0.0 – Christian Science – 16 Books by Mary Baker Eddy – Bk 16 – The First Church of Christ Scientist and Miscellany – Chpt 12 – Readers Teachers Lecturers

                   Chapter XII 

  	    READERS, TEACHERS, LECTURERS

1	                  THE NEW YORK CHURCHES 

  	    My Beloved Students: — According to reports, the
 3	belief is springing up among you that the several
  	churches in New York City should come together and
  	form one church. This is a suggestion of error, which
 6	should be silenced at its inception. You cannot have lost
  	sight of the rules for branch churches as published in our
  	Church Manual. The Empire City is large, and there
 9	should be more than one church in it. 
  	    The Readers of The Church of Christ, Scientist, hold
  	important, responsible offices, and two individuals would
12	meet meagrely the duties of half a dozen or more of the
  	present incumbents. I have not yet had the privilege of
  	knowing two students who are adequate to take charge
15	of three or more churches. The students in New York
   	and elsewhere will see that it is wise to remain in their
  	own fields of labor and give all possible time and attention
18	to caring for their own flocks. 


  	                         THE NOVEMBER CLASS, 1898 

  	    Beloved Christian Scientists: — Your prompt presence in
21	Concord at my unexplained call witnesses your fidelity
  	to Christian Science and your spiritual unity with your

  	      ¹Copyright, 1909, by Mary Baker Eddy. Renewed, 1937.
 
                                                                Miscellany                               244


1	Leader. I have awaited your arrival before informing
  	you of my purpose in sending for you, in order to avoid
 3	the stir that might be occasioned among those who wish
  	to share this opportunity and to whom I would gladly
  	give it at this time if a larger class were advantageous
 6	to the students. 
  	    You have been invited hither to receive from me one or
  	more lessons on Christian Science, prior to conferring on
 9	any or all of you who are ready for it, the degree of C.S.D.,
  	of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College. This oppor-
  	tunity is designed to impart a fresh impulse to our spiritual
12	attainments, the great need of which I daily discern. 
  	I have awaited the right hour, and to be called of God
  	to contribute my part towards this result. 
15	    The "secret place," whereof David sang, is unquestion-
  	ably man's spiritual state in God's own image and like-
  	ness, even the inner sanctuary of divine Science, in which
18	mortals do not enter without a struggle or sharp experi-
  	ence, and in which they put off the human for the divine. 
  	Knowing this, our Master said: "Many are called, but few
21	are chosen." In the highest sense of a disciple, all loyal
  	students of my books are indeed my students, and your
  	wise, faithful teachers have come so to regard them. 
24	    What I have to say may not require more than one
  	lesson. This, however, must depend on results. But
  	the lessons will certainly not exceed three in number. 
27	No charge will be made for my services. 


  	MASSACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL COLLEGE 

  	    The Massachusetts Metaphysical College of Boston,
30	Massachusetts, was chartered A. D. 1881. As the people
  	observed the success of this Christian system of heal-
 
                                        Metaphysical College                            245


1	ing all manner of disease, over and above the approved
  	schools of medicine, they became deeply interested
 3	in it. Now the wide demand for this universal bene-
  	fice is imperative, and it should be met as heretofore,
  	cautiously, systematically, scientifically. This Chris-
 6	tian educational system is established on a broad and
  	liberal basis. Law and order characterize its work
  	and secure a thorough preparation of the student for
 9	practice. 
  	    The growth of human inquiry and the increasing pop-
  	ularity of Christian Science, I regret to say, have called
12	out of their hiding-places those poisonous reptiles and de-
  	vouring beasts, superstition and jealousy. Towards the
  	animal elements manifested in ignorance, persecution,
15	and lean glory, and to their Babel of confusion worse
  	confounded, let Christian Scientists be charitable. Let
  	the voice of Truth and Love be heard above the dire
18	din of mortal nothingness, and the majestic march of
  	Christian Science go on ad infinitum, praising God,
  	doing the works of primitive Christianity, and enlighten-
21	ing the world. 
  	    To protect the public, students of the Massachusetts
  	Metaphysical College have received certificates, and these
24	credentials are still required of all who claim to teach
  	Christian Science. 
  	    Inquiries have been made as to the precise significa-
27	tion of the letters of degrees that follow the names of
  	Christian Scientists. They indicate, respectively, the
  	degrees of Bachelor and Doctor of Christian Science,
30	conferred by the President or Vice-President of the
  	Massachusetts Metaphysical College. The first degree
  	(C.S.B.) is given to students of the Primary class;  the
 
                                                                Miscellany                               246


 1	second degree (C.S.D.) is given to those who, after
  	receiving the first degree, continue for three years as
 3	practitioners of Christian Science in good and regular
  	standing. 
  	    Students who enter the Massachusetts Metaphys-
 6	ical College, or are examined under its auspices by
  	the Board of Education, must be well educated and
  	have practised Christian Science three years with good
 9	success. 


