Christian Science

Mark Twain

August 25, 2002

Chapter 1

VIENNA 1899.

This last and cats; on the

summer, when I ground floor
was on my way a large and light
back to Vienna sitting- room,
from the Appetite- separated from
Cure in the mountains, the milch- cattle
I fell over a apartment by a
cliff in the partition; and in
twilight, and broke the front yard
some arms rose stately
and legs and one and fine the wealth
thing or another, and pride of the
and by good house, the manure-
luck was found pile. That
by some peasants sentence is Germanic,
who had lost an and shows that I
ass, and they am acquiring that
carried me to sort of mastery
the nearest habitation, of the art and
which was one spirit of the
of those large, language which
low, thatch- enables a man
roofed farm- to travel all day
houses, with in one sentence
apartments in the without changing
garret for the cars.
family, and a
cunning little There was a
porch under village a mile
the deep gable away, and a
decorated with horse doctor
boxes of bright lived there,
colored flowers but there was no

1
 surgeon. It seemed a boulder at the
a bad outlook; bottom and bounced?”
mine was distinctly
a surgery case. “Yes.”
Then it was remembered
that a lady “And struck
from Boston another one and
was summering in that bounced again?”
village, and she
was a Christian “Yes.”
Science doctor
and could cure “And struck
anything. So she another one and
was sent for. bounced yet again?”
It was night
by this time, “Yes.”
and she could
not conveniently come, “And broke
but sent word the boulders?”
that it was no
matter, there “Yes.”
was no hurry,
she would give me “That accounts
“absent treatment” for it; she is
now, and come thinking of the
in the morning; boulders. Why didn’t
meantime she begged you tell her I
me to make got hurt, too?”
myself tranquil
and comfortable and remember “I did. I told
that there her what you told
was nothing the matter me to tell
with me. I her: that
thought there you were now but
must be some an incoherent series
mistake. of compound fractures
extending from
“Did you tell your scalp-
her I walked lock to your
off a cliff heels, and that
seventy- five the comminuted projections
feet high?” caused you to
look like a
“Yes.” hat-rack.”

“And struck “And it was

2
 after this
that she wished “She said
me to remember you would need
that there nothing at all.”
was nothing the matter
with me?” “But I am
hungry and thirsty,
“Those were and in desperate
her words.” pain.”

“I do not understand “She said

it. I believe you would have
she has not diagnosed these delusions,
the case with but must pay no
sufficient care. attention to them.
Did she look She wants you to
like a person particularly remember
who was theorizing, that there
or did she look are no such
like one who things as hunger
has fallen off precipices and thirst and pain.”
herself and brings
to the aid of “She does
abstract science does she?”
the confirmations of personal
experience?” “It is what
she said.”
“Bitte?”
Does she seem
It was too large to be in full
a contract for the and functionable possession
Stubenmadchen’s vocabulary; of her intellectual
she couldn’t call plant, such as
the hand. I allowed it is?”
the subject to rest
there, and asked “Bitte?”
for something to eat
and smoke, and something “Do they
hot to drink, let her run at
and a basket large, or do
to pile my legs they tie her
in; but I could up?”
not have any of
these things. “Tie her up?”

“Why?” “There, good-

3
 night, run along,
you are a good
girl, but your
mental Geschirr
is not arranged
for light and airy
conversation. Leave
me to my delusions.”

4
Chapter 2

It was a night got a book

of anguish, of course- out of her hand-
at least, I supposed bag, then
it was, for it drew a chair
had all the symptoms to the bedside,
of it– but it descended into it
passed at last, without hurry,
and the Christian and I hung
Scientist came, out my tongue.
and I was glad She said, with
She was middle- pity but without
aged, and large passion:
and bony, and erect,
and had an austere “Return it to
face and a its receptacle. We deal
resolute jaw and with the mind
a Roman beak only, not with
and was a widow its dumb servants.”
in the third
degree, and her I could not offer
name was Fuller. my pulse, because
I was eager the connection was broken;
to get to business but she detected
and find relief, the apology before
but she was distressingly I could word
deliberate. She unpinned it, and indicated
and unhooked and uncoupled by a negative
her upholsteries one by tilt of her head
one, abolished that the pulse
the wrinkles with a was another dumb
flirt of her servant that
hand, and hung she had no use
the articles up; peeled for. Then I
off her gloves thought I would
and disposed of them, tell her my

5
 symptoms and how the act of shooing
I felt, so that the illusion of pain
she would understand out of the mind,
the case; but that she raked her hand
was another inconsequence, on a pin in
she did not need her dress, said
to know those “Ouch!” and went
things; moreover, tranquilly on with
my remark about her talk. “You
how I felt should never
was an abuse allow yourself
of language, a misapplication to speak of how
of terms. you feel, nor permit
others to ask
“One does you how you are
not feel,” she explained; feeling; you should
“there is no never concede
such thing that you are
as feeling: therefore, ill, nor permit
to speak of a others to talk
non-existent thing about disease
as existent is a or pain or death
contradiction. Matter or similar nonexistences
has no existence; in your presence.
nothing exists Such talk
but mind; the mind only encourages
cannot feel the mind to continue
pain, it can its empty imaginings.”
only imagine Just at that
it.” point the Stuben-
madchen trod on
“But if it the cat’s tail,
hurts, just and the cat let
the same– ” fly a frenzy
of cat- profanity.
“It doesn’t. I asked, with
A thing which caution:
is unreal cannot
exercise the functions “Is a cat’s
of reality. Pain is opinion about
unreal; hence, pain valuable?”
pain cannot
hurt.” “A cat has no
opinion; opinions
In making a sweeping proceed from
gesture to indicate mind only;

6
 the lower animals, some kind of
being eternally a mysterious emotion
perishable, have usable when
not been granted her tail is trodden
mind; without on which, for the
mind, opinion moment, joins
is impossible.” cat and Christian
in one common
“She merely brotherhood of–”
imagined she felt
a pain– the cat?” She broke in with
an irritated–
“She cannot
imagine a pain, “Peace! The cat
for imagining is an feels nothing,
effect of mind; the Christian feels
without mind, nothing. Your
there is no empty and foolish
imagination. A cat imaginings are profanation
has no imagination.” and blasphemy, and can
do you an injury.
“Then she had It is wiser
a real pain?” and better and holier
to recognize and confess
“I have already that there
told you there is no such
is no such thing as disease
thing as real or pain or death.”
pain.”
“I am full of
“It is strange imaginary tortures,”
and interesting. I do I said, “but
wonder what I do not think
was the matter I could be any
with the cat. more uncomfortable
Because, there if they were
being no such real ones.
thing as a What must I
real pain, do to get rid
and she not being of them?”
able to imagine
an imaginary one, it “There is no
would seem occasion to get
that God in rid of them.
His pity has compensated since they do
the cat with not exist. They

7
 are illusions propagated 2. God is good.
by matter, and matter Good is Mind 3.
has no existence; God, Spirit,
there is no being all,
such thing nothing is matter
as matter.” 4. Life, God,
omnipotent Good,
“It sounds deny death,
right and clear, evil, sin,
but yet it seems disease.
in a degree
elusive; it seems There– now you
to slip through, see.”
just when
you think you are It seemed nebulous;
getting a grip it did not seem
on it.” to say anything
about the difficulty
“Explain.” in hand– how non-
existent matter
“Well, for instance: can propagate illusions
if there is no I said, with
such thing some hesitancy:
as matter, how can
matter propagate “Does– does it
things?” explain?”

In her compassion “Doesn’t it?

she almost smiled. Even if read
She would have backward it will
smiled if there do it.”
were any such
thing as a With a budding
smile. hope, I asked
her to do it
“It is quite backwards.
simple,” she said;
“the fundamental “Very well.
propositions of Christian Disease sin evil
Science explain death deny
it, and they Good omnipotent
are summarized in the God life matter
four following is nothing all being
self- evident Spirit God Mind
propositions: 1. God is Good good is
is All in all. God all in All

8
 is God. There I blushed for the
do you understand word, but it
now? was out before
I could stop
“It– it–well, it.
it is plainer
than it was before; “A what?”
still– ”
“A– wonderful
“Well?” structure– combination,
so to speak,
“Could you try of profound thoughts–
it some more unthinkable ones–
ways?” um–”

“As many as It is true.

you like; it always Read backward,
means the same. or forward, or perpendicularly,
Interchanged in any or at any given
way you please angle, these
it cannot be made four propositions
to mean anything will always
different from be found to agree
what it means in statement and proof.”
when put in
any other way. “Ah– proof.
Because it is Now we are coming
perfect. You can at it. The statements
jumble it all agree; they
up, and it makes agree with–
no difference: it always with– anyway,
comes out the they agree;
way it was before. I noticed that;
It was a marvelous but what is it
mind that they prove
produced it. As I mean, in particular?”
a mental tour de
force it is “Why, nothing
without a mate, could be clearer.
it defies alike They prove:
the simple, the concrete,
and the occult.” 1. GOD– Principle,
Life, Truth,
“It seems Love, Soul,
to be a corker.” Spirit, Mind.
Do you get that?”

