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CHRIST HEALING
Picture Number two
In tender mercy, Spirit sped
A loyal
ray
To rouse the living, wake the dead,
And point the Way
The Christ-idea, God anoints
Of
Truth and Life;
The Way in Science He appoints,
That stills all
strife.
Scriptural basis:
Verily, verily,
I say unto you, The hour is coming, and
now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of
God: and they that hear shall live.
- Christ Jesus
The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death,
upon them hath the light shined. - Isaiah
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great
light." They have seen that love for one another is the great need. We must
waken out of the Adam dream, and see that our true and real Mind is Love is
"the kingdom of God within" us as our divine consciousness that sees only "the
omnipresence of present perfection."
The artist, James Gilman, speaking of what he had
gained from his association with Mrs. Eddy, which was infinitely above anything
money could buy, said, "Mrs. Eddy reflects the Love and Truth of Perfect
Goodness in such a way that it becomes plain that Love and Goodness and
Goodness and Love is the only thing worth living for. The sense of it gives us
freedom from all lesser interests, and makes us know it is completely within
the reach of each of us when we are ready with self-surrender for its sake.
'The way in the flesh is the suffering that leads out of the flesh'"
(Recollections of Mary Baker Eddy, James Gilman, and Un.
p.11).
"To really understand all that is in Christ and
Christmas we must have on the wedding garment," (Judge Hanna told a
student). Those that spontaneously and unconsciously reveal that they love the
spiritual realization of divine Love and Truth more than they love anything
else, I judge to be the ones Mary Baker Eddy credits with having on the wedding
garment. There is one great encouragement; "wedding garments" are not beyond
the reach of any who earnestly desire them and live for their possession.
The women in this picture have on the "wedding
garment." In this second picture we see that woman is the first to understand
and to welcome the Science of being. ["Woman" means man or woman who is putting
on the Christ selfhood.] The mortal in the background with his hand uplifted in
protest stands for mortals' antagonism to the "Christ healing" revealed through
Mary Baker Eddy. He stands for old theology. His hand upraised in protest shows
his cards; protesting full force against what Mary Baker Eddy was to bring as
the "Comforter," revealed in the Second Coming of the Christ. But Mary Baker
Eddy's great revelation shines on as "O'er the grim night of chaos shone One
lone brave star." Note that there is no dark robe on "woman." Mary Baker Eddy's
great revelation is teaching us all what Jesus demonstrated.
ALICE ORGAIN:
The Scriptural basis given in the "Glossary" of
Christ and Christmas, for the two stanzas of the poem corresponding to
this second picture are:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming,
and now is, when the dead ['those buried in dogmas' (Mis. 168:9)]
shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall
live." Christ Jesus.
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a
great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death ['individuals
buried above-ground in material sense' (My. 110:4)] upon them
hath the light shined." Isaiah.
Note that in the bracketed interpolations, Mrs. Eddy's
interpretations of "death" have been used. It will be seen that Mrs. Eddy makes
"death" and "burial" the same thing. Thus "death" is burial (submergence) in
dogma (static Christianity). In other words, one is dead when buried in dogma.
Mrs. Eddy's fuller texts read as follows: "...how the dead, those buried in
dogmas...are raised" (Mis. 169:9, 10); and "Divine metaphysics is not to
be scoffed at...it is the divine nature of God, [your true identity as Mind,
Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love] which belongs not to a dispensation
now ended, but is ever present...raising the dead resurrecting individuals
buried above-ground in material sense" (My. 109:23-24).
These interpretations of "death" are particularly
applicable to the second picture, in which theological dogma, typed by the man
in dark clothing standing behind Jesus, has cast its shadow of "death" upon the
girl in the coffin in its endeavor to submerge or bury the consciousness of
dawning Womanhood [Christhood].
Mrs. Eddy, up to her last revision of Science and
Health in 1910, chose a New Testament Scriptural "basis" for this
picture: "The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to
them that sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." [In
1910 she replaced it with the Old Testament verse used now.]
Doubtless Mrs. Eddy felt that those Christians who had
"sat down on the right hand of God" with Jesus were too much "asleep" in
Jesus to hear the voice of his "second appearing," which awakens woman to her
mission, as typed by the girl in the coffin. Therefore, she made this change in
wording, from "sat " as used in the New Testament verse, to
"walked" as used in the original text of this verse in the Old
Testament. The former, "sat," is a passive state of mind, the latter, "walked,"
is an actively progressive state of mind. Only those who are walking in
darkness feel its limitation, and struggle for the advancing light of life.
Thus they alone can rise to the call of the "second appearing."
At first glance one might think this second picture
shows the raising of Jairus' daughter by Jesus, but Jairus' daughter died while
Jesus was on the way to heal her; and therefore she could not yet have been
placed in a coffin. Furthermore there were no coffins in Jairus' time, and the
girl is in modern attire, as is her mother. Also Jesus was alone with Jairus'
daughter when he raised her from the dead, having put her mother and father and
his disciples out of the room the Bible stating, "And he put them all out, and
took her by the hand and called, saying, Maid, arise." (Luke 8:54)
We must regard the literal raising of Jairus' daughter
at the age of twelve as a prototype of the more figurative experience in Mrs.
