioned upon an exhibit that would 〃appeal to the intellect〃 instead
of to 〃the unintelligent； the mentally inferior； the people who do not
think。〃
The Christian Science Church； like the Mohammedan Church； makes no
embarrassing appeal to the intellect； has no occasion to do it； and can
get along quite well without it。
Provided。 Provided what？ That it can secure that thing which is worth
two or three hundred thousand times more than an 〃appeal to the
intellect〃an environment。 Can it get that？ Will it be a menace to
regular Christianity if it gets that？ Is it time for regular
Christianity to get alarmed？ Or shall regular Christianity smile a smile
and turn over and take another nap？ Won't it be wise and proper for
regular Christianity to do the old way； Me customary way； the historical
waylock the stable…door after the horse is gone？ Just as Protestantism
has smiled and nodded this long time （while the alert and diligent
Catholic was slipping in and capturing the public schools）； and is now
beginning to hunt around for the key when it is too late？
Will Christian Science get a chance to show its wares？ It has already
secured that chance。 Will it flourish and spread and prosper if it shall
create for itself the one thing essential to those conditionsan
environment？ It has already created an environment。 There are families
of Christian Scientists in every community in America； and each family is
a factory； each family turns out a Christian Science product at the
customary intervals； and contributes it to the Cause in the only way in
which contributions of recruits to Churches are ever made on a large
scaleby the puissant forces of personal contact and association。 Each
family is an agency for the Cause； and makes converts among the
neighbors； and starts some more factories。
Four years ago there were six Christian Scientists in a certain town that
I am acquainted with； a year ago there were two hundred and fifty there；
they have built a church； and its membership now numbers four hundred。
This has all been quietly done； done without frenzied revivals； without
uniforms； brass bands； street parades； corner oratory； or any of the
other customary persuasions to a godly life。 Christian Science； like
Mohammedanism； is 〃restricted〃 to the 〃unintelligent； the people who do
not think。〃 There lies the danger。 It makes Christian Science
formidable。 It is 〃restricted〃 to ninety…nine one…hundredths of the
human race； and must be reckoned with by regular Christianity。 And will
be； as soon as it is too late。
BOOK II
There were remarkable things about the stranger called the ManMystery…
things so very extraordinary that they monopolized attention and made all
of him seem extraordinary； but this was not so； the most of his qualities
being of the common； every…day size and like anybody else's。 It was
curious。 He was of the ordinary stature； and had the ordinary aspects；
yet in him were hidden such strange contradictions and disproportions！
He was majestically fearless and heroic； he had the strength of thirty
men and the daring of thirty thousand； handling armies； organizing
states； administering governmentsthese were pastimes to him； he
publicly and ostentatiously accepted the human race at its own valuation…
…as demigodsand privately and successfully dealt with it at quite
another and juster valuationas children and slaves； his ambitions were
stupendous； and his dreams had no commerce with the humble plain； but
moved with the cloud…rack among the snow…summits。 These features of him
were； indeed； extraordinary； but the rest of him was ordinary and usual。
He was so mean…minded； in the matter of jealousy； that it was thought he
was descended from a god； he was vain in little ways； and had a pride in
trivialities； he doted on ballads about moonshine and bruised hearts； in
education he was deficient； he was indifferent to literature； and knew
nothing of art； he was dumb upon all subjects but one； indifferent to all
except that onethe Nebular Theory。 Upon that one his flow of words was
full and free； he was a geyser。 The official astronomers disputed his
facts and deeded his views； and said that he had invented both； they not
being findable in any of the books。 But many of the laity； who wanted
their nebulosities fresh； admired his doctrine and adopted it； and it
attained to great prosperity in spite of the hostility of the experts。〃
The Legend of the Man…Mystery； ch。 i。
CHAPTER I
JANUARY； 1903。 When we do not know a public man personally； we guess him
out by the facts of his career。 When it is Washington； we all arrive at
about one and the same result。 We agree that his words and his acts
clearly interpret his character to us； and that they never leave us in
doubt as to the motives whence the words and acts proceeded。 It is the
same with Joan of Arc； it is the same with two or three or five or six
others among the immortals。 But in the matter of motives and of a few
details of character we agree to disagree upon Napoleon； Cromwell； and
all the rest； and to this list we must add Mrs。 Eddy。 I think we can
peacefully agree as to two or three extraordinary features of her make…
up； but not upon the other features of it。 We cannot peacefully agree as
to her motives； therefore her character must remain crooked to some of us
and straight to the others。
No matter； she is interesting enough without an amicable agreement。 In
several ways she is the most interesting woman that ever lived； and the
most extraordinary。 The same may be said of her career； and the same may
be said of its chief result。 She started from nothing。 Her enemies
charge that she surreptitiously took from Quimby a peculiar system of
healing which was mind…cure with a Biblical basis。 She and her friends
deny that she took anything from him。 This is a matter which we can
discuss by…and…by。 Whether she took it or invented it； it was
materiallya sawdust mine when she got it； and she has turned it into a
Klondike； its spiritual dock had next to no custom； if any at all： from
it she has launched a world…religion which has now six hundred and sixty…
three churches； and she charters a new one every four days。 When we do
not know a personand also when we dowe have to judge his size by the
size and nature of his achievements； as compared with the achievements of
others in his special line of businessthere is no other way。 Measured
by this standard； it is thirteen hundred years since the world has
produced any one who could reach up to Mrs。 Eddy's waistbelt。
Figuratively speaking； Mrs。 Eddy is already as tall as the Eiffel tower。
She is adding surprisingly to her stature every day。 It is quite within
the probabilities that a century hence she will be the most imposing
figure that has cast its shadow across the globe since the inauguration
of our era。 I grant that after saying these strong things； it is
necessary that I offer some details calculated to satisfactorily
demonstrate the proportions which I have claimed for her。 I will do that
presently； but before exhibiting the matured sequoia gigantea； I believe
it will be best to exhibit the sprout from which it sprang。 It may save
the reader from making miscalculations。 The person who imagines that a
Big Tree sprout is bigger than other kinds of sprouts is quite mistaken。
It is the ordinary thing； it makes no show； it compels no notice； it
hasn't a detectible quality in it that entitles it to attention； or
suggests the future giant its sap is suckling。 That is the kind of
sprout Mrs。 Eddy was。
From her childhood days up to where she was