9
 death.”
“I– well,
I seem to. Go “Phantasms, madam–
on, please.” unrealities, as I
understand it.”
“2. MAN–
God’s universal “Every one.
idea, individual, SECOND DEGREE:
perfect, eternal. Evil Disappearing.
Is it clear?” I. Moral- Honesty,
affection, compassion,
“It– I think hope, faith,
so. Continue.” meekness, temperance.
Is it clear?”
“3. IDEA–
An image in Mind; “Crystal.”
the immediate object
of understanding. There “THIRD DEGREE:
it is– the whole Spiritual Salvation.
sublime Arcana I. Spiritual- Faith,
of Christian Science wisdom, power,
in a nutshell. purity, understanding,
Do you find a health, love.
weak place You see how searchingly
in it anywhere?” and co- ordinately
interdependent and anthropomorphous
“Well– no; it it all is. In
seems strong.” this Third
Degree, as we
“Very well know by the revelations
There is more. of Christian Science,
Those three mortal mind
constitute the Scientific disappears.”
Definition of Immortal
Mind. Next, “Not earlier?”
we have the Scientific
Definition of Mortal “No, not until
Mind. Thus. the teaching and preparation
FIRST DEGREE: for the Third
Depravity I. Physical- Degree are completed.”
Passions and appetites,
fear, depraved “It is not until
will, pride, then that
envy, deceit, one is enabled
hatred, revenge, to take hold of
sin, disease, Christian Science

10
 effectively, and with be all- inclusive.”
the right sense
of sympathy and kinship, “It is beautiful.
as I understand And with what
you. That is exhaustive exactness
to say, it could your choice
not succeed during and arrangement of words
the processes of the confirm and establish
Second Degree, what you have
because there claimed for the
would still powers and functions
be remains of mind of the Third
left; and therefore– Degree. The Second
but I interrupted could probably
you. You were produce only
about to further temporary absence
explain the good of mind; it is
results proceeding reserved to the
from the erosions Third to make
and disintegrations effected it permanent. A sentence
by the Third framed under
Degree. It is the auspices of the
very interesting; Second could
go on, please.” have a kind of
meaning– a sort
“Yes, as I of deceptive semblance
was saying, in this of it– whereas
Third Degree it is only
mortal mind under the magic
disappears. Science of the Third
so reverses the evidence that that
before the corporeal defect would
human senses disappear. Also,
as to make without doubt,
this scriptural it is the Third
testimony true in Degree that
our hearts, ’the contributes another
last shall remarkable specialty
be first and the to Christian Science–
first shall viz., ease
be last,’ that and flow and lavishness
God and His idea of words, and rhythm
may be to us– and swing and smoothness.
what divinity There must be
really is, and a special reason
must of necessity for this?”

11
 solar system–
“Yes– God– and makes body
all, all– tributary to the
God, good Mind. As it
God, non-Matter, is the earth
Matteration, Spirit, which is in
Bones, Truth.” motion, While
the sun is at
“That explains rest, though
it.” in viewing the sun
rise one finds
“There is nothing it impossible to believe
in Christian Science the sun not to
that is not explicable; be really rising,
for God is one, so the body is
Time is one, but the humble
Individuality is one, servant of the
and may be one restful Mind,
of a series, though it seems
one of many, otherwise to finite
as an individual sense; but we
man, individual shall never
horse; whereas understand this
God is one, while we admit
not one of a that soul is
series, but one in body, or mind
alone and without in matter, and that
an equal.” man is included
in non- intelligence.
“These are noble Soul is God,
thoughts. They unchangeable and eternal;
make one burn and man coexists
to know more. with and reflects
How does Christian Soul, for the
Science explain All-in- all is
the spiritual relation the Altogether, and the
of systematic duality Altogether embraces
to incidental deflection?” the All- one,
Soul- Mind,
“Christian Science Mind- Soul,
reverses the seeming Love, Spirit,
relation of Soul Bones, Liver,
and body– as astronomy one of a series,
reverses the human alone and without
perception of the an equal.”
movement of the

12
 “What is the down in the book
origin of Christian here, and–”
Science? Is it
a gift of God, “Did the lady
or did it just write the book?”
happen?”
“Yes, she wrote
“In a sense, it all, herself.
it is a gift The title is Science
of God. That is and Health, with
to say, its powers Key to the Scriptures–
are from Him, for she explains
but the credit the Scriptures; they
of the discovery were not understood
of the powers before. Not even
and what they by the twelve
are for is due Disciples. She begins
to an American thus– I will
lady.” read it to you.”

“Indeed? When But she had forgotten

did this occur?” to bring her glasses.

“In 1866. “Well, it is

That is the immortal no matter,” she said.
date when “I remember the words–
pain and disease indeed, all Christian
and death disappeared Scientists know
from the earth the book by heart;
to return no more it is necessary
forever. That in our practice.
is, the fancies We should otherwise
for which those make mistakes
terms stand and do harm.
disappeared. The things She begins thus:
themselves had never ’ In the year
existed; therefore, 1866 I discovered
as soon as it the Science of Metaphysical
was perceived that Healing, and named
there were no it Christian Science.’
such things, And She says
they were quite beautifully,
easily banished. I think– ’ Through
The history and nature Christian Science,
of the great religion and medicine
discovery are set are inspired with a

13
 diviner nature see the mention
and essence, fresh seemed in some
pinions are given way inconsistent, and–”
to faith and understanding,
and thoughts acquaint “There are no
themselves intelligently inconsistencies in Christian
with God.’ Science. The thing
Her very words.” is impossible, for the
Science is absolute.
“It is elegant. It cannot be otherwise,
And it is a since it proceeds
fine thought, directly from
too– marrying the All- in-all
religion to medicine, and the Everything-
instead of medicine in-Which, also
to the undertaker Soul, Bones,
in the old way; Truth, one of
for religion and medicine a series, alone
properly belong and without equal.
together, they It is Mathematics
being the basis purified from
of all spiritual material dross
and physical health. and made spiritual.”
What kind of
medicine do you “I can see that,
give for the but–”
ordinary diseases,
such as–” “It rests
upon the immovable
“We never basis of an
give medicine Apodictical Principle.”
in any circumstances
whatever! We–” The word flattened
itself against
“But, madam, my mind in trying
it says– ” to get in, and
disordered me a
“I don’t care little, and before
what it says, I could inquire
and I don’t into its pertinency,
wish to talk she was already
about it.” throwing the needed
light:
“I am sorry
if I have “This Apodictical
offended, but you Principle is the

14
 absolute Principle and inquired further
of Scientific Mind- concerning the Discoverer
healing, the sovereign of the Science.
Omnipotence which
delivers the children “Did the discovery
of men from come suddenly,
pain, disease, like Klondike,
decay, and every or after long
ill that flesh study and calculation,
is heir to.” like America?”

“Surely not every “The comparisons

ill, every are not respectful,
decay?” since they
refer to trivialities–
“Every one; but let it pass.
there are no I will answer
exceptions; there in the Discoverer’s
is no such own words: ’God
thing as decay– had been graciously
it is an unreality, fitting me, during
it has no existence.” many years,
for the reception
“But without of a final
your glasses revelation of the
your failing absolute Principle
eyesight does of Scientific Mind-
not permit you to– healing.”
”
“Many years.
“My eyesight How many?”
cannot fail;
nothing can fail; “Eighteen centuries!”
the Mind is master,
and the Mind “All– God,
permits no retrogression.” God– good,
good– God,
She was under Truth, Bones,
the inspiration of the Liver, one of
Third Degree, a series, alone
therefore there and without equal–
could be no it is amazing!”
profit in continuing
this part of “You may well
the subject. I shifted say it, sir.
to other ground Yet it is but

15
 the truth This Adam, there
American lady, is one distinctive
our revered and sacred feature which
Founder, is distinctly has special reference
referred to, and to the present
her coming prophesied, age. Thus:
in the twelfth
chapter of the ”’Revelation xii.
Apocalypse; she could I. And there
not have been appeared a great
more plainly wonder in heaven–
indicated by St. a woman clothed
John without with the sun,
actually mentioning and the moon
her name.” under her feet,
and upon her head
“How strange, a crown of twelve
how wonderful!” stars.’

“I will quote “That is our

her own words, Head, our Chief,
from her Key our Discoverer of Christian
to the Scriptures: Science– nothing
’The twelfth can be plainer,
chapter of the nothing surer.
Apocalypse has a And note this:
special suggestiveness
in connection with ”’Revelation xii.
this nineteenth 6. And the woman
century.’ There– fled into
do you note the wilderness, where
that? Think– she had a place
note it well.” prepared of God.’

