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CHRISTIAN UNITY
Picture Number 9
For Christian Science brings to
view
The great I Am,
Omniscient power, gleaming through
Mind, mother,
man.
As in blest Palestina's hour,
So in
our age,
'Tis the same hand unfolds His power,
And writes the page.
Scriptural basis:
For whosoever
shall do the will of
my Father, which is in heaven,
the
same is my brother, and sister,
and mother. - Christ Jesus
ALICE ORGAIN:
The ninth picture types the last estate of Mother as
Love (S&H 592:16). It shows "Love wedded to its own spiritual idea ["man
child" as Truth]" (S&H 575:3), in heaven (harmony). Heaven is here; the
bare feet of both the "man child" [Christ Jesus] and the "mother" [Mary Baker
Eddy] fulfill God's command, "Put off thy shoes...for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5).
Note that Mrs. Eddy puts the man and the woman into a
perfect circle. The sphere represents good, the self-existent and eternal
individuality. The man and woman are the two hemispheres. This is mother and
child (S&H. 565:6-13) as evidenced by the poem, "Mind,
MOTHER, man;" and also from the scriptural basis, "...the same is
my brother, and sister and MOTHER." The wedding of Love to its
own spiritual idea is shown by the circle of Love which encompasses the "man
child" [Jesus] and "mother," and by their clasped hands signifying union of
thought.
The man [Jesus] has taken off his black robe which he
wore in the second picture, but it still lies across his lap. Laying off his
robe shows dominion. This robe represents the flesh. It denotes the limitation
concerning what Jesus was able to teach because people of his time were not
ready. He was not able to fully impart his message, because, as he explained,
"Ye cannot bear it now," etc. Instead, the man, Jesus, is passing his work on
to the woman, to Mrs. Eddy, who bears in her hand a scroll entitled "CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE."
The attitude of the "man child" as sitting on "the
rock, Christ [Truth]" is one of imparting to woman [Science] all that he is;
while the fact that the woman is standing"Stand, not sit" (Mis. p.
400)indicates that she still has another step to take as Bride [to teach all
mankind how they, like Jesus, have the Mind of Christ, the kingdom of God
within their own consciousness].
This passing of the mantle from man to woman follows
the order of the ascending days of consciousness in Genesis, for as Mrs. Eddy
says: "The Mind or intelligence of production names the female gender
last in the ascending order of creation" (S&H 508:21,
emphasis added).
Further explaining the order of Genesis, Mrs. Eddy
describes, "the evening and the morning [which] were the third day" (Gen. 1:13)
as "The third stage in the order of Christian Science is ..., letting in
the light of spiritual understanding" (S&H 508:26).
Thus the unity of the man and Woman in this picture
lies in the fact that the man, Jesus, recognizes the ascending steps of
Christian Science as one with those of Genesis. This sequence of ascending
steps gives meaning to Paul's statement that "God...created all things
by Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:9). Mrs. Eddy's interpretation lifted Genesis from the
presentation of things to that of ideas. Because of
this she placed more light upon the Woman's head than upon man's in this ninth
picture throughout all the editions of Christ and Christmas.
In this ninth picture it is realized that there is
nothing left but the manhood and womanhood of God. (See Mis. 33:10.)
There never was and never will be but one Woman, and that is Mary Baker Eddy's
revelation of Womanhood and her identity therewith. [In My.
120:2-4 she says: "Those who look for me in person, or elsewhere than in my
writings, lose me instead of find me."]
In relation to the unfolding history of church, this
ninth picture also types the wedding of the edifices of The Mother Church and
the Extension. The Mother Church is typed by the "man child" sitting on "the
rock, Christ [Truth]," Manual,p. 19, representing "the cross." The
Extension is typed by the Woman [Science], representing "the crown" (My.
6:18) the extension of her teaching into all the world. "It's crowning
ultimate rises to a mental monument, a superstructure high above
the work of man's hands, even the outcome of their hearts, giving to the
material a spiritual significance."
This picture correlates with the 16th edition woman
bringing forth the man child in fulfillment of Revelation 12. Throughout the
16th edition of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy dropped the title of Mother, and
simultaneously dropped "creator," "intelligence," "wisdom" and "substance" from
God to man. This ends the symbol of motherhood, and shows by this ending that
it is limited to "half a time" (Rev. 12:14).
From this point on nothing is left but the manhood and
womanhood of God [meaning your true divine selfhood]. The whole true manhood at
last sits down before Womanhood. "Stand, not sit" (Mis. 400:5) shows the
relative value of both postures, as The Mother Church sits before the
demonstration of Womanhood, divine Science.
It is because Woman [Science], as described in
Revelation, has twelve stars in her crown instead of seven, as Jesus had, that
the light over her head in this picture is greater. Here in the ninth picture
Jesus has laid off his robe; his work is completed. Now it is Woman who must
bear the dark mantle of limitation. In this picture Woman's robe is still drab.
