christian science-第26章
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walk and conversation； shall he hold up his head and tilt his hat over
one ear and imagine himself safe because of these perfections？ Why； in
that very moment Mrs。 Eddy will cast that spiritual X…ray of hers through
his dungarees and say：
〃I see his hypnotism working； among his insidesremove him to the
block！〃
What shall it profit him to know it isn't so？ Nothing。 His testimony is
of no value。 No one wants it； no one will ask for it。 He is not present
to offer it （he does not know he has been accused）； and if he were there
to offer it； it would not be listened to。
It was out of powers approaching Mrs。 Eddy'sthough not equalling them
that the Inquisition and the devastations of the Interdict grew。 She
will transmit hers。 The man born two centuries from now will think he
has arrived in hell； and all in good time he will think he knows it。
Vast concentrations of irresponsible power have never in any age been
used mercifully； and there is nothing to suggest that the Christian
Science Papacy is going to spend money on novelties。
Several Christian Scientists have asked me to refrain from prophecy。
There is no prophecy in our day but history。 But history is a
trustworthy prophet。 History is always repeating itself； because
conditions are always repeating themselves。 Out of duplicated conditions
history always gets a duplicate product。
READING LETTERS AT MEETINGS
I wonder if there is anything a Member can do that will not raise Mrs。
Eddy's jealousy？ The By…laws seem to hunt him from pillar to post all
the time； and turn all his thoughts and acts and words into sins against
the meek and lowly new deity of his worship。 Apparently her jealousy
never sleeps。 Apparently any trifle can offend it； and but one penalty
appease itexcommunication。 The By…laws might properly and reasonably
be entitled Laws for the Coddling and Comforting of Our Mother's Petty
Jealousies。 The By…law named at the head of this paragraph reads its
transgressor out of the Church if he shall carry a letter from Mrs。 Eddy
to the congregation and forget to read it or fail to read the whole of
it。
HONESTY REQUISITE
Dishonest members are to be admonished； if they continue in dishonest
practices； excommunication follows。 Considering who it is that draughted
this law； there is a certain amount of humor in it。
FURTHER APPLICATIONS OF THE AXE
Here follow the titles of some more By…laws whose infringement is
punishable by excommunication：
Silence Enjoined。
Misteaching。
Departure from Tenets。
Violation of Christian Fellowship。
Moral Offences。
Illegal Adoption。
Broken By…laws。
Violation of By…laws。 （What is the difference？）
Formulas Forbidden。
Official Advice。 （Forbids Tom； Dick； and Harry's clack。）
Unworthy of Membership。
Final Excommunication。
Organizing Churches。
This looks as if Mrs。 Eddy had devoted a large share of her time and
talent to inventing ways to get rid of her Church members。 Yet in
another place she seems to invite membership。 Not in any urgent way； it
is true； still she throws out a bait to such as like notice and
distinction （in other words； the Human Race）。 Page 82：
〃It is important that these seemingly strict conditions be complied with；
as the names of the Members of the Mother…Church will be recorded in the
history of the Church and become a part thereof。〃
We all want to be historical。
MORE SELF…PROTECTIONS
The Hymnal。 There is a Christian Science Hymnal。 Entrance to it was
closed in 1898。 Christian Science students who make hymns nowadays may
possibly get them sung in the Mother…Church； 〃but not unless approved by
the Pastor Emeritus。〃 Art。 XXVII； Sec。 2。
Solo Singers。 Mrs。 Eddy has contributed the words of three of the hymns
in the Hymnal。 Two of them appear in it six times altogether； each of
them being set to three original forms of musical anguish。 Mrs。 Eddy；
always thoughtful； has promulgated a By…law requiring the singing of one
of her three hymns in the Mother Church 〃as often as once each month。〃
It is a good idea。 A congregation could get tired of even Mrs。 Eddy's
muse in the course of time； without the cordializing incentive of
compulsion。 We all know how wearisome the sweetest and touchingest
things can become； through rep…rep…repetition； and still rep…rep…
repetition； and more rep…rep…repetition…like 〃the sweet by…and…by； in the
sweet by…and…by；〃 for instance； and 〃Tah…rah…rah boom…de…aye〃； and surely
it is not likely that Mrs。 Eddy's machine has turned out goods that could
outwear those great heart…stirrers； without the assistance of the lash。
〃O'er Waiting Harpstrings of the Mind〃 is pretty good； quite fair to
middlingthe whole seven of the stanzasbut repetition would be certain
to take the excitement out of it in the course of time； even if there
were fourteen； and then it would sound like the multiplication table； and
would cease to save。 The congregation would be perfectly sure to get
tired； in fact； did get tiredhence the compulsory By…law。 It is a
measure born of experience； not foresight。
The By…laws say that 〃if a solo singer shall neglect or refuse to sing
alone〃 one of those three hymns as often as once a month； and oftener if
so directed by the Board of Directorswhich is Mrs。 Eddythe singer's
salary shall be stopped。 It is circumstantial evidence that some
soloists neglected this sacrament and others refused it。 At least that
is the charitable view to take of it。 There is only one other view to
take： that Mrs。 Eddy did really foresee that there would be singers who
would some day get tired of doing her hymns and proclaiming the
authorship； unless persuaded by a Bylaw； with a penalty attached。 The
idea could of course occur to her wise head； for she would know that a
seven…stanza break might well be a calamitous strain upon a soloist； and
that he might therefore avoid it if unwatched。 He could not curtail it；
for the whole of anything that Mrs。 Eddy does is sacred； and cannot be
cut。
BOARD OF EDUCATION
It consists of four members； one of whom is President of it。 Its members
are elected annually。 Subject to Mrs。 Eddy's approval。 Art。 XXX。； Sec。
2。
She owns the Boardis the Board。
Mrs。 Eddy is President of the Metaphysical College。 If at any time she
shall vacate that office； the Directors of the College （that is to say；
Mrs。 Eddy） 〃shall〃 elect to the vacancy the President of the Board of
Education （which is merely re…electing herself）。
It is another case of 〃Pastor Emeritus。〃 She gives up the shadow of
authority； but keeps a good firm hold on the substance。
PUBLIC TEACHERS
Applicants for admission to this industry must pass a thorough three
days' examination before the Board of Education 〃in Science and Health；
chapter on 'Recapitulation'； the Platform of Christian Science； page 403
of Christian Science Practice； from line second to the second paragraph
of page 405； and page 488； second and third paragraphs。〃
BOARD OF LECTURESHIP
The lecturers are exceedingly important servants of Mrs。 Eddy； and she
chooses them with great care。 Each of them has an appointed territory in
which to perform his dutiesin the North； the South； the East； the West；
in Canada； in Great Britain； and so onand each must stick to his own
territory and not forage beyond its boundaries。 I think it goes without
sayingfrom what we have seen of Mrs。 Eddythat no lecture is delivered
until she has examined and approved it； and that the lecturer is not
allowed to change it afterwards。
The members of the Board of Lectureship are elected annually
〃Subject to the approval of Rev。 Mary Baker G。 Eddy。〃
MISSIONARIES
There are but four。 They are electedlike the rest of the domestics
annually。 So far as I can discover； not a single servant of the Sacred
Household has a steady job except Mrs。 Eddy。 It is plain that she trusts
no human being but herself。
THE BY…LAWS
The branch Churches are strictly forbidden to use them。
So far as I can see； they could not do it if they wanted to。 The By…laws
are merely the voice of the master issuing commands to the servants。
There is nothing a