“But– what “That is Boston.

does it mean?” I recognize it, madam.
These are sublime
“Listen, and you things, and impressive;
will know. I never understood
I quote her inspired these passages
words again: before; please
’In the opening go on with
of the Sixth the– with
Seal, typical the– proofs.”
of six thousand
years since “Very well.

16
 Listen: voice from
harmony cry,
”’And I saw “Go and take
another mighty the little book:
angel come take it and eat
down from it up, and it
heaven, clothed shall make
with a cloud; thy belly bitter;
and a rainbow but it shall
was upon his head, be in thy mouth
and his face sweet as honey.”
was as it were Mortal, obey
the sun, and his the heavenly evangel.
feet as pillars Take up Divine
of fire. And he Science. Read it
held in his hand from beginning
a little book.’ to end. Study
it, ponder it. It
“A little book, will be, indeed,
merely a little sweet at its
book– could first taste,
words be modester? when it heals
Yet how stupendous you; but murmur
its importance! Do you not over Truth,
know what if you find
book that its digestion bitter.’
was?” You now know
the history of our
“Was it–” dear and holy
Science, sir,
“I hold it in and that its origin
my hand– Christian is not of this
Science!” earth, but only
its discovery. I will
“Love, Livers, leave the book
Lights, Bones, with you and
Truth, Kidneys, will go, now;
one of a series, but give yourself
alone and without no uneasiness– I will
equal– it is give you absent
beyond imagination treatment from
for wonder!” now till I go to
bed.”
“Hear our Founder’s
eloquent words:
’Then will a

17
Chapter 3

Under the powerful there were

influence of the only seven
near treatment of these: hips,
and the absent shoulders, knees,
treatment together, neck; so that
my bones were was soon over;
gradually retreating one after another
inward and disappearing they slipped
from view. into their
The good work sockets with a
took a brisk sound like
start, now, pulling a distant
and went on swiftly. cork, and I
My body was diligently jumped up as
straining and stretching, good as new, as
this way and to framework, and sent
that, to accommodate for the horse-
the processes of restoration, doctor.
and every minute
or two I heard I was obliged
a dull click to do this
inside and knew because I had
that the two a stomach- ache
ends of a fracture and a cold in
had been successfully the head, and I
joined. This was not willing
muffled clicking to trust these
and gritting and grinding things any longer
and rasping continued in the hands
during the next of a woman
three hours, whom I did not
and then stopped– know, and whose
the connections had all ability to successfully
been made. treat mere
All except dislocations; disease I had

18
 lost all confidence. measures; therefore
My position was justified he would give me
by the fact something to turn
that the cold the stomach- ache
and the ache into the botts
had been in her and the cold in
charge from the head into
the first, along the blind staggers;
with the fractures, then he should
but had experienced be on his own
not a shade beat and would
of relief; and, know what to
indeed, the ache do. He made up
was even growing a bucket of bran-
worse and worse, mash, and said
and more and more a dipperful of it
bitter, now, every two hours,
probably on account alternated with a
of the protracted drench with
abstention from turpentine and axle-
food and drink. grease in it,
would either
The horse- doctor knock my ailments
came, a pleasant out of me in
man and full of twenty- four
hope and professional hours, or so
interest in the interest me in
case. In the other ways as
matter of smell to make me forget
he was pretty they were on
aromatic– in fact, the premises. He administered
quite horsy– my first dose
and I tried himself, then
to arrange with took his leave,
him for absent saying I was
treatment, but it free to eat and
was not in his drink anything
line, so, out I pleased and in
of delicacy, I did any quantity I liked.
not press it. He But I was not
looked at my hungry any more,
teeth and examined and did not care
my hock, and said for food.
my age and general
condition were I took up the
favorable to energetic Christian Science

19
 book and read fine success,
half of it, then but I think
took a dipperful that this
of drench and read result could
the other half. have been
The resulting experiences achieved with
were full of fewer materials.
interest and adventure. I believe the mash
All through the rumblings was necessary to the
and grindings and quakings conversion of the
and effervescings accompanying stomach- ache
the evolution of the into the botts,
ache into but I think
the botts and the one could develop
cold into the blind staggers
the blind staggers out of the literature
I could note by itself; also,
the generous struggle that blind
for mastery going staggers produced
on between the mash in this way would
and the drench be of a better
and the literature; quality and more
and often I could lasting than
tell which any produced by the
was ahead, and could artificial processes
easily distinguish of the horse-
the literature from doctor.
the others when
the others were For of all the
separate, though strange and frantic
not when they and incomprehensible and uninterpretable
were mixed; books which
for when a bran- the imagination of man
mash and an has created, surely
eclectic drench this one is
are mixed together the prize sample.
they look It is written
just like with a limitless
the Apodictical Principle confidence and complacency,
out on a lark, and with a dash
and no one can and stir and earnestness
tell it from which often
that. The finish compel the effects
was reached at last, of eloquence, even
the evolutions were when the words
complete, and a do not seem to

20
 have any traceable perhaps I ought
meaning. There to say. Plainly
are plenty of people the book was written
who imagine they under the mental
understand the book; desolations of the
I know this, Third Degree,
for I have and I feel
talked with sure that
them; but in none but the
all cases they membership of that
were people Degree can discover
who also imagined meanings in it.
that there When you read
were no such it you seem to
things as pain, be listening to a
sickness, and death, lively and aggressive
and no realities and oracular speech
in the world; delivered in an
nothing actually unknown tongue,
existent but Mind. a speech whose
It seems to me spirit you get
to modify the value but not the particulars;
of their testimony. or, to change
When these the figure, you seem
people talk to be listening
about Christian to a vigorous
Science they do instrument which
as Mrs. Fuller is making a noise
did: they do which it thinks
not use their is a tune,
own language, but the but which, to persons
book’s; they not members of the
pour out the band, is only
book’s showy the martial tooting
incoherences, and leave of a trombone,
you to find and merrily stirs
out later that the soul through
they were the noise, but does
not originating, but merely not convey a meaning.
quoting; they
seem to know The book’s serenities
the volume by heart, of self- satisfaction
and to revere do almost seem to
it as they smack of a
would a Bible– heavenly origin–
another Bible, they have no

21
 blood- kin in effort she clarifies
the earth. It is it from lid to
more than lid, reorganizes
human to be and improves the meanings,
so placidly certain then authoritatively
about things, settles and establishes
and so finely them with
superior, and so formulas which
airily content you cannot tell
with one’s from “Let
performance. Without there be light!”
ever presenting and “Here you have
anything which it!” It is the
may rightfully be called first time
by the strong since the dawn-
name of Evidence, days of Creation
and sometimes without that a Voice
even mentioning has gone crashing
a reason for a through space
deduction at all, with such
it thunders out the placid and complacent
startling words, confidence and command.
“I have Proved”
so and so. It [January, 1903.
takes the Pope The first reading
and all the great of any book
guns of his Church whose terminology
in battery assembled is new and strange
to authoritatively settle is nearly sure to
and establish the meaning leave the reader
of a sole in a bewildered
and single unclarified and sarcastic state
passage of Scripture, of mind. But now
and this at vast that, during
cost of time the past two months,
and study and reflection, I have, by diligence
but the author gained a fair
of this work is acquaintanceship with
superior to all Science and Health
that: she finds technicalities, I no
the whole Bible longer find
in an unclarified the bulk of that
audition, and at work hard to
small expense understand.– M. T.]
of time and no
expense of mental P.S. The wisdom

22
 harvested from Meantime, the new
the foregoing thoughts wisdom had come
has already done me to me, and I
a service and saved read it with
me a sorrow. shame. I recognized
Nearly a month that I had entered
ago there came to upon that
me from one of work in far from
the universities a tract the right temper
by Dr. Edward –far from
Anthony Spitzka the respectful and judicial
on the “Encephalic spirit which
Anatomy of the was its due of
Races.” I judged reverence. I had
that my opinion begun upon it
was desired by the with the following
university, and I paragraph for fuel:
was greatly pleased
with this “FISSURES OF THE
attention and wrote PARIETAL AND OCCIPITAL
and said I would LOBES (LATERAL
furnish it as SURFACE).– The Postcentral
soon as I could. Fissural Complex–
That night In this hemicerebrum,
I put my plodding the postcentral and subcentral
and disheartening Christian are combined to form
Science mining a continuous fissure,
aside and took attaining a length
hold of the matter. of 8.5 cm.
I wrote an eager Dorsally, the fissure
chapter, and was bifurcates, embracing
expecting to finish the gyre indented
my opinion the next by the caudal
day, but was limb of the paracentral.
called away The caudal limb of
for a week, the postcentral is joined
and my mind by a transparietal
was soon charged piece. In all,
with other five additional
interests. It was rami spring
not until to-day, from the combined
after the lapse fissure. A vadum
of nearly a month, separates it from
that I happened the parietal; another
upon my Encephalic from the central.”
chapter again.