Eddy's life at the same age, when she rose above creeds and dogmas at the time
of joining the Congregational Church, recorded by Mrs. Eddy as follows:
"At the age of twelve I was admitted to the
Congregational (Trinitarian) Church....Before this step was taken, the doctrine
of unconditional election, or predestination, greatly troubled me....So
perturbed was I by the thoughts aroused by this erroneous doctrine, that the
family doctor was summoned, and pronounced me stricken with fever. My father's
relentless theology emphasized belief in a final judgment-day, in the danger of
endless punishment, and in a Jehovah merciless towards unbelievers; and of
these things he now spoke, hoping to win me from dreaded heresy. My mother, as
she bathed my burning temples, bade me lean on God's love. [Doing so, Mary was
comforted and healed.]
[When questioned by the pastor]...I stoutly
maintained that I was willing to trust God and take my chance of spiritual
safety with my brothers and sisters not one of whom had then made any
profession of religion even if my creedal doubts left me outside the doors [of
church]....To the astonishment of many, the good clergyman's heart also melted,
and he received me into their communion, and my protest along with me"
(Ret. pp. 13-15).
The raising of Mrs. Eddy by "the Christ-idea" from
among those "buried in dogmas" was of larger portent than the mere bursting of
the creedal bonds of one church. It was rather a bursting of the bonds of
Christianity itself. "Christianity reveals God as an ever-present Truth and
Love...raising the dead; a divine good that gives life to the religion buried
in materiality, that resurrects men from a material sense of Truth and Love, to
their spiritual understanding and demonstration" (Historical Sketch of
Metaphysical Healing p. 13).
All elements involved in Mary Baker's first healing
(as just presented from Retrospection and Introspection) were present in
her second "Christ Healing" [after her fall on the ice in Lynn, on February 4,
1866] for in her second experience her old theological pastor "came to bid her
good-bye before proceeding to his morning service, as there was no probability
that she would be alive at its close" (Pul. 34:8-10), thus casting the
dark mantle of old theological dogma over the healing "Christ-idea" in her own
consciousness. Immediately after her pastor left, she was forced to request the
retirement, from her bed chamber, of the little group awaiting her "death" an
exact repetition of Jesus' necessity in raising Jairus' daughter to "put them
all out" of the room before he could effect his "Christ-Healing" purpose. Mrs.
Eddy [first as the child Mary Baker and then as the invalid Mrs. Patterson] was
forced to triumphantly rise above old theological dogma in both instances.
This second picture represents Science rising above
Old Theology. Mrs. Eddy's healing at age twelve is the basic or foundational
one portrayed her second healing being its spiritual superstructure.
The consecration of Mrs. Eddy's life in deep
devotion to the Principle of these two "Christ Healings" is her second
identification in this picture, consecration being the next footstep
beyond dedication.
Jesus as "the Christ-idea" in the consciousness of
woman raises up woman to fulfill Life's anointing and Truth's appointing in
Christian Science. The "loyal ray" that "Spirit sped...to rouse the living,
wake the dead" in her own consciousness was Mrs. Eddy's anointing. Her first
healing forced her to humanly embrace the divine life of Jesus in his first
appearing before she could rise through the purity of her own human life in her
second healing to the divine appointing of Truth in Jesus' "second appearing"
"without sin"[humanity] "unto salvation" [as a redemptive idea] (Heb.
9:28).
HANNA?:
The Christ-idea is motivated by Spirit alone. The
healing work rouses the living, wakes the dead, and points the right Way.
Heeding the words of the Master, we live and cannot die. God [our own true Mind
"the kingdom of God within you"] anoints the Christ-idea that is understood
because it is His [your own real Mind's] own. Through this understanding, we
have Science that stills all strife. Mankind sees the great light of Truth
because Mary Baker Eddy overcame its sting, and gave us this precious Science.
The Way is now pointed out.
The prophecy in Genesis 3:15 explains why the "strife"
has been stilled. Mrs. Eddy says of this prophecy, "The serpent [old theology],
material sense, will bite the heal of the woman, will struggle to destroy the
spiritual idea of Love; and woman, this idea, will bruise the head of lust. The
spiritual idea has given the understanding a foothold in Christian Science"
(S&H 534:26).
The serpent, malicious animal magnetism, attempted
once again to make woman fall and be destroyed. But, the serpent destroyed
itself in this instance, for the fall in Lynn, Massachusetts, signaled the
destruction of all error, and this too through the woman. Prophecy was being
fulfilled.
This second picture illustrates the period in Mrs.
Eddy's life when she fell in Lynn, Massachusetts. Once we understand correctly
the position and place of the "Star of Boston," we are ready to understand what
happened in the "Bethlehem of Massachusetts." Naturally the picture following
the star would relate to her healing in 1866. Her babe [the "Comforter"the
Second Coming of the Christ] was conceived at the moment of this healing, and
her work for humanity began. She says, "St. Paul writes: 'For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.' This
knowledge came to me in an hour of great need; and I give it to you as deathbed
testimony to the daystar that dawned on the night of material sense"
(Miscellaneous Writings 24:2).