  	                      THE BOARD OF EDUCATION 

  	    In the year 1889, to gain a higher hope for the race, I
12	closed my College in the midst of unprecedented pros-
  	perity, left Boston, and sought in solitude and silence a
  	higher understanding of the absolute scientific unity which
15	must exist between the teaching and letter of Christianity
  	and the spirit of Christianity, dwelling forever in the
  	divine Mind or Principle of man's being and revealed
18	through the human character. 
  	    While revising "Science and Health with Key to the
  	Scriptures," the light and might of the divine concur-
21	rence of the spirit and the Word appeared, and the
  	result is an auxiliary to the College called the Board of
  	Education of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist,
24	in Boston, Mass. 
  	    Our Master said: "What I do thou knowest not now;
  	but thou shalt know hereafter;" and the spirit of his
27	mission, the wisdom of his words, and the immortal-
  	ity of his works are the same to-day as yesterday and
  	forever. 
30	    The Magna Charta of Christian Science means much,
  
                                                  To a First Reader                            247


1	multum in parvo, — all-in-one and one-in-all. It stands
  	for the inalienable, universal rights of men. Essentially
 3	democratic, its government is administered by the
  	common consent of the governed, wherein and whereby
  	man governed by his creator is self-governed. The
 6	church is the mouthpiece of Christian Science, — its
  	law and gospel are according to Christ Jesus; its rules
  	are health, holiness, and immortality, — equal rights and
 9	privileges, equality of the sexes, rotation in office. 


  	                                TO A FIRST READER 

  	    Beloved Student: — Christ is meekness and Truth
12	enthroned. Put on the robes of Christ, and you will
  	be lifted up and will draw all men unto you. The
  	little fishes in my fountain must have felt me when I
15	stood silently beside it, for they came out in orderly
  	line to the rim where I stood. Then I fed these
  	sweet little thoughts that, not fearing me, sought their
18	food of me. 
  	    God has called you to be a fisher of men. It is not a
  	stern but a loving look which brings forth mankind to
21	receive your bestowal, — not so much eloquence as tender
  	persuasion that takes away their fear, for it is Love alone
  	that feeds them. 
24	    Do you come to your little flock so filled with divine
  	food that you cast your bread upon the waters? Then
  	be sure that after many or a few days it will return
27	to you. 
  	    The little that I have accomplished has all been
  	done through love, — self-forgetful, patient, unfaltering
30	tenderness. 
 
                                                                Miscellany                               248


 1	 THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF LECTURESHIP 

  	    Beloved Students: — I am more than satisfied with your
 3	work:  its grandeur almost surprises me. Let your watch-
  	word always be:

  	                  "Great, not like Caesar, stained with blood,
 6	                    But only great as I am good." 


  	    You are not setting up to be great; you are here for the
  	purpose of grasping and defining the demonstrable, the
 9	eternal. Spiritual heroes and prophets are they whose
  	new-old birthright is to put an end to falsities in a wise
  	way and to proclaim Truth so winningly that an honest,
12	fervid affection for the race is found adequate for the
  	emancipation of the race. 
  	    You are the needed and the inevitable sponsors for the
15	twentieth century, reaching deep down into the univer-
  	sal and rising above theorems into the transcendental,
  	the infinite — yea, to the reality of God, man, nature,
18	the universe. No fatal circumstance of idolatry can fold
  	or falter your wings. No fetishism with a symbol can
  	fetter your flight. You soar only as uplifted by God's
21	power, or you fall for lack of the divine impetus. You
  	know that to conceive God aright you must be good. 
  	    The Christ mode of understanding Life — of extermi-
24	nating sin and suffering and their penalty, death — I
  	have largely committed to you, my faithful witnesses. 
  	You go forth to face the foe with loving look and with the
27	religion and philosophy of labor, duty, liberty, and love,
  	to challenge universal indifference, chance, and creeds. 
  	Your highest inspiration is found nearest the divine
30	Principle and nearest the scientific expression of Truth. 
 