23
 It humiliates me, now, university. It makes
to see how angry me cold to think
I got over what those
that; and how people might
scornful. I said have thought
that the style of me.– M. T.]
was disgraceful; that it
was labored and tumultuous,
and in places
violent, that
the treatment was involved
and erratic, and almost,
as a rule,
bewildering; that to
lack of simplicity
was added a lack
of vocabulary; that
there was quite
too much feeling
shown; that if
I had a dog
that would
get so excited
and incoherent over a
tranquil subject
like Encephalic
Anatomy I would
not pay his tax;
and at that
point I got
excited myself
and spoke bitterly
of these mongrel
insanities, and said
a person might
as well try to
understand Science
and Health.

[I know, now,
where the trouble
was, and am
glad of the interruption
that saved
me from sending
my verdict to the

24
Chapter 4

No one doubts– Faith in the

certainly not I– doctor. Perhaps
that the mind that is the entire
exercises a powerful thing. It seems
influence over to look like
the body. From it. In old times
the beginning of time, the King cured
the sorcerer, the interpreter the king’s evil by
of dreams, the fortune- the touch of the
teller, the charlatan, royal hand.
the quack, the wild He frequently made
medicine- man, extraordinary cures.
the educated physician, Could his footman
the mesmerist, and the have done
hypnotist have it? No–not
made use of in his own clothes.
the client’s imagination Disguised as the
to help them in King, could
their work. he have done
They have it? I think
all recognized the potency we may not doubt
and availability of that it. I think
force. Physicians we may feel
cure many sure that it
patients with a was not the King’s
bread pill; touch that
they know made the cure
that where in any instance,
the disease is only but the patient’s
a fancy, the patient’s faith in the
confidence in the efficacy of a
doctor will King’s touch.
make the bread Genuine and remarkable
pill effective. cures have
been achieved

25
 through contact in this sort of
with the relics industry, and has
of a saint. both the high
Is it not likely and the low for
that any other patients. He gets
bones would into prison
have done as every now and
well if the substitution then for practising
had been concealed without a diploma,
from the patient? but his business
When I was a is as brisk
boy a farmer’s as ever when he
wife who lived gets out,
five miles for his work is
from our village unquestionably successful
had great fame as and keeps his reputation
a faith- doctor– high. In Bavaria
that was what there is a
she called herself. man who performed
Sufferers came to so many great
her from all around, cures that he
and she laid had to retire
her hand upon from his profession
them and said, of stage- carpentering
“Have faith– in order to meet
it is all that the demand of his
is necessary,” and they constantly increasing
went away body of customers.
well of their He goes on from
ailments. She was year to year
not a religious doing his miracles,
woman, and pretended and has become
to no occult very rich.
powers. She said He pretends to no
that the patient’s religious helps,
faith in her no supernatural aids,
did the work. but thinks there
Several times is something in his
I saw her make make- up which
immediate cures inspires the confidence
of severe toothaches. of his patients,
My mother was the and that it is
patient. In Austria this confidence
there is a which does
peasant who drives the work, and not
a great trade some mysterious

26
 power issuing Cure and the
from himself. Prayer Cure
probably do no
Within the last harm when
quarter of a they do no good,
century, in America, since they do
several sects not forbid the patient
of curers have to help out the
appeared under cure with
various names medicines if he
and have done wants to; but
notable things the others bar medicines,
in the way of and claim ability
healing ailments to cure every
without the use conceivable human
of medicines. There ailment through
are the Mind the application of their
Cure the Faith mental forces
Cure, the Prayer alone. There
Cure, the Mental would seem to
Science Cure, be an element
and the Christian- of danger here.
Science Cure; It has the look
and apparently they of claiming too much,
all do their I think. Public
miracles with confidence would
the same old, probably be increased
powerful instrument– if less were
the patient’s imagination. claimed.
Differing names,
but no difference The Christian Scientist
in the process. was not able to
But they do not cure my stomach-
give that ache and my
instrument the credit; cold; but the
each sect horse- doctor
claims that did it. This
its way differs convinces me that
from the ways Christian Science
of the others. claims too much.
In my opinion
They all achieve it ought to let
some cures, diseases alone
there is no and confine itself
question about to surgery. There
it; and the Faith it would have

27
 everything its own
way.

The horse- doctor

charged me thirty
kreutzers, and I
paid him; in
fact, I doubled
it and gave
him a shilling.
Mrs. Fuller
brought in an
itemized bill
for a crate
of broken bones
mended in two
hundred and thirty-
four places–
one dollar per fracture.

“Nothing exists
but Mind?”

“Nothing,” she answered.

“All else is
substanceless, all else
is imaginary.”

I gave her an
imaginary check,
and now she is
suing me for
substantial dollars.
It looks inconsistent.

28
Chapter 5

Let us consider are really several

that we are all things which
partially insane. we do all see
It will explain alike; things
us to each which we all
other; it will accept, and about
unriddle many which we do
riddles; it will not dispute. For instance,
make clear we who are outside
and simple many of the asylum
things which all agree that
are involved in haunting water seeks
and harassing difficulties its level; that
and obscurities now. the sun gives
light and heat;
Those of us that fire
who are not in consumes; that
the asylum, and not fog is damp;
demonstrably due there, that six times
are nevertheless, no doubt, six are thirty-
insane in one six, that
or two particulars. two from ten leaves
I think we must eight; that
admit this; eight and seven
but I think are fifteen. These
that we are otherwise are, perhaps,
healthy- minded. the only things
I think that we are agreed
when we all see about; but,
one thing alike, although they
it is evidence are so few,
that, as regards they are of
that one thing, inestimable value,
our minds are perfectly because they
sound. Now there make an infallible

29
 standard of sanity. the Koran, I know
Whosoever accepts that beyond
them him we any question every
know to be substantially Mohammedan is insane;
sane; sufficiently not in all things,
sane; in the but in religious
working essentials, matters. When a
sane. Whoever thoughtful and unblessed
disputes a single Mohammedan examines
one of them the Westminster Catechism,
him we know to he knows that
be wholly insane, beyond any question
and qualified for the I am spiritually
asylum. insane. I cannot
prove to him
Very well, that he is insane,
the man who disputes because you never
none of them we can prove anything
concede to be to a lunatic–
entitled to go for that is a
at large. But that part of his insanity
is concession enough. and the evidence
We cannot go any of it. He cannot
further than prove to me
that; for we that I am insane,
know that in for my mind
all matters of mere has the same
opinion that defect that
same man is afflicts his.
insane– just as All Democrats are insane,
insane as we but not one of
are; just as them knows
insane as Shakespeare it; none but the
was. We know Republicans and Mugwumps
exactly where know it.
to put our finger All the Republicans
upon his insanity: are insane, but only
it is where the Democrats and Mugwumps
his opinion differs can perceive it.
from ours. The rule is perfect:
in all matters
That is a simple of opinion our adversaries
rule, and easy are insane. When I
to remember. When I, look around
a thoughtful and unblessed me, I am often
Presbyterian, examine troubled to see

30
 how many people one another’s lunacies.
are mad. To mention I recognize that in
only a few: his special belief
the Christian Scientist
The Atheist, The Theosophists, is insane, because
The Infidel, The Swedenborgians, he does not believe
The Agnostic, The Shakers, as I do; but
The Baptist, The Millerites, I hail him as
The Methodist, The Mormons, my mate and fellow,
The Christian Scientist, because I am as
The Laurence Oliphant insane as he
Harrisites, The Catholic, insane from
and the 115 Christian his point of view,
sects, the Presbyterian and his point
excepted, The Grand of view is as
Lama’s people, authoritative as mine
The Monarchists, The Imperialists, and worth as much.
The 72 Mohammedan That is to say,
sects, The Democrats, worth a brass
The Republicans (but farthing. Upon a
not the Mugwumps), great religious
The Buddhist, The Blavatsky- or political question,
Buddhist, The Mind- the opinion of the
Curists, The Faith- dullest head in
Curists, The Nationalist, the world is worth
The Mental Scientists, the same as the
The Confucian, The Spiritualist, opinion of the
The Allopaths, The 2000 brightest head in
East Indian the world– a brass
sects, The Homeopaths, farthing. How do
The Electropaths, The Peculiar we arrive at this?
People, The—- It is simple.
The affirmative opinion
But there’s no end of a stupid
to the list; man is neutralized
there are millions by the negative
of them! And all opinion of his
insane; each in stupid neighbor
his own way; no decision is reached;
insane as to the affirmative opinion
his pet fad or of the intellectual
opinion, but otherwise giant Gladstone
sane and rational. is neutralized by the
This should negative opinion
move us to be of the intellectual
charitable towards giant Newman–