The woman's robe is drab so long as the man and woman witness as
two [Science includes manhood as Christianity.], but when manhood
and womanhood are one when Truth is wholly subjective to our consciousness, as
in picture ten, then the robe is white. "Then white-robed purity will unite in
one person masculine wisdom and feminine love and understanding, and perpetual
peace" (S&H 64:22). Then, finally, "A woman shall encompass a man" (Jer.
31:22).
Let it be remembered that Christ and Christmas
illustrates Mrs. Eddy's progressive mission. "Those who look for me in person,
or elsewhere than in my writings, lose me instead of find me" (My
120:2).
HANNA?:
In Science and Health, just prior to Mrs. Eddy's
explanation of the twenty-third Psalm, we read, "The Lamb's wife presents the
unity of male and female as no longer two wedded individuals, but as two
individual natures in one; and this compounded spiritual individuality reflects
God as Father-Mother, not as a corporeal being" (p 577:4, emphasis
added). This statement of Mrs. Eddy's explains Revelation 21:22: "And I saw no
temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of
it."[Your real divine Mind, the kingdom of God within your consciousness and
its expression, or manifestation, the Lamb, "are the temple of it."]
This ninth picture and its meaning is coupled with
[picture three]"Seeking and Finding." Through Science and Health, Mrs.
Eddy has revealed the two witnesses [Christ Jesus and the Science of being, as
set forth in Science and Health]. It is the revelation of the same Light, but
to human sense it appears as two different revelations. The magnitude of the
Light does vary in its brilliance.
The round shape of this picture indicates
completeness, the completeness that is reached through Science and Health.
The unity of the two appearings of the Light as the same Light, will be
seen by the world when the two witnesses are acknowledged. Then and only then
will there be universal...religion [universal in reach, all comprehending].
Mrs. Eddy's prediction for this [final understanding] will then be fulfilled.
Christianity will then have its new name.
Notice the one ray of light (in this picture 9)
reaching the clasped hands, illuminating that unity, that forward step, that
progressive understanding. The clasped hands symbolize the unity of the Christ
in Christianity and Science. If Christian Scientists take Christian Science to
the world in that light, creation shows anew.
"EARTH: A sphere; a type of eternity and immortality
which are likewise without beginning or end. To material sense, earth is
matter; to spiritual sense it is a compound idea" (S&H 585:5).
This compound idea (image and likeness) is generic man
[the Christ]. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health: "the circle
represents the infinite without beginning or end" (S&H 282:6); and "Mind is
perpetual motion. Its symbol is the sphere" (S&H 240:14). The star as a
symbol is not needed. Christian Science and the two witnesses are the light of
the world.
This was a very important picture and had to be
included in this work. The Christian Science movement had to see Mary Baker
Eddy's place properly. This picture caused more of a stir in the movement than
any other picture in Christ and Christmas when it first came out.
[This was mostly because the halo, the light over Mary
Baker Eddy's head was more pronounced than that over Jesus. This difference in
light corresponds to the number of stars Revelation assigns to the two
witnesses. The woman was crowned with twelve stars "And there appeared a great
wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" while Jesus held seven. (See '00:
12:3 and Pul 83:29)
In Revelation's first chapter, Jesus called "the seven
stars" which he held in his right hand "the seven angels of the seven
churches," while he called the churches "the seven candlesticks."]
The meaning of this picture is now more clearly
discerned. The Master and our Leader have equal missions and importance.
Remember that it was a recognition of Jesus which enabled Constantine to help
preserve Christianity, and it was the cross on a circular shield that won the
day. Although Christianity was perverted at that time, it none the less was
preserved.
Jesus in this ninth picture has laid off his robe
showing dominion; but the woman has her robe still on....Jesus' work is
finished so his robe is off. Mrs. Eddy's outer robe is still on, as she is
still carrying error [working to reveal good's reality and allness, and error's
nothingness]. She is still standing with us.
Mrs. Eddy's lifework revealed the true concept of the
Master. At the start of her life's work in 1866, the black robe is on the
Master (second picture); that was her understanding of him at that time. Notice
it is now put off through her enlarged understanding as demonstrated in
Christian Science. The mortal is discarded through the supreme power, or the
right hand of Christ. Jesus' right arm holds down the discarded mortal
robe.
As an early worker said of Mrs. Eddy, "When she spoke
of Christ Jesus it seemed as if time and space, the barrier of two
millenniums and two hemispheres, were swept away. She spoke at this time with
ardor of her work on her illustrated poem, Christ and Christmas. It was
evidently dear to her heart."