                                                 Readers in Church                           249


 1	You may condemn evil in the abstract without harming
  	any one or your own moral sense, but condemn persons
 3	seldom, if ever. Improve every opportunity to correct
  	sin through your own perfectness. When error strives to
  	be heard above Truth, let the "still small voice" produce
 6	God's phenomena. Meet dispassionately the raging ele-
  	ment of individual hate and counteract its most gigantic
  	falsities. 
 9	    The moral abandon of hating even one's enemies ex-
  	cludes goodness. Hate is a moral idiocy let loose for
  	one's own destruction. Unless withstood, the heat of
12	hate burns the wheat, spares the tares, and sends forth a
  	mental miasma fatal to health, happiness, and the morals
  	of mankind, — and all this only to satiate its loathing of
15	love and its revenge on the patience, silence, and lives
  	of saints. The marvel is, that at this enlightened period
  	a respectable newspaper should countenance such evil
18	tendencies. 
  	    Millions may know that I am the Founder of Chris-
  	tian Science. I alone know what that means. 


21	                            READERS IN CHURCH 

  	    The report that I prefer to have a man, rather than
  	a woman, for First Reader in The Church of Christ,
24	Scientist, I desire to correct. My preference lies with
  	the individual best fitted to perform this important
  	function. If both the First and Second Readers are my
27	students, then without reference to sex I should prefer
  	that student who is most spiritually-minded. What our
  	churches need is that devout, unselfed quality of thought
30	which spiritualizes the congregation. 

 
                                                                Miscellany                               250


 1	                              WORDS FOR THE WISE 

  	    The By-law of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist,
 3	relative to a three years' term for church Readers, was
  	entitled to and has received profound attention. Rotation
  	in office promotes wisdom, quiets mad ambition, satisfies
 6	justice, and crowns honest endeavors. 
  	    The best Christian Scientists will be the first to adopt
  	this By-law in their churches, and their Readers will
 9	retire ex officio, after three years of acceptable service as
  	church Readers, to higher usefulness in this vast vineyard
  	of our Lord. 
12	    The churches who adopt this By-law will please send
  	to the Editor of our periodicals notice of their action. 


  	                                           AFTERGLOW 

15	    Beloved Students: — The By-law of The Mother
  	Church of Christ, Scientist, stipulating three years as
  	the term for its Readers, neither binds nor compels the
18	branch churches to follow suit; and the By-law applies
  	only to Christian Science churches in the United States
  	and Canada. Doubtless the churches adopting this
21	By-law will discriminate as regards its adaptability to
  	their conditions. But if now is not the time, the branch
  	churches can wait for the favored moment to act on this
24	subject. 
  	    I rest peacefully in knowing that the impulsion of this
  	action in The Mother Church was from above. So I have
27	faith that whatever is done in this direction by the branch
  	churches will be blest. The Readers who have filled this
  	sacred office many years, have beyond it duties and
 
                              General Association of Teachers                251


 1	attainments beckoning them. What these are I cannot
  	yet say. The great Master saith: "What I do thou
 3	knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." 


  	              TEACHERS OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE 

  	    I reply to the following question from unknown ques-
 6	tioners:
  	"Are the students, whom I have taught, obliged to
  	take both Primary and Normal class instruction in the
 9	Board of Education in order to become teachers of Pri-
  	mary classes?" 
  	    No, not if you and they are loyal Christian Scientists,
12	and not if, after examination in the Board of Education,
  	your pupils are found eligible to enter the Normal class,
  	which at present is taught in the Board of Education
15	only. 
  	    There is evidently some misapprehension of my meaning
  	as to the mode of instruction in the Board of Education. 
18	A Primary student of mine can teach pupils the prac-
  	tice of Christian Science, and after three years of good
  	practice, my Primary student can himself be examined in
21	the Board of Education, and if found eligible, receive a
  	certificate of the degree C.S.D. 


  	  THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS, 1903 

24	    My Beloved Students: — I call you mine, for all is thine
  	and mine. What God gives, elucidates, armors, and tests
  	in His service, is ours; and we are His. You have con-
27	vened only to convince yourselves of this grand verity:
  	namely, the unity in Christian Science. Cherish stead-
  	fastly this fact. Adhere to the teachings of the Bible,
 
                                                                Miscellany                               252


 1	Science and Health, and our Manual, and you will obey
  	the law and gospel. Have one God and you will
 3	have no devil. Keep yourselves busy with divine Love. 
  	Then you will be toilers like the bee, always distributing
  	sweet things which, if bitter to sense, will be salutary as
 6	Soul; but you will not be like the spider, which weaves
  	webs that ensnare. 
  	    Rest assured that the good you do unto others you do
 9	to yourselves as well, and the wrong you may commit
  	must, will, rebound upon you. The entire purpose of
  	true education is to make one not only know the truth
12	but live it — to make one enjoy doing right, make one
  	not work in the sunshine and run away in the storm, but
  	work midst clouds of wrong, injustice, envy, hate; and
15	wait on God, the strong deliverer, who will reward right-
  	eousness and punish iniquity. "As thy days, so shall thy
  	strength be." 