31
no decision is reached. or religious doctrine
Opinions that alike; there
prove nothing would be no
are, of course, dispute: it would
without value be a case of
any but a dead eight and seven–
person knows just as it is
that much. in heaven, where
This obliges all are sane
us to admit and none insane.
the truth of the There there
unpalatable proposition is but one religion,
just mentioned one belief; the harmony
above –that, is perfect; there
in disputed matters is never a discordant
political and religious, note.
one man’s opinion
is worth no more Under protection
than his peer’s, of these preliminaries,
and hence it followers I suppose I may
that no man’s now repeat without
opinion possesses offence that
any real value. the Christian Scientist
It is a humbling is insane. I mean
thought, but there him no discourtesy,
is no way to and I am not
get around it: all charging– nor even
opinions upon imagining– that he
these great is insaner than
subjects are brass- the rest of the
farthing opinions. human race.
I think he is
It is a mere more picturesquely
plain, simple insane than
fact– as clear some of us. At
and as certain the same time,
as that eight I am quite
and seven make sure that in
fifteen. And by one important and splendid
it we recognize particular he is
that we are all much saner
insane, as concerns than is the vast
those matters. bulk of the race.
If we were
sane, we should Why is he insane?
all see a political I told you before:

32
 it is because it if he can;
his opinions are not a “little book”
ours. I know which the C.S.
of no other very frequently
reason, and I calls by just
do not need that name,
any other; it is and always enclosed
the only way we in quotation- marks
have of discovering to keep its high
insanity when it origin exultantly
is not violent. in mind; a “little
It is merely book” which
the picturesqueness of his “explains” and reconstructs
insanity that and new- paints
makes it more and decorates the Bible,
interesting than my and puts a mansard
kind or yours. roof on it and
For instance, consider a lightning- rod and
his “little book”; all the other
the “little book” modern improvements;
exposed in the a “little book”
sky eighteen centuries which for the
ago by the flaming present affects
angel of the to travel in yoke
Apocalypse, and handed with the Bible
down in our day and be friendly
to Mrs. Mary to it, and within
Baker G. Eddy, half a century
of New Hampshire, will hitch
and translated by her, the Bible in the
word for word, rear and thenceforth
into English travel tandem,
(with help of itself in the
a polisher), and now lead, in the
published and distributed coming great
in hundreds of editions march of Christian
by her at a Scientism through
clear profit the Protestant dominions
per volume, above of the planet.
cost, of seven
hundred per cent.!–
a profit which
distinctly belongs
to the angel
of the Apocalypse,
and let him collect

33
Chapter 6

“Hungry ones picture or image

throng to hear and praying to it?
the Bible read in How long do you
connection with think it will
the text- book of be before it is
Christian Science, claimed that
Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy is
with Key to a Redeemer, a Christ,
the Scriptures, by Mary and Christ’s equal?
Baker G. Eddy. Already her army
These are our of disciples speak
only preachers. of her reverently
They are the as “Our Mother.”
word of God.
“Christian Science How long will it
Journal”, October, be before they
1898. place her on
the steps of the
Is that picturesque? Throne beside
A lady has told the Virgin– and,
me that in a later, a step
chapel of the higher? First,
Mosque in Boston Mary the Virgin
there is a and Mary the Matron;
picture or image later, with a
of Mrs. Eddy, change of precedence,
and that before Mary the Matron
it burns a never- and Mary the Virgin.
extinguished light. Let the artist
Is that picturesque? get ready with
How long do you his canvas and his
think it will brushes; the new
be before the Christian Renaissance is on
Scientist will be its way, and there
worshipping that will be money

34
 in altar- canvases– under her feet,”
a thousand times etc.
as much as the
Popes and their The woman clothed
Church ever with the sun
spent on the will be a portrait
Old Masters; for their of Mrs. Eddy.
riches were
poverty as compared Is it insanity
with what is to believe that
going to pour Christian Scientism
into the treasure- is destined to make
chest of the the most formidable
Christian- Scientist show that
Papacy by-and- any new religion
by, let us not has made in the
doubt it. We world since
will examine the birth and spread
the financial outlook of Mobammedanism, and that
presently and see within a century
what it promises. from now it
A favorite subject may stand second
of the new Old to Rome only,
Master will be in numbers and power
the first verse in Christendom?
of the twelfth
chapter of Revelation– If this is a
a verse which wild dream
Mrs. Eddy it will not be
says (in her easy to prove
Annex to the it so just
Scriptures) has “one yet, I think.
distinctive feature There seems
which has special argument that it
reference to the may come true.
present age”– The Christian- Science
and to her, as “boom,” proper,
is rather pointedly is not yet five
indicated: years old;
yet already it has
“And there two hundred and fifty
appeared a great churches.
wonder in heaven;
a woman clothed It has its start,
with the sun, you see, and it
and the moon is a phenomenally

35
 good one. fault.
Moreover, it is
latterly spreading Next, as before
with a constantly remarked, it must
accelerating swiftness. bait its hook
It has a better with some
chance to grow new and attractive
and prosper and achieve advantages over
permanency than the baits offered
any other existing by its competitors.
“ism”; for it A new movement
has more to offer equipped with
than any other. some of these
The past teaches endowments– like
us that in order spiritualism, for instance
to succeed, a movement may count upon a
like this considerable success;
must not be a new movement
a mere philosophy, equipped with
it must be a the bulk of them–
religion; also, like Mohammedanism,
that it must for instance– may count
not claim entire upon a widely
originality, but content extended conquest.
itself with Mormonism had all
passing for an the requisites but one
improvement on an it had nothing
existing religion, new and nothing
and show its hand valuable to bait
later, when with. Spiritualism
strong and prosperous– lacked the important
like Mohammedanism. detail of concentration
of money and authority
Next, there in the hands
must be money– of an irresponsible
and plenty of it. clique.

Next, the power The above equipment

and authority and capital is excellent, admirable,
must be concentrated powerful, but not
in the grip of perfect. There
a small and irresponsible is yet another
clique, with detail which
nobody outside is worth the whole
privileged to ask of it put together
questions or find and more; a detail

36
 which has never estimate is admissible,
been joined do you not?
(in the beginning
of a religious To whom does
movement) to a Bellamy’s “Nationalism”
supremely good appeal? Necessarily
working equipment to the few:
since the world people who read
began, until and dream, and are
now: a new personage compassionate, and troubled
to worship. Christianity for the poor
had the Saviour, and the hard-
but at first driven. To whom
and for generations does Spiritualism
it lacked money appeal? Necessarily
and concentrated power. to the few;
In Mrs. Eddy, its “boom” has lasted
Christian Science for half a century,
possesses the new and I believe
personage for worship, it claims short
and in addition– of four millions
here in the very of adherents in America.
beginning– a working Who are attracted
equipment that by Swedenborgianism and some
has not a flaw of the other
in it. In the fine and delicate
beginning, Mohammedanism “isms”? The few
had no money; again: educated
and it has never people, sensitively
had anything to offer organized, with
its client but heaven– superior mental
nothing here endowments, who seek
below that lofty planes
was valuable. In addition of thought and find
to heaven hereafter, their contentment
Christian Science there. And who
has present health are attracted by Christian
and a cheerful Science? There
spirit to offer; is no limit;
and in comparison its field is horizonless;
with this its appeal is as
bribe all other universal as is
this- world the appeal of Christianity
bribes are poor itself. It appeals
and cheap. You recognize to the rich,
that this the poor, the high,

37
 the low, the cultured, other (organized)
the ignorant, the gifted, force do it?
the stupid, the modest, None that I
the vain, the wise, know of. Would
the silly, the soldier, this be a new
the civilian, the hero, world when
the coward, the idler, that was accomplished?
the worker, the godly, And a pleasanter
the godless, the freeman, one– for us
the slave, the adult, well people,
the child; they as well as for
who are ailing those fussy
in body or mind, and fretting sick
they who have ones? Would
friends that it seem as if
are ailing in body there was not
or mind. To mass as much gloomy
it in a phrase, weather as there
its clientage is the used to be? I
Human Race. think so.
Will it march?
I think so. In the mean
time, would
Remember its principal the Scientist kill
great offer: off a good
to rid the Race many patients?
of pain and disease. I think so.
Can it do so? More than
In large measure, get killed off now
yes. How much by the legalized
of the pain methods ? I
and disease in the will take up
world is created that question
by the imaginations presently.
of the sufferers,
and then kept At present, I wish
alive by those to ask you to
same imaginations? examine some of
Four- fifths? the Scientist’s performances,
Not anything short as registered in his
of that, I should magazine, The Christian
think. Can Christian Science Journal
Science banish –October number,
that four- 1898. First,
fifths ? I think a Baptist clergyman
so. Can any gives us this

38
 true picture out? It really
of “the average outvalues any price
orthodox Christian”– that can be
and he could put upon it.
have added Where can you
that it is a purchase it, at
true picture any outlay of any
of the average sort, in any
(civilized) human Church or out
being: of it, except
the Scientist’s?
“He is a worried
and fretted and fearful Well, it is
man; afraid the anxiety and fretting
of himself and his about colds,
propensities, afraid and fevers, and draughts,
of colds and fevers, and getting our feet
afraid of treading wet, and about
on serpents or drinking forbidden food
deadly things.” eaten in terror
of indigestion, that
Then he gives brings on the
us this contrast: cold and the
fever and the
“The average indigestion and the
Christian Scientist most of our other
has put all anxiety ailments; and so,
and fretting under if the Science
his feet. He does can banish that
have a victory anxiety from
over fear the world I think
and care that is it can reduce
not achieved by the the world’s disease
average orthodox and pain about
Christian.” four- fifths.