Mrs. Eddy's great love for the Master opened her
consciousness to this healing. She saw clearly that, following his commands
faithfully, we live and cannot die. It was the childlike purity of her
consciousness that enabled her to witness this "Christ Healing." The healing
Christ was understood sufficiently to heal her, but as yet the Science of this
healing had not been revealed, thus the picture is titled "Christ Healing." You
will notice in a later picture the title "Christian Science Healing."
The woman that is standing represents the expression
of womanhood; that was Mrs. Eddy's own sense of womanhood at the time of her
healing. The same can be said for the man [Jesus]. He represents the manhood of
her own thinking at that time. The great love for Jesus that Mrs. Eddy
entertained, is indicated by the personal touch. Notice his hand touching hers
as she is lifting herself up through enlarged understanding.
The poem attached to this picture amply describes Mrs.
Eddy's healing and its results. The first four lines speak of a "loyal ray."
Who is the "loyal ray"? The second four lines speak of divine Science, or
Christian Science. This healing experience brought forth the "loyal ray" the
Christ-idea or Christian Science. Again we have the coincidence of the human
and divine, the relative and the absolute.
The star as a symbol is needed, though the light of
Truth, the Christ, is seen and felt. Mrs. Eddy says, "It is most fitting that
Christian Scientists memorize the nativity of Jesus. To him who brought a great
light to all ages, and named his burdens light, homage is indeed due, but is
bankrupt. I never looked on my ideal of the face of the Nazarene Prophet; but
the one illustrating my poem approximates it" (Mis. 374).
The picture is oblong because there is much human to
be worked out as in the previous picture. Forty-five years of hard work
lay ahead. Mrs. Eddy, in retrospect, realized this about that
moment of healing in her experience.
Animal magnetism attempted to make the fall fatal, but
notice the inside of the coffin is white the third degree. It was seen by Mrs.
Eddy that death is an illusion, a sham, and that she was always in the arms of
her precious Father-Mother [ that she always had the kingdom of God within her
consciousness as her very own Mind].
The name plate [on top of the coffin] signifies that
material belief names all things and this leads to death. The woman standing in
this picture describes the unfoldment of Mrs. Eddy's human consciousness at
that time. Her own sense of womanhood stood in awe and rapture at what was
taking place; it is a face of anticipation. Ecclesiasticism, aggressive mental
suggestion, working through her own sense of manhood, argues, "Who do you think
you are? This cannot be so!" However, womanhood lifted up that doubting
manhood. You will notice that womanhood is nearer the light of divine Science
than manhood. Notice that the robe the Master wears is the same robe of false
manhood. False manhood named Pharisaical beliefs, old theology, ecclesiastical
despotism, materia medica, caused the crucifixion of the Master, and
will attempt to destroy the Christ-idea in any age. This black robe that the
Master wore, represents the cross, the cross of false manhood that he bore and
we all must bear. Notice it is off his shoulders in the picture "Christian
Unity" [picture nine], because the sense of false manhood has been dissolved,
and true manhood has been lifted up by womanhood through Mary Baker Eddy.
Mrs. Eddy is being lifted out of the sense of death
through a greater awareness and understanding of the Master's work. Remember,
the first thing that she saw was that she could not die. The eyes of the woman
in the coffin are opening, showing spiritual discernment beginning to open up.
From that moment of healing, her spiritual discernment could not be
darkened.
The Master is looking away from the body. He is the
center of the picture; he is the center of her life work. She never forgot
Jesus; we must not forget her. His robe is seamless and white just like the
inside of the coffin and womanhood's dress. The black represents the Master's
cross, false manhood, the first degree; in it all is the belief of death, the
Adam dream. He, the ideal man, overcame the claims of false manhood; and she,
the ideal woman, revealed true womanhood, generic man [the Christ, as your real
being.]
As no figure touches the ground, or matter, this shows
these figures represent types of thought rather than persons. This picture is
the subjective experience of Mary Baker Eddy at the time of her healing in
1866. You will also notice that the coffin, death, has no foundation, it
is but a false belief.
Jesus' left hand, held up, is a sign of authority, the
theology of Jesus, overcoming the arguments of the serpent, named Old Theology,
materia medica and false science. The hand of false manhood is false
authority, or Old Theology, trying to halt the advancing idea of what it can
comprehend little or nothing. Jesus' hand is over his head into the realm of
revelation, Spirit; false manhood's hand is below the seat of reason, the head,
into the reaction of mortal mind opinion. Mrs. Eddy's right hand [in the
casket] is inactive, signifying unused power; her left is active and reaching.
Jesus' ear is covered signifying that the Christ-idea hears no false claims. He
is not looking at, nor listening to, the claims of evil, but is handling them
with the consciousness of the Christ.
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Star of Boston book sections
Introduction | Part 1a |
Part 1b | Part 2 |
Part 3
Christ & Christmas
Pictures
1 |
2 | 3 |
4 | 5 |
6 | 7 |
8 | 9 |
10 | 11
Summary |
Conclusion |