One day when [Mrs. Eddy] asked to be left alone and
not to be disturbed, [Laura Sargent and Martha Wilcox] both listened
attentively for a summoning bell, but none rang. After several hours had
elapsed and she had not come out nor called for anyone Laura and Martha began
to worry that something had happened. Finally, after a good deal of
deliberation, they decided to go in. As they listened at the door they heard
voices, and as they opened the door to see if everyone was all right, Mrs.
Eddy said: 'Girls, why did you disturb me? I was talking with Jesus.'" (The
Healer, The Healing Work of Mary Baker Eddy, op. cit., p. 170-171)
Mrs. Eddy could talk with Jesus, just as St. Paul did
on the road to Damascus, and as Jesus talked with Moses and Elias. "In Science,
individual good derived from God, the infinite All-in-all, may flow from the
departed to mortals; but evil is neither communicable nor scientific" (S&H
72:23-26).
The woman holds the scroll, the final and
complete revelation of Truth to this age and all ages, CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE. Jesus' mission is finished; his ear is covered. Mrs. Eddy's
ear is not covered because her ear is still listening that her work might go
on. She is listening that she may still stand with us on the field of battle.
Jesus' and Mrs. Eddy's left foot is forward, symbolizing the secondary power
over visible error. Notice that her foot is fully revealed; his is not.
Her mission was to reveal the complete workings of animal magnetism,
hypnotic suggestion, illusion and bring forth the whole understanding of the
Christ generic man the Christ.
...Their missions are equal. Note also that there is a
stronger beam of light directed upon their heads and a secondary light
encompassing them. "God [infinite good] hath thrust in the sickle, and He
[infinite good] is separating the tares from the wheat. This hour is molten in
the furnace of Soul [true identity, spiritual understanding]. Its harvest song
is worldwide, world-known, world-great. The vine is bringing forth its fruit;
the beams of right have healing in their light" (Miscellany 269).
"The truth in regard to your Leader heals the sick and saves the
sinner," Mrs. Eddy told Judge Septimus J. Hanna.
Christian Science alone brings to view the great I AM.
This all-scientific power gleams from God, through our Mother in Israel Mary
Baker Eddy and heals humanity. It came from divine Mind and was given to Mrs.
Eddy, and she gave it to mankind.
The second witness has come forth. Her mission is
fulfilled. It is the same hand of divine Love, the living Christ idea, that
unfolds God's [infinite good's] power and writes the revelation of Truth.
"Christian Unity" [depicted in this 9th picture] is
the state of being one in Christ, womanhood including its manhood
generic man [or Christ]. Oneness, singleness, as opposed to union which is
plurality, joining two or more things into one, a mixture. The two witnesses,
understood, represent Christianity and Science as one the
Christ. The scroll of Christian Science reveals this unity. Oneness is in the
Christ, and is the true unity. Science reveals that oneness is not in material
organization political, religious or international. Christ Jesus and Mary Baker
Eddy have revealed the unity of the Christ. They have revealed the manhood and
womanhood of God, and this has lifted humanity up. Christian Science is the
only answer to every ill that flesh is heir to. It is the only answer to
individual, local, national and international problems, because it reveals
generic man [the Christ]. All this is revealed through Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
It was the picture "Christian Unity" that enabled the
workers in the field to go ahead and build the original Mother Church. They did
this by overcoming a false estimate of their Leader, [which was] revealed in
picture four, "Christmas Eve." Science and Health in picture three leads
to the perfection of generic man (the Christ) in "Christian Unity." [So
again] it is this picture [nine] "Christian Unity" that enabled the Mother
Church workers to overcome the false estimate of their Leader given in
"Christmas Eve" in picture four.
JOHN PAWLIK:
Christian Unity
"'Tis the same hand unfolds His power,
And writes the page."
In this picture we see Christ Jesus seated, the woman
standing; Jesus' feet are hardly visible, while the woman's foot is wholly so.
Christian Science is in the woman's hand, and Jesus' hand is outstretched to
approve it. The two are hand in hand, and the light from the star floods
all.
Christ Jesus is seated, for his work is completed. The
robe is symbolic of the human, to be laid aside. This figure symbolizes
healing, raising the dead (those buried in dogma).
The woman is standing, because her mission is just
beginning. Her revelation is free from any fleshly taint; it is Christian
Science as given in Science and Health. The Mother Church [which Mary Baker
Eddy was], the establishment Christian Science Publishing Society, the writing
of the Manual, all cause the woman's halo to have more light, more
inspiration.
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold;
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold and one shepherd" (John 10:16). The poem tells us, "'Tis the same hand
unfolds His [infinite good's] power, And writes the page." God's power is
unfolded and his [infinite good's] message is given us today by Mary Baker Eddy
as it was in Palestine.
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During the absence of our
pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J. F.
Stubbs supplied our pulpit. |
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 |