He has put all In this October

anxiety and fretting number many of
under his feet. the redeemed testify
What proportion and give thanks;
of your earnings and not coldly,
or income would but with passionate
you be willing gratitude. As a
to pay for that rule they
frame of mind, seem drunk
year in, year with health,

39
 and with the surprise a healthy and cheerful
of it, the wonder man, now,
of it, the unspeakable and astonished.
glory and splendor
of it, after But I am not
a long, sober astonished, for from
spell spent other sources
in inventing imaginary I know what
diseases and concreting must have
them with been his method
doctor- stuff. of applying Christian
The first witness Science. If I am
testifies that in the right,
when “this he watchfully and diligently
most beautiful diverted his mind
Truth first from unhealthy
dawned on him” channels and compelled
he had “nearly it to travel
all the ills in healthy ones.
that flesh Nothing contrivable
is heir to”; by human invention
that those could be more
he did not have formidably effective
he thought he had than that,
–and this in banishing imaginary
made the tale ailments and in
about complete. closing the entrances
What was the against sub-sequent
natural result? applicants of their
Why, he was a breed. I think
dump- pit “for his method was to
all the doctors, keep saying,
druggists, and patent “I am well!
medicines of the I am sound!–
country.” Christian sound and well!
Science came to well and sound!
his help, and “the Perfectly sound,
old sick conditions perfectly well!
passed away,” I have no pain;
and along with there’s no such
them the “dismal thing as pain!
forebodings” which I have no disease;
he had been there’s no such
accustomed to employ thing as disease!
in conjuring up ailments. Nothing is real
And so he was but Mind; all is

40
 Mind, All-Good “an old organic
Good- Good, trouble,” which
Life, Soul, the doctor and the
Liver, Bones, surgeon had been
one of a series, nursing with
ante and pass drugs and the
the buck!” knife for seven
years.
I do not mean
that that He calls it his
was exactly the formula “claim.” A surface-
used, but that miner would
it doubtless contains think it was
the spirit of it. not his claim
The Scientist would at all, but the
attach value property of the
to the exact doctor and his
formula, no doubt, pal the surgeon–
and to the religious for he would
spirit in which be misled by that
it was used. word, which
I should think is Christian- Science
that any formula slang for “ailment.”
that would The Christian Scientist
divert the mind has no ailment;
from unwholesome to him there
channels and force is no such
it into healthy thing, and he
ones would will not use
answer every the hateful word.
purpose with All that happens
some people, to him is that
though not with upon his attention
all. I think an imaginary disturbance
it most likely sometimes obtrudes
that a very itself which
religious man would claims to be
find the addition an ailment but isn’t.
of the religious
spirit a powerful This witness
reinforcement in his offers testimony
case. for a clergyman
seventy years
The second witness old who had preached
testifies that forty years
the Science banished in a Christian

41
 church, and has Stiffness of all
now gone over to those joints,
the new sect. Excruciating pains
He was “almost most of the time.
blind and deaf.”
He was treated These claims
by the C. S. have a very
method, and “when substantial sound.
he heard the voice They came of
of Truth he saw exposure in the
spiritually.” Saw spiritually? campaigns. The doctors
It is a little did all they
indefinite; they could, but it
had better treat was little. Prayers
him again. Indefinite were tried,
testimonies might but “I never
properly be waste- realized any physical
basketed, since relief from
there is evidently that source.”
no lack of definite After thirty
ones procurable; years of torture,
but this C. S. he went to a
magazine is poorly Christian Scientist
edited, and so and took an hour’s
mistakes of this treatment and went
kind must be home painless.
expected. Two days later,
he “began to eat
The next witness like a well
is a soldier man.” Then
of the Civil “the claims
War. When vanished– some at
Christian Science once, others
found him, he more gradually”;
had in stock finally, “they
the following claims have almost
: entirely disappeared.”
And– a thing
Indigestion, Rheumatism, which is of
Catarrh, Chalky still greater
deposits in Shoulder- value– he is
joints, Arm-joints, now “contented and happy.”
Hand- joints, That is a detail
Insomnia, Atrophy which, as earlier
of the muscles remarked, is a
of Arms. Shoulders, Scientist- Church

42
 specialty. And, the fiction which
indeed, one may masquerades under
go further and assert the name of Chilblains.”
with little The children, as well
or no exaggeration as the adults,
that it is a share in the
Christian- Science blessings of the
monopoly. With Science. “Through
thirty- one years’ the study of the
effort, the Methodist ’little book’
Church had not they are learning
succeeded in furnishing how to be healthful,
it to this peaceful, and wise.”
harassed soldier. Sometimes they
are cured of their
And so the tale little claims
goes on. by the professional
Witness after healer, and sometimes
witness bulletins more advanced
his claims, declares children say over
their prompt the formula and cure
abolishment, and gives themselves.
Mrs. Eddy’s
Discovery the praise. A little Far-Western
Milk- leg is girl of nine,
cured; nervous equipped with an
prostration is cured; adult vocabulary,
consumption is cured; states her age
and St. Vitus’s and says, “I thought
dance is made I would write
a pastime. Even a demonstration to you.”
without a fiddle. She had a claim,
And now and then derived from
an interesting new addition getting flung
to the Science over a pony’s
slang appears head and landed
on the page. on a rockpile.
We have “demonstrations She saved herself
over chilblains” from disaster
and such things. by remembering to say
It seems to be “God is All”
a curtailed way of while she was
saying “demonstrations in the air. I
of the power couldn’t have
of Christian- Science done it. I
Truth over shouldn’t even

43
 have thought Statement of Being,”
of it. I should which is one
have been of the principal
too excited. Nothing incantations, I judge.
but Christian Science Then “I felt
could have my eye opening.”
enabled that Why, dear,
child to do it would have
that calm opened an oyster.
and thoughtful and judicious I think it is
thing in those one of the touchingest
circumstances. She came things in child-
down on her head, history, that
and by all the pious little
rules she should rat down cellar
have broken pumping away at
it; but the intervention the Scientific Statement
of the formula of Being.
prevented that,
so the only There is a
claim resulting page about
was a blackened another good
eye. Monday child– little
morning it was Gordon. Little
still swollen Gordon “came
and shut. At school into the world
“it hurt without the assistance
pretty badly– of surgery or anaesthetics.”
that is, it He was a “demonstration.”
seemed to.” A painless one;
So “I was excused, therefore, his coming
and went down to evoked “joy
the basement and said, and thankfulness to God
’Now I am depending and the Discoverer
on mamma instead of Christian Science.”
of God, and I It is a noticeable
will depend feature of this
on God instead literature– the so
of mamma.’” No doubt frequent linking
this would together of the
have answered; Two Beings in an
but, to make equal bond;
sure, she added also of Their
Mrs. Eddy to Two Bibles. When
the team and recited little Gordon
“the Scientific was two years

44
 old, “he was lying in a
was playing horse deep- seated
on the bed, window. This
where I had was another chance
left my ’little for the holy
book.’ I noticed child to show
him stop in his off. He left
play, take his play and went
the book carefully there and pushed
in his little all the books
hands, kiss it to one side,
softly, then except the Annex
look about “It he took in
for the highest both hands,
place of safety slowly raised
his arms could it to his lips,
reach, and put then removed
it there.” This it carefully, and seated
pious act filled himself in the
the mother “with window.” It had
such a train seemed to the
of thought as I mother too wonderful
had never experienced to be true,
before. I thought that first
of the sweet time; but now
mother of long she was convinced
ago who kept that “neither
things in her imagination nor accident
heart,” etc. had anything to do
It is a bold with it.”
comparison; however, Later, little
unconscious profanations Gordon let the
are about as common author of his
in the mouths being see him
of the lay member do it. After
ship of the new that he did it
Church as are frequently; probably
frank and open every time
ones in the mouths anybody was looking.
of its consecrated I would rather
chiefs. have that
child than a
Some days chromo. If this
later, the family tale has any
library– Christian- object, it is
Science books– to intimate that