18	    THE LONDON TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, 1903 

  	    Beloved Students: — Your letter and dottings are an
  	oasis in my wilderness. They point to verdant pastures,
21	and are already rich rays from the eternal sunshine of
  	Love, lighting and leading humanity into paths of peace
  	and holiness. 
24	    Your "Thanksgiving Day," instituted in England on
  	New Year's Day, was a step in advance. It expressed
  	your thanks, and gave to the "happy New Year" a higher
27	hint. You are not aroused to this action by the allure-
  	ments of wealth, pride, or power; the impetus comes from
  	above — it is moral, spiritual, divine. All hail to this
30	higher hope that neither slumbers nor is stilled by the
  	cold impulse of a lesser gain! 
  
                                                Board of Education                           253


1	    It rejoices me to know that you know that healing
  	the sick, soothing sorrow, brightening this lower sphere
 3	with the ways and means of the higher and everlasting
  	harmony, brings to light the perfect original man and uni-
  	verse. What nobler achievement, what greater glory can
 6	nerve your endeavor? Press on! My heart and hope
  	are with you. 

  	                 "Thou art not here for ease or pain,
 9	                 But manhood's glorious crown to gain." 



  	  THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS, 1904 

  	    Beloved Brethren: — I thank you. Jesus said: "The
12	world hath not known Thee:  but I have known Thee,
  	and these have known that Thou hast sent me." 


  	                     THE CANADIAN TEACHERS, 1904 

15	    Beloved Brethren: — Accept my love and these words
  	of Jesus: "Holy Father, keep through Thine own name
  	those whom Thou hast given me, that they may be one,
18	as we are." 


  	      STUDENTS IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,

  	                                  DECEMBER, 1904 

21	    Beloved Students: — You will accept my profound
  	thanks for your letter and telegram. If wishing is wise,
  	I send with this a store of wisdom in three words:  God
24	bless you. If faith is fruition, you have His rich blessing
  	already and my joy therewith. 
  	    We understand best that which begins in ourselves
27	and by education brightens into birth. Dare to be
  	faithful to God and man. Let the creature become
 
                                                                Miscellany                               254


 1	one with his creator, and mysticism departs, heaven
  	opens, right reigns, and you have begun to be a Chris-
 3	tian Scientist. 


  	                                 THE MAY CLASS, 1905 

  	    Beloved: — I am glad you enjoy the dawn of Christian
 6	Science; you must reach its meridian. Watch, pray,
  	demonstrate. Released from materialism, you shall run
  	and not be weary, walk and not faint. 


 9	                        THE DECEMBER CLASS, 1905 

  	    Beloved Students: — Responding to your kind letter,
  	let me say:  You will reap the sure reward of right think-
12	ing and acting, of watching and praying, and you will
  	find the ever-present God an ever-present help. I
  	thank the faithful teacher of this class and its dear
15	members. 


  	                             "ROTATION IN OFFICE" 

  	    Dear Leader: — May we have permission to print, as
18	a part of the preamble to our By-laws, the following
  	extract from your article "Christian Science Board of
  	Education" in the June Journal of 1904, page 184: — 

21	"The Magna Charta of Christian Science means
  	much, multum in parvo, — all-in-one and one-in-all.  It
  	stands for the inalienable, universal rights of men.  
24	Essentially democratic, its government is administered
  	by the common consent of the governed, wherein and
  	whereby man governed by his creator is self-governed.  
27	The church is the mouthpiece of Christian Science,
  	 — its law and gospel are according to Christ Jesus;
 
                                                 “Rotation in Office”                           255


 1	its rules are health, holiness, and immortality, — equal
  	rights and privileges, equality of the sexes, rotation
 3	in office." 

  	                               Mrs. Eddy's Reply 

  	    Christian Science churches have my consent to publish
 6	the foregoing in their By-laws. By "rotation in office"
  	I do not mean that minor officers who are filling their
  	positions satisfactorily should be removed every three
 9	years, or be elevated to offices for which they are not
  	qualified. 

  	CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.,
12	         March 6, 1909SHOW ALL