0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

18	CLOSE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL
  	COLLEGE 

  	    Much is said at this date, 1889, about Mrs. Eddy's
21	Massachusetts Metaphysical College being the only
  	chartered College of Metaphysics. To make this plain,
  	the Publishing Committee of the Christian Scientist
24	Association has published in the Boston Traveler the
  	following: —  

  	    "To benefit the community, and more strongly mark
27	the difference between true and false teachers of mental
  	healing, the following history and statistics are officially
  	submitted: —  
 
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 page 272

 1	    "Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy obtained a college charter
  	in January, 1881, with all the rights and privileges per-
 3	taining thereunto (including the right to grant degrees)
  	under Act of 1874, Chapter 375, Section 4. 
  	    "This Act was repealed from and after January 31,
 6	1882.  Mrs. Eddy's grant for a college, for metaphysical
  	purposes only, is the first on record in history, and no
  	charters were granted for similar colleges, except hers,
 9	from January, 1881, till the repealing of said Act in
  	January, 1882. 
  	    "The substance of this Act is at present incorporated
12	in Public Statutes, Chapter 115, Section 2, with the fol-
  	lowing important restrictions:  In accordance with Statutes
  	of 1883, Chapter 268, any officer, agent, or servant of any
15	corporation or association, who confers,... or authorizes
  	to be conferred, any diploma or degree, shall be pun-
  	ished by a fine not less than five hundred dollars and
18	not more than one thousand dollars. 
  	    "All the mind-healing colleges (except Rev. Mrs.  
  	Eddy's) have simply an incorporated grant, which may
21	be called a charter, such as any stock company may ob-
  	tain for any secular purposes; but these so-called char-
  	ters bestow no rights to confer degrees.  Hence to name
24	these institutions, under such charters, colleges, is a fraud-
  	ulent claim.  There is but one legally chartered college
  	of metaphysics, with powers to confer diplomas and de-
27	grees, and that is the Massachusetts Metaphysical College,
  	of which Rev. Mrs. Eddy is founder and president." 

  	    I have endeavored to act toward all students of Chris-
30	tian Science with the intuition and impulse of love. If
  	certain natures have not profited by my rebukes, — 
 
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 1	some time, as Christian Scientists, they will know the
  	value of these rebukes. I am thankful that the neo-
 3	phyte will be benefited by experience, although it will
  	cost him much, and in proportion to its worth. 
  	    I close my College in order to work in other directions,
 6	where I now seem to be most needed, and where none
  	other can do the work. I withdraw from an overwhelm-
  	ing prosperity. My students have never expressed so
 9	grateful a sense of my labors with them as now, and
  	never have been so capable of relieving my tasks as at
  	present. 
12	    God bless my enemies, as well as the better part of
  	mankind, and gather all my students, in the bonds of
  	love and perfectness, into one grand family of Christ's
15	followers. 
  	    Loyal Christian Scientists should go on in their pres-
  	ent line of labor for a good and holy cause. Their insti-
18	tutes have not yet accomplished all the good they are
  	capable of accomplishing; therefore they should con-
  	tinue, as at present, to send out students from these
21	sources of education, to promote the growing interest in
  	Christian Science Mind-healing. 
  	    There are one hundred and sixty applications lying on
24	the desk before me, for the Primary class in the Massa-
  	chusetts Metaphysical College, and I cannot do my best
  	work for a class which contains that number. When
27	these were taught, another and a larger number would
  	be in waiting for the same class instruction; and if I
  	should teach that Primary class, the other three classes
30	 — one Primary and two Normal — would be delayed. 
  	The work is more than one person can well accomplish,
  	and the imperative call is for my exclusive teaching. 
 
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1	    From the scant history of Jesus and of his disciples,
  	we have no Biblical authority for a public institution. 
 3	This point, however, had not impressed me when I opened
  	my College. I desire to revise my book "Science and
  	Health with Key to the Scriptures," and in order to do
 6	this I must stop teaching at present. The work that
  	needs to be done, and which God calls me to outside
  	of College work, if left undone might hinder the progress
 9	of our Cause more than my teaching would advance it:
  	therefore I leave all for Christ. 
  	    Deeply regretting the disappointment this will occa-
12	sion, and with grateful acknowledgments to the public
  	for its liberal patronage, I close my College. 
  	                                     MARY BAKER G. EDDY 
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