45
 the inspired book have not a
was supernaturally able to doubt that
convey a sense she is nine-
of its sacred tenths right,
and awful character and that her Christian-
to this innocent Science faith
little creature, did her better
without the intervention service than
of outside aids. she could have
The magazine is not gotten out of
edited with cocaine.
high- priced
discretion. The editor There is an
has a “claim,” account of a
and he ought boy who got broken
to get it treated. all up into
small bits by
Among other an accident, but said
witnesses there over the Scientific
is one who had Statement of Being,
a “jumping toothache,” or some of the
which several other incantations,
times tempted and got well
her to “believe and sound without
that there having suffered
was sensation in matter, any real pain
but each time it and without the intrusion
was overcome by the of a surgeon.
power of Truth.”
She would not allow Also, there
the dentist to use is an account
cocaine, but sat of the restoration
there and let to perfect health,
him punch and drill in a single
and split and crush night, of a
the tooth, and tear fatally injured
and slash its ulcerations, horse, by the
and pull out the application of Christian
nerve, and dig Science. I can
out fragments of bone; stand a good
and she wouldn’t deal, but I
once confess recognize that
that it hurt. the ice is getting
And to this thin, here.
day she thinks That horse
it didn’t, and I had as many as

46
 fifty claims; soldier who has
how could he demonstrate suffered thirty
over them? years of helpless
Could he do torture and makes
the All- Good, him whole in body
Good- Good, and mind, what is
Good- Gracious, the actual sum of
Liver, Bones, that achievement?
Truth, All down This,.I think:
but Nine, Set them that it has restored
up on the Other to life a subject
Alley? Could who had essentially
he intone the Scientific died ten deaths
Statement of Being? a year for thirty
Now, could years, and each
he? Wouldn’t of them a long
it give him a and painful one.
relapse? Let us But for its interference
draw the line that man in
at horses. Horses the three years
and furniture. which have
since elapsed,
There is plenty would have
of other testimonies essentially died
in the magazine, thirty times
but these quoted more. There
samples will are thousands of young
answer. They people in the
show the kind land who are
of trade the Science now ready to enter
is driving. Now we upon a life-
come back to long death
the question, Does similar to that
the Science kill a man’s. Every
patient here time the Science
and there and now captures one of
and then? We must these and secures
concede it. to him life-
Does it compensate long immunity
for this? I am from imagination-
persuaded that it manufactured disease,
can make a plausible it may plausibly
showing in that claim that in
direction. For instance: his person it has
when it lays saved three
its hand upon a hundred lives.

47
 Meantime, it will all his soul,
kill a man every to be the very
now and then. best and the
But no matter, very safest,
it will still but it is a
be ahead on the burning shame
credit side. that the law
does not require
[NOTE.– I have him to come to
received several me to ask what
letters (two kind of healer
from educated I will allow
and ostensibly intelligent him to call.”
persons), which The public is merely
contained, in substance, a multiplied “me.”–
this protest: M.T.]
“I don’t object
to men and women
chancing their
lives with
these people,
but it is a
burning shame
that the law
should allow
them to trust
their helpless
little children
in their deadly
hands. “Isn’t
it touching? Isn’t
it deep? Isn’t
it modest? It is
as if the person
said: “I know
that to a parent
his child is the
core of his heart,
the apple of his
eye, a possession
so dear, so precious
that he will
trust its life
in no hands
but those which
he believes, with

48
Chapter 7

“We consciously bearer of God’s

declare that highest thought.
Science and Health, For the present,
with Key to she brings the Second
the Scriptures, was foretold, Advent. We must
as well as its expect that
author, Mary before she has
Baker Eddy, been in her grave
in Revelation x. She fifty years
is the ’mighty she will be regarded
angel,’ or God’s by her following
highest thought as having been
to this age (verse herself the Second
1), giving us the Advent. She is
spiritual interpretation already worshiped,
of the Bible and we must
in the ’little expect this
book open’ feeling to spread,
(verse 2). territorially, and also
Thus we prove to deepen in intensity.
that Christian
Science is the Particularly after
second coming her death; for then,
of Christ- Truth- as any one can
Spirit.” –Lecture foresee, Eddy-
by Dr. George Worship will be
Tomkins, D.D. taught in the
C.S. Sunday- schools
and pulpits of the
There you have cult. Already
it in plain whatever she puts
speech. She is her trade- mark
the mighty angel; on, though it be
she is the divinely only a memorial-
and officially sent spoon, is holy

49
 and is eagerly one condition– cash,
and gratefully bought cash in advance.
by the disciple, The Angel of the
and becomes a fetish Apocalypse could
in his house. not go there
I say bought, and get a copy
for the Boston of his own pirated
Christian- Science book on credit.
Trust gives Many, many
nothing away; precious Christian-
everything it has Science things
is for sale. are to be had
And the terms there for cash:
are cash; and not Bible Lessons;
only cash, Church Manual;
but cash in advance. C. S. Hymnal;
Its god is Mrs. History of the
Eddy first, building of the
then the Dollar. Mother- Church;
Not a spiritual lot of Sermons;
Dollar, but a Communion Hymn,
real one. “Saw Ye My
From end to Saviour,” by Mrs.
end of the Christian Eddy, half a
Science literature dollar a copy,
not a single “words used by
(material) thing special permission
in the world of Mrs. Eddy.”
is conceded to be Also we have
real, except Mrs. Eddy’s
the Dollar. But all and the Angel’s
through and through little Blue-
its advertisements that Annex in eight
reality is eagerly styles of binding
and persistently recognized. at eight kinds
of war- prices;
The Dollar is hunted among these
down in all sorts a sweet thing
of ways; the Christian- in “levant, divinity
Science Mother- circuit, leather
Church and Bargain- lined to edge,
Counter in Boston round corners,
peddles all kinds gold edge,
of spiritual wares silk sewed,
to the faithful, each, prepaid,
and always on the 159396,” and if

50
 you take a million of the Mother-
you get them a Church Headquarters
shilling cheaper Factory in Boston;
–that is to none genuine
say, “prepaid, without the trade-
159395.75.” Also we mark of the Trust.
have Mrs. You must apply
Eddy’s Miscellaneous there and not
Writings, at ’andsome elsewhere.
big prices, the divinity-
circuit style One hundred dollars
heading the exertions, for it. And I
shilling discount have a case
where you take among my statistics
an edition Next where the student
comes Christ had a three
and Christmas, by the weeks’ course
fertile Mrs. and paid three
Eddy– a poem– hundred for it.
would God I
could see it! The Trust does
–price 159393, love the Dollar,
cash in advance. when it isn’t
Then follow a spiritual one.
five more
books by Mrs. In order to force
Eddy, at highwayman’s the sale of Mrs
rates, some of Eddy’s Bible-
them in “leatherette Annex, no healer,
covers,” some of Metaphysical- College-
them in “pebble bred or other,
cloth,” with is allowed to practice
divinity- circuit, the game unless
compensation- balance, he possesses a copy
twin- screw, of that book.
and the other That means
modern improvements; a large and constantly
and at the same augmenting income
bargain- counter for the Trust.
can be had The No C.S. family
Christian Science would consider
Journal. itself loyal
or pious or pain-
Christian- Science proof without
literary discharges an Annex or two
are a monopoly in the house.

51
 That means formidable, and in
an income for the 1940 the governing
Trust, in the power in the
near future, Republic– to remain
of millions; not thousands- that, permanently.
millions a year. And I think
it a reasonable
No member, young guess that
or old, of a the Trust (which
branch Christian- is already in our
Scientist church day pretty brusque
can acquire and retain in its ways)
membership in the will then be
Mother- Church the most insolent
unless he pay and unscrupulous and tyrannical
“capitation tax” politico- religious
(of “not less master that
than a dollar,” has dominated a people
say the By-Laws) since the palmy
to the Boston days of the Inquisition.
Trust every And a stronger
year. That master than
means an income the strongest of bygone
for the Trust, times, because
in the near this one will
future, of–let have a financial
us venture to say– strength not dreamed
millions more of by any predecessor;
per year. as effective a concentration
of irresponsible power
It is a reasonably as any predecessor
safe guess has had; in the
that in America railway, the telegraph,
in 1920 there and the subsidized
will be ten million newspaper, better
Christian Scientists, facilities for watching
and three millions and managing his empire
in Great Britain; than any predecessor
that these has had; and,
figures will be after a generation
trebled in 1930; or two, he will
that in America probably divide
in 1920 the Christian Christendom with
Scientists will be the Catholic Church.
a political force,
in 1930 politically The Roman Church

