christian science-第29章
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Christian Science；
〃Therefore〃
Therefore no branch Church is allowed to have branches。 There shall be
no Christian Science St。 Peter's in the earth but just one the Mother…
Church in Boston。
〃NO FIRST MEMBERS〃
But for the thoughtful By…law thus entitled； every Science branch in the
earth would imitate the Mother…Church and set up an aristocracy。 Every
little group of ground…floor Smiths and Furgusons and Shadwells and
Simpsons that organized a branch would assume that great title； of 〃First
Members；〃 along with its vast privileges of 〃discussing〃 the weather and
casting blank ballots； and soon there would be such a locust…plague of
them burdening the globe that the title would lose its value and have to
be abolished。
But where business and glory are concerned； Mrs。 Eddy thinks of
everything； and so she did not fail to take care of her Aborigines； her
stately and exclusive One Hundred； her college of functionless cardinals；
her Sanhedrin of Privileged Talkers （Limited）。 After taking away all the
liberties of the branch Churches； and in the same breath disclaiming all
official control over their affairs； she smites them on the mouth with
thisthe very mouth that was watering for those nobby ground…floor
honors
〃No First Members。 Branch Churches shall not organize with First
Members； that special method of organization being adapted to the Mother…
Church alone。〃
And so； first members being prohibited； we pierce through the cloud of
Mrs。 Eddy's English and perceive that they must then necessarily organize
with Subsequent Members。 There is no other way。 It will occur to them
by…and…by to found an aristocracy of Early Subsequent Members。 There is
no By…law against it。
〃THE〃
I uncover to that imperial word。 And to the mind； too； that conceived
the idea of seizing and monopolizing it as a title。 I believe it is Mrs。
Eddy's dazzlingest invention。 For show； and style； and grandeur； and
thunder and lightning and fireworks it outclasses all the previous
inventions of man； and raises the limit on the Pope。 He can never put
his avid hand on that word of wordsit is pre…empted。 And copyrighted；
of course。 It lifts the Mother…Church away up in the sky； and
fellowships it with the rare and select and exclusive little company of
the THE's of deathless glorypersons and things whereof history and the
ages could furnish only single examples； not two： the Saviour； the
Virgin； the Milky Way； the Bible； the Earth； the Equator； the Devil； the
Missing Link and now The First Church； Scientist。 And by clamor of
edict and By…law Mrs。 Eddy gives personal notice to all branch Scientist
Churches on this planet to leave that THE alone。
She has demonstrated over it and made it sacred to the Mother…Church：
〃The article 'The' must not be used before the titles of branch
Churches
〃Nor written on applications for membership in naming such churches。〃
Those are the terms。 There can and will be a million First Churches of
Christ； Scientist； scattered over the world； in a million towns and
villages and hamlets and cities； and each may call itself （suppressing
the article）； 〃First Church of Christ。 Scientist〃it is permissible；
and no harm； but there is only one The Church of Christ； Scientist； and
there will never be another。 And whether that great word fall in the
middle of a sentence or at the beginning of it； it must always have its
capital T。
I do not suppose that a juvenile passion for fussy little worldly shows
and vanities can furnish a match to this； anywhere in the history of the
nursery。 Mrs。 Eddy does seem to be a shade fonder of little special
distinctions and pomps than is usual with human beings。
She instituted that immodest 〃The〃 with her own hand； she did not wait
for somebody else to think of it。
A LIFE…TERM MONOPOLY
There is but one human Pastor in the whole Christian Science world； she
reserves that exalted place to herself。
A PERPETUAL ONE
There is but one other object in the whole Christian Science world
honored with that title and holding that office： it is her book； the
Annex permanent Pastor of The First Church； and of all branch Churches。
With her own hand she draughted the By…laws which make her the only
really absolute sovereign that lives to…day in Christendom。
She does not allow any objectionable pictures to be exhibited in the room
where her book is sold； nor any indulgence in idle gossip there； and from
the general look of that By…law I judge that a lightsome and improper
person can be as uncomfortable in that place as he could be in heaven。
THE SANCTUM SANCTORUM AND SACRED CHAIR
In a room in The First Church of Christ； Scientist； there is a museum of
objects which have attained to holiness through contact with Mrs。 Eddy
among them an electrically lighted oil…picture of a chair which she used
to sit in and disciples from all about the world go softly in there； in
restricted groups； under proper guard； and reverently gaze upon those
relics。 It is worship。 Mrs。 Eddy could stop it if she was not fond of
it； for her sovereignty over that temple is supreme。
The fitting…up of that place as a shrine is not an accident； nor a
casual； unweighed idea； it is imitated from ageold religious custom。
In Treves the pilgrim reverently gazes upon the Seamless Robe； and humbly
worships； and does the same in that other continental church where they
keep a duplicate； and does likewise in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre；
in Jerusalem； where memorials of the Crucifixion are preserved； and now；
by good fortune we have our Holy Chair and things； and a market for our
adorations nearer home。
But is there not a detail that is new； fresh； original？ Yes； whatever
old thing Mrs。 Eddy touches gets something new by the contact something
not thought of before by any one something original； all her own； and
copyrightable。 The new feature is self worshipexhibited in permitting
this shrine to be installed during her lifetime； and winking her sacred
eye at it。
A prominent Christian Scientist has assured me that the Scientists do not
worship Mrs。 Eddy； and I think it likely that there may be five or six of
the cult in the world who do not worship her； but she herself is
certainly not of that company。 Any healthy…minded person who will
examine Mrs。 Eddy's little Autobiography and the Manual of By…laws
written by her will be convinced that she worships herself； and that she
brings to this service a fervor of devotion surpassing even that which
she formerly laid at the feet of the Dollar； and equalling any which
rises to the Throne of Grace from any quarter。
I think this is as good a place as any to salve a hurt which I was the
means of inflicting upon a Christian Scientist lately。 The first third
of this book was written in 1899 in Vienna。 Until last summer I had
supposed that that third had been printed in a book which I published
about a year latera hap which had not happened。 I then sent the
chapters composing it to the North American Review； but failed。 in one
instance； to date them。 And so； In an undated chapter I said a lady told
me 〃last night〃 so and so。 There was nothing to indicate to the reader
that that 〃last night〃 was several years old； therefore the phrase seemed
to refer to a night of very recent date。 What the lady had told me was；
that in a part of the Mother…Church in Boston she had seen Scientists
worshipping a portrait of Mrs。 Eddy before which a light was kept
constantly burning。
A Scientist came to me and wished me to retract that 〃untruth。〃 He said
there was no such portrait； and that if I wanted to be sure of it I could
go to Boston and see for myself。 I explained that my 〃last night〃 meant
a good while ago； that I did not doubt his assertion that there was no
such portrait there now； but that I should continue to believe it had
been there at the time of the lady's visit until she should retract her
statement herself。 I was at no time vouching for the truth of the
remark； nevertheless I considered it worth par。
And yet I am sorry the lady told me； since a wound which brings me no
happiness has resulted。 I am most wil
