christian science-第6章
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worlda brass farthing。 How do we arrive at this？ It is simple。 The
affirmative opinion of a stupid man is neutralized by the negative
opinion of his stupid neighbor no decision is reached； the affirmative
opinion of the intellectual giant Gladstone is neutralized by the
negative opinion of the intellectual giant Newmanno decision is
reached。 Opinions that prove nothing are； of course； without value any
but a dead person knows that much。 This obliges us to admit the truth of
the unpalatable proposition just mentioned above that； in disputed
matters political and religious； one man's opinion is worth no more than
his peer's； and hence it followers that no man's opinion possesses any
real value。 It is a humbling thought； but there is no way to get around
it： all opinions upon these great subjects are brass…farthing opinions。
It is a mere plain； simple factas clear and as certain as that eight
and seven make fifteen。 And by it we recognize that we are all insane；
as concerns those matters。 If we were sane； we should all see a
political or religious doctrine alike； there would be no dispute： it
would be a case of eight and sevenjust as it is in heaven； where all
are sane and none insane。 There there is but one religion； one belief；
the harmony is perfect； there is never a discordant note。
Under protection of these preliminaries； I suppose I may now repeat
without offence that the Christian Scientist is insane。 I mean him no
discourtesy； and I am not chargingnor even imaginingthat he is
insaner than the rest of the human race。 I think he is more
picturesquely insane than some of us。 At the same time； I am quite sure
that in one important and splendid particular he is much saner than is
the vast bulk of the race。
Why is he insane？ I told you before： it is because his opinions are not
ours。 I know of no other reason； and I do not need any other； it is the
only way we have of discovering insanity when it is not violent。 It is
merely the picturesqueness of his insanity that makes it more interesting
than my kind or yours。 For instance； consider his 〃little book〃； the
〃little book〃 exposed in the sky eighteen centuries ago by the flaming
angel of the Apocalypse； and handed down in our day to Mrs。 Mary Baker G。
Eddy； of New Hampshire； and translated by her； word for word； into
English （with help of a polisher）； and now published and distributed in
hundreds of editions by her at a clear profit per volume； above cost； of
seven hundred per cent。！a profit which distinctly belongs to the angel
of the Apocalypse； and let him collect it if he can； a 〃little book〃
which the C。S。 very frequently calls by just that name； and always
enclosed in quotation…marks to keep its high origin exultantly in mind； a
〃little book〃 which 〃explains〃 and reconstructs and new…paints and
decorates the Bible； and puts a mansard roof on it and a lightning…rod
and all the other modern improvements； a 〃little book〃 which for the
present affects to travel in yoke with the Bible and be friendly to it；
and within half a century will hitch the Bible in the rear and
thenceforth travel tandem； itself in the lead； in the coming great march
of Christian Scientism through the Protestant dominions of the planet。
CHAPTER VI
〃Hungry ones throng to hear the Bible read in connection with the text…
book of Christian Science； Science and Health； with Key to the
Scriptures； by Mary Baker G。 Eddy。 These are our only preachers。 They
are the word of God。 〃Christian Science Journal〃； October； 1898。
Is that picturesque？ A lady has told me that in a chapel of the Mosque
in Boston there is a picture or image of Mrs。 Eddy； and that before it
burns a never…extinguished light。 Is that picturesque？ How long do you
think it will be before the Christian Scientist will be worshipping that
picture or image and praying to it？ How long do you think it will be
before it is claimed that Mrs。 Eddy is a Redeemer； a Christ； and Christ's
equal？ Already her army of disciples speak of her reverently as 〃Our
Mother。〃
How long will it be before they place her on the steps of the Throne
beside the Virginand； later； a step higher？ First； Mary the Virgin and
Mary the Matron； later； with a change of precedence； Mary the Matron and
Mary the Virgin。 Let the artist get ready with his canvas and his
brushes； the new Renaissance is on its way； and there will be money in
altar…canvasesa thousand times as much as the Popes and their Church
ever spent on the Old Masters； for their riches were poverty as compared
with what is going to pour into the treasure…chest of the Christian…
Scientist Papacy by…and…by； let us not doubt it。 We will examine the
financial outlook presently and see what it promises。 A favorite subject
of the new Old Master will be the first verse of the twelfth chapter of
Revelationa verse which Mrs。 Eddy says （in her Annex to the Scriptures）
has 〃one distinctive feature which has special reference to the present
age〃and to her； as is rather pointedly indicated：
〃And there appeared a great wonder in heaven； a woman clothed with the
sun； and the moon under her feet；〃 etc。
The woman clothed with the sun will be a portrait of Mrs。 Eddy。
Is it insanity to believe that Christian Scientism is destined to make
the most formidable show that any new religion has made in the world
since the birth and spread of Mobammedanism； and that within a century
from now it may stand second to Rome only； in numbers and power in
Christendom？
If this is a wild dream it will not be easy to prove it so just yet； I
think。 There seems argument that it may come true。 The Christian…
Science 〃boom；〃 proper； is not yet five years old； yet already it has two
hundred and fifty churches。
It has its start； you see； and it is a phenomenally good one。 Moreover；
it is latterly spreading with a constantly accelerating swiftness。 It
has a better chance to grow and prosper and achieve permanency than any
other existing 〃ism〃； for it has more to offer than any other。 The past
teaches us that in order to succeed； a movement like this must not be a
mere philosophy； it must be a religion； also； that it must not claim
entire originality； but content itself with passing for an improvement on
an existing religion； and show its hand later； when strong and
prosperouslike Mohammedanism。
Next； there must be moneyand plenty of it。
Next； the power and authority and capital must be concentrated in the
grip of a small and irresponsible clique； with nobody outside privileged
to ask questions or find fault。
Next； as before remarked； it must bait its hook with some new and
attractive advantages over the baits offered by its competitors。 A new
movement equipped with some of these endowmentslike spiritualism； for
instance may count upon a considerable success； a new movement equipped
with the bulk of themlike Mohammedanism； for instance may count upon
a widely extended conquest。 Mormonism had all the requisites but one it
had nothing new and nothing valuable to bait with。 Spiritualism lacked
the important detail of concentration of money and authority in the hands
of an irresponsible clique。
The above equipment is excellent； admirable； powerful； but not perfect。
There is yet another detail which is worth the whole of it put together
and more； a detail which has never been joined （in the beginning of a
religious movement） to a supremely good working equipment since the world
began； until now： a new personage to worship。 Christianity had the
Saviour； but at first and for generations it lacked money and
concentrated power。 In Mrs。 Eddy； Christian Science possesses the new
personage for worship； and in additionhere in the very beginninga
working equipment that has not a flaw in it。 In the beginning；
Mohammedanism had no money； and it has never had anything to offer its
client but heaven nothing here below that was valuable。 In addition to
heaven hereafter； Christian Science has present health and a cheerful
spirit to offer； and in comparison with this bribe all other this…world
bribes are poor and cheap。 You recognize that this estimate is
admissible； do you not？
To whom does B
