Part 7 (1/2)

Now such an evidence of generosity and self-sacrifice may intelligibly ”surpa.s.s” the ”comprehension” of any stipendary of Mrs. Eddy' paid to write such stuff as the foregoing; but Mary Baker Eddy's real bounty, generosity, self-sacrifice and benefaction, consisted in cancelling a mortgage of five thousand dollars, by which, on land thus obtained, a church costing other people two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was soon built to her glory, she keeping a Shylock grip on the land, church and the adjacent property of her functionaries, with all its appurtenances that were good for anything.

When ”Mother Eddy” casts a loaf of bread upon the waters, it is always safe to look for a hundred loaves on the way back to her.

”The First Church Scientist”--the edifice erected on Mrs. Eddy's donation of land--is a handsome structure of rough granite, looking something like a small armory with a big tower. This sacred castle of ”metaphysics” is situated a little on the outskirts of residential fas.h.i.+on in the Hub-City, the district thereof being the Back Bay. It is accessible to the world, when once in Boston, by ”the electrics” and a short walk. As a place of scientifico-religious a.s.semblage, the building seats twelve hundred actual ”scientists” in the flesh, and the sympathetic spirits of some twelve thousand other ”members,” absent throughout the country. On this account, some Eddyites who have never seen it regard its size as rivaling that of the earth.

The Cathedral (scientist) has much stained gla.s.s, and on nearly every window is depicted some Mary; for all _good_ Marys, particularly the Marys of the Bible, inferentially point to Mary Baker Eddy. This Mary's _Science and Health_ is exceedingly prominent in the multi-colored gla.s.s, and so gives countenance to all the representations taken from the Scriptures.

An organ is prominent--a large, harmonious present from a gentleman who thinks that somebody was cured of something by Christian Science.

The church has two pretty pulpits side by side, from one of which the Bible is read, while from the other, that ancient book is kept straight by the reading of its only true meaning from _Science and Health_.

Singing the praises of ”Immortal Mind,” as discovered by Mrs. Eddy, const.i.tutes a part of the services, but there is no preaching--which is just as well, perhaps, but needs a word of explanation.

Preaching used to be allowed ”in Science”; but some of Mother Eddy's apostles, having just enough knowledge for their creed, yet great gifts of speech, sermonized, it is said, with such honest zeal that their eloquence was in danger of casting an unglorified shadow on the Mother herself. It must be stated, indeed, that sundry who have listened to St. Mary (scientist) affirm that her divine pen has always been much more potent than her divine tongue. And some go so far as to declare that her sermons, when she preached, were often dull to the non-elect, even if they cured every disease within ten miles of them. However these things may have been, Mrs. Eddy, early in 1895, issued the following ecclesiastical edict:[43]

”Humbly, and as I believe divinely directed, I hereby ordain that the Bible and _Science and Health_ with _Key to the Scriptures_ shall hereafter be the only pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land, and in other lands.”

This edict prevented Mrs. Eddy's theological subordinates from setting themselves up on ”earthly pinnacles.” Mother Eddy at the same time decreed this:

”No copies of my books are allowed to be written, and read from ma.n.u.script, either in private, or in public a.s.semblies, except by their author.”

She included the commandment that

”The reader of _Science and Health_ with _Key to the Scriptures_, shall commence by announcing the full t.i.tle of this book, with the name of the author, and afterwards repeat at each reading its abbreviated t.i.tle.”

Directions followed regarding cla.s.ses in ”Christian Science”--the number of pupils each teacher might instruct, and the annual number of cla.s.ses--all to be taught ”from the Christian Science text-book.”

Thus ”Mother” Eddy's edict of 1895, abolis.h.i.+ng pulpiteers ”in Science,”

while it redounded widely to her own glory, piously amplified, also, the proceeds of her ”precious volume,” _Science and Health_. But to the innocent lambkins of her church, she said:

”Teaching Christian Science shall be no question of money, but of morals and uplifting the race.”

So that lovely bird, the ostrich, still buries her head in the sand, but leaves out much that ornaments the landscape.

In a rounded corner of the First Church Scientist, but conspicuous from the main pa.s.sage, is a little apartment celebrated as ”The Mother's Room.”

There is no use of mentioning the Mother Church ”in Science,” without dwelling on ”The Mother's Room.” It is never done, especially by any ”Scientist.” The Church is holy, throughout; but that room is the demonstrated environment of Immortal Mind.

The entrance to ”The Mother's Room” is through a white-marble arch, l.u.s.trous to behold. Over the door, cut into the marble, is the inscription, ”LOVE.” It is not ”love of money,” or ”love of flattery,” but just ”LOVE.” On the floor of the entrance we read in mosaic: ”Mother's Room. The children's offering”--which signifies that Mother Eddy knows how to attract the pennies of little Scientists as well as the dollars of her larger infants.

As you enter the room, you tread on white-marble mosaic, sprayed with figs and fig-leaves, and you feel an emanation of pale green and old rose. If you know your business, you are struck with awe on being in this holy-of-holies.

On your right is a mantel of white Italian marble and gold, with an open fireplace, wherein to throw all your mortal thoughts, that they may be consumed. Opposite the mantel on your left, is a rather large painting, set back in the wall, but well lighted by electricity and divine science.

It shows the sacred chair in which Mrs. Eddy sat when she wrote _Science and Health_. The chair is empty--as typical, perhaps, of her departure from Boston when she closed her ”Metaphysical College.” As Mrs. Eddy has no need of a table when she writes, but can perform miracles of literature on a pad, the picture shows this phenomenon. Sheets of her ma.n.u.script are scattered on the floor, ill.u.s.trating the logical chaos which fills them.

A part of ”The Mother's Room” is fenced off by a ribbon, to protect a rug made from the downy b.r.e.a.s.t.s of five hundred eider-ducks. The legend, as told by the guide, is that ”no man's hand ever touched this rug.” It is sacred to the Mother's immaculate foot. But it was not manufactured by the Audubon Society.

A beautiful showcase, of white and gold, ornaments the room, and in it are the white and gold editions of Mrs. Eddy's works. They are samples of what you can buy at the regular price, and are very tempting to wealthy ”scientists.”

The Mother's room has a gorgeous bay-window, or three windows in one, of stained gla.s.s. The Mother herself is there, searching the Scriptures, encircled by a halo from the star of Bethlehem. The Christian Science seal is emblazoned on the window, and a little girl is there, reading _Science and Health_ to an old man. The little girl must be Mary Baker and the old man, probably, is Moses or Abraham. An alabaster bee-hive must not be forgotten, which contains the names of the little busy bees ”in Science”--those children who squeezed out the cash to construct the room.