christian science-第33章
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They have put a curse upon the life of every human being I have ever
known； young or old。 I concede not a single exception。 Unless it might
be those Scientists just referred to。 They may have been playing a part
with me； I hope they were not； and I believe they were not。
Time will test the Science's claim。 If time shall make it good； if time
shall prove that the Science can heal the persecuted spirit of man and
banish its troubles and keep it serene and sunny and contentwhy； then
Mrs。 Eddy will have a monument that will reach above the clouds。 For if
she did not hit upon that imperial idea and evolve it and deliver it； its
discoverer can never be identified with certainty； now； I think。 It is
the giant feature； it is the sun that rides in the zenith of Christian
Science； the auxiliary features are of minor consequence ＇Let us still
leave the large 〃if〃 aside； for the present； and proceed as if it had no
existence。＇
It is not supposable that Mrs。 Eddy realized； at first； the size of her
plunder。 （No； findthat is the word； she did not realize the size of
her find； at first。） It had to grow upon her； by degrees； in accordance
with the inalterable custom of Circumstance； which works by stages； and
by stages only； and never furnishes any mind with all the materials for a
large idea at one time。
In the beginning； Mrs。 Eddy was probably interested merely in the mental…
healing detail And perhaps mainly interested in it pecuniary； for she was
poor。
She would succeed in anything she undertook。 She would attract pupils；
and her commerce would grow。 She would inspire in patient and pupil
confidence in her earnestness； her history is evidence that she would not
fail of that。
There probably came a time； in due course； when her students began to
think there was something deeper in her teachings than they had been
suspectinga mystery beyond mental…healing； and higher。 It is
conceivable that by consequence their manner towards her changed little
by little； and from respectful became reverent。 It is conceivable that
this would have an influence upon her； that it would incline her to
wonder if their secret thoughtthat she was inspiredmight not be a
well…grounded guess。 It is conceivable that as time went on the thought
in their minds and its reflection in hers might solidify into conviction。
She would remember； then； that as a child she had been called； more than
once； by a mysterious voice just as had happened to little Samuel。
（Mentioned in her Autobiography。） She would be impressed by that ancient
reminiscence； now； and it could have a prophetic meaning for her。
It is conceivable that the persuasive influences around her and within
her would give a new and powerful impulse to her philosophizings； and
that from this； in time； would result that great birth； the healing of
body and mind by the inpouring of the Spirit of Godthe central and
dominant idea of Christian Scienceand that when this idea came she
would not doubt that it was an inspiration direct from Heaven。
CHAPTER XI
＇I must rest a little； now。 To sit here and painstakingly spin out a
scheme which imagines Mrs。 Eddy； of all people； working her mind on a
plane above commercialism； imagines her thinking； philosophizing；
discovering majestic things； and even imagines her dealing in
sinceritiesto be frank； I find it a large contract But I have begun it；
and I will go through with it。＇
CHAPTER XII
It is evident that she made disciples fast； and that their belief in her
and in the authenticity of her heavenly ambassadorship was not of the
lukewarm and half…way sort； but was profoundly earnest and sincere。 Her
book was issued from the press in 1875； it began its work of convert…
making； and within six years she had successfully launched a new Religion
and a new system of healing； and was teaching them to crowds of eager
students in a College of her own； at prices so extraordinary that we are
almost compelled to accept her statement （no； her guarded intimation）
that the rates were arranged on high； since a mere human being
unacquainted with commerce and accustomed to think in pennies could
hardly put up such a hand as that without supernatural help。
From this stage onwardMrs。 Eddy being what she wasthe rest of the
developmentstages would follow naturally and inevitably。
But if she had been anybody else； there would have been a different
arrangement of them； with different results。 Being the extraordinary
person she was； she realized her position and its possibilities； realized
the possibilities； and had the daring to use them for all they were
worth。
We have seen what her methods were after she passed the stage where her
divine ambassadorship was granted its executer in the hearts and minds of
her followers； we have seen how steady and fearless and calculated and
orderly was her march thenceforth from conquest to conquest； we have seen
her strike dead； without hesitancy； any hostile or questionable force
that rose in her path： first； the horde of pretenders that sprang up and
tried to take her Science and its market away from hershe crushed them；
she obliterated them； when her own National Christian Science Association
became great in numbers and influence； and loosely and dangerously
garrulous； and began to expound the doctrines according to its own
uninspired notions； she took up her sponge without a tremor of fear and
wiped that Association out； when she perceived that the preachers in her
pulpits were becoming afflicted with doctrine…tinkering； she recognized
the danger of it； and did not hesitate nor temporize； but promptly
dismissed the whole of them in a day； and abolished their office
permanently； we have seen that； as fast as her power grew； she was
competent to take the measure of it； and that as fast as its expansion
suggested to her gradually awakening native ambition a higher step she
took it； and so； by this evolutionary process； we have seen the gross
money…lust relegated to second place； and the lust of empire and glory
rise above it。 A splendid dream； and by force of the qualities born in
her she is making it come true。
These qualitiesand the capacities growing out of them by the nurturing
influences of training； observation； and experience seem to be clearly
indicated by the character of her career and its achievements。 They seem
to be：
A clear head for business； and a phenomenally long one；
Clear understanding of business situations；
Accuracy in estimating the opportunities they offer；
Intelligence in planning a business move；
Firmness in sticking to it after it has been decided upon；
Extraordinary daring；
Indestructible persistency；
Devouring ambition；
Limitless selfishness；
A knowledge of the weaknesses and poverties and docilities of human
nature and how to turn them to account which has never been surpassed； if
ever equalled；
Andnecessarilythe foundation…stone of Mrs。 Eddy's character is a
never…wavering confidence in herself。
It is a granite character。 Andquite naturallya measure of the talc
of smallnesses common to human nature is mixed up in it and distributed
through it。 When Mrs。 Eddy is not dictating servilities from her throne
in the clouds to her official domestics in Boston or to her far…spread
subjects round about the planet； but is down on the ground； she is kin to
us and one of us： sentimental as a girl； garrulous； ungrammatical；
incomprehensible； affected； vain of her little human ancestry； unstable；
inconsistent； unreliable in statement； and naively and everlastingly
self…contradictory…oh； trivial and common and commonplace as the
commonest of us！ just a Napoleon as Madame de Remusat saw him； a brass
god with clay legs。
CHAPTER XIII
In drawing Mrs。 Eddy's portrait it has been my purpose to restrict myself
to materials furnished by herself； and I believe I have done that。 If I
have misinterpreted any of her acts； it was not done intentionally。
It will be noticed that in skeletonizing a list of the qualities which
have carried her to the dizzy summit which she occupies； I have not
mentioned the power which was the commanding force employed in achieving
that lo