52
 has a perfect offerings at her
organization, and it shrine no crutches
has an effective of cured cripples
centralization of power– received, and no
but not of its imitations of miraculously
cash. Its multitude restored broken
of Bishops are rich, legs and necks
but their riches allowed to be
remain in large hung up except
measure in their when made
own hands. They out of the Holy
collect from Metal and proved
two hundred millions by fire- assay;
of people, but they cash for miracles
keep the bulk worked at the
of the result tomb: these
at home. The Boston money- sources,
Pope of by-and- with a thousand
by will draw to be yet invented
his dollar- a-head and ambushed upon
capitation- tax from the devotee, will
three hundred bring the annual
millions of the increment well up
human race, above a billion.
and the Annex And nobody but the
and the rest of Trust will
his book- shop have the handling
stock will of it. In that
fetch in as day, the Trust
much more; will monopolize
and his Metaphysical the manufacture and sale
Colleges, the annual of the Old and
Pilgrimage to Mrs. New Testaments as well
Eddy’s tomb, as the Annex,
from all over and raise their
the world- admission, price to Annex
the Christian- Science rates, and compel
Dollar (payable the devotee to buy
in advance)– purchases (for even
of consecrated glass to-day a healer
beads, candles, has to have
memorial spoons, the Annex and the
aureoled chrome- Scriptures or he
portraits and bogus is not allowed
autographs of Mrs. to work the game),
Eddy; cash and that will

53
 bring several hunted, and hunted,
hundred million by correspondence and otherwise,
dollars more. and have not yet
In those days, got upon the track
the Trust will of a farthing
have an income that the Trust
approaching five has spent upon
million dollars any worthy object.
a day, and no Nothing makes
expenses to be a Scientist so uncomfortable
taken out of as to ask him
it; no taxes if he knows
to pay, and no of a case
charities to support. where Christian
That last Science has spent
detail should money on a
not be lightly benevolence, either
passed over by among its own
the reader; it is adherents or elsewhere.
well entitled He is obliged
to attention. to say “No”
And then one discovers
No charities to support. that the person
No, nor even to questioned has been
contribute to. asked the question
One searches in vain many times
the Trust’s advertisements before, and that
and the utterances it is getting
of its organs to be a sore
for any suggestion subject with
that it spends him. Why a
a penny on orphans, sore subject?
widows, discharged Because he has
prisoners, hospitals, written his chiefs
ragged schools, and asked with
night missions, high confidence
city missions, for an answer
libraries, old people’s that will
homes, or any confound these
other object questioners– and the
that appeals chiefs did not
to a human reply. He has
being’s purse written again,
through his heart. and then again–
not with confidence,
I have hunted, but humbly, now–

54
 and has begged cases got definite
for defensive ammunition and informing answers;
in the voice in other cases
of supplication. A reply the answers were
does at last not definite and not
come to this valuable. To the
effect: “We question, “Does
must have any of the money
faith in Our go to charities?”
Mother, and rest the answer from an
content in the authoritative source
conviction that was: “No,
whatever She does not in the sense
with the money usually conveyed
it is in accordance by this word.”
with orders (The italics
from Heaven, are mine.) That
for She does no answer is cautious.
act of any kind But definite, I think–
without first utterly and unassailably
’demonstrating over’ definite– although
it.” quite Christian-
Scientifically foggy
That settles in its phrasing.
it–as far as Christian- Science
the disciple is concerned. testimony is generally
His mind is satisfied foggy, generally
with that diffuse, generally
answer; he gets garrulous. The writer
down his Annex was aware that
and does an incantation the first word in
or two, and that his phrase answered
mesmerizes his spirit the question which
and puts that to I was asking,
sleep– brings but he could
it peace. Peace not help adding
and comfort and joy, nine dark
until some words. Meaningless
inquirer punctures ones, unless
the old sore explained by him.
again. It is quite
likely, as intimated
Through friends by him, that
in America I asked Christian Science
some questions, has invented a new
and in some class of objects

55
 to apply the word It does not even
“charity” to, but let its own disciples
without an explanation find out.
we cannot know All it says
what they is, that the matter
are. We quite has been “demonstrated
easily and naturally over.” Now and
and confidently guess then a lay Scientist
that they says, with a
are in all cases grateful exultation,
objects which that Mrs.
will return Eddy is enormously
five hundred rich, but he
per cent. on the stops there;
Trust’s investment as to whether
in them, but guessing any of the money
is not knowledge; goes to other
it is merely, charities or not,
in this case, he is obliged
a sort of nine- to admit that he
tenths certainty does not know.
deducible from However, the Trust
what we think is composed of human
we know of the beings; and this
Trust’s trade justifies the conjecture
principles and its that if it had
sly and furtive a charity on its
and shifty ways. list which
it was proud
Sly? Deep? of, we should
Judicious? The Trust soon hear of
understands its business. it.
The Trust does
not give itself “Without money
away. It defeats and without price.”
all the attempts Those used to
of us impertinents be the terms.
to get at its Mrs. Eddy’s
trade secrets. Annex cancels
To this day, them. The motto
after all our of Christian Science
diligence, we have is, “The laborer
not been able to is worthy of his
get it to confess hire.” And now
what it does that it has been
with the money. “demonstrated over,”

56
 we find its spiritual inspiration of the
meaning to be, sincerity be what
“Do anything it may. Zeal
and everything your and sincerity can carry
hand may find a new religion
to do; and charge further than
cash for it, any other missionary
and collect the money except fire
in advance.” The Scientist and sword, and I
has on his tongue’s believe that
end a cut-and- the new religion
dried, Boston- will conquer
supplied set of the half of Christendom
rather lean in a hundred
arguments, whose years. I am
function is to not intending this as
show that it a compliment to the
is a Heaven- human race;
commanded duty to I am merely
do this, and that stating an opinion.
the croupiers of the And yet I think
game have no that perhaps
choice but to it is a compliment
obey. to the race.
I keep in mind
The Trust seems that saying
to be a reincarnation. of an orthodox
Exodus xxxii. preacher– quoted
4. further back.
He conceded that
I have no reverence this new Christianity
for the Trust, frees its possessor’s
but I am not life from
lacking in reverence frets, fears,
for the sincerities vexations, bitterness,
of the lay membership and all sorts
of the new Church. of imagination- propagated
There is every maladies and pains,
evidence that and fills his world
the lay members with sunshine
are entirely sincere and his heart
in their faith, with gladness.
and I think If Christian Science,
sincerity is always with this
entitled to honor stupendous equipment–
and respect, let the and final salvation

57
 added– cannot
win half the Christian
globe, I must
be badly mistaken
in the make-
up of the human
race.

I think the Trust

will be handed
down like Me
other Papacy,
and will always
know how to
handle its limitless
cash. It will
press the button;
the zeal, the energy,
the sincerity, the enthusiasm
of its countless
vassals will do
the rest.

58
Chapter 8

The power which imagine that

a man’s imagination his incantations are the
has over his body healing- power
to heal it or that is curing
make it sick is A, and A must
a force which imagine that
none of us is this is so. I
born without. think it is
The first man had not so, at all;
it, the last but no matter,
one will possess the cure is effected,
it. If left to and that is the
himself, a man main thing.
is most likely The outsider’s work is
to use only unquestionably valuable;
the mischievous half of so valuable that it
the force– the half may fairly be likened
which invents to the essential
imaginary ailments work performed
for him and cultivates by the engineer
them; and if when he handles
he is one of the throttle and turns
these– very on the steam;
wise people, the actual power
he is quite is lodged exclusively
likely to scoff in the engine,
at the beneficent but if the engine
half of the force were left
and deny its existence. alone it would
And so, to heal never start
or help that of itself. Whether
man, two imaginations the engineer be named
are required: his own Jim, or Bob, or
and some outsider’s. Tom, it is all
The outsider, B, must one– his services

59
 are necessary, and he in the air and
is entitled to such the rocks and the
wage as he can earth and everywhere
get you to pay. since time
Whether he be began– and was
named Christian going to waste
Scientist, or Mental all the while.
Scientist, or Mind In our time we
Curist, or King’s- have organized
Evil Expert, that scattered
or Hypnotist, it is and wandering force
all one; he is and set it to
merely the Engineer; work, and backed
he simply turns the business with
on the same capital, and concentrated
old steam and the it in few and
engine does competent hands,
the whole work. and the results
are as we see.
The Christian- Scientist
engineer drives The Christian Scientist
exactly the same has taken a force
trade as the which has been
other engineers, lying idle in
yet he out-prospers every member
the whole of them of the human
put together. race since
time began,
Is it because and has organized
he has captured it, and backed
the takingest name? the business with
I think that capital, and concentrated
that is only a it at Boston
small part of headquarters in the
it. I think hands of a
that the secret small and very
of his high competent Trust,
prosperity lies and there are results.
elsewhere.
Therein lies
The Christian Scientist the promise that
has organized the business. this monopoly
Now that was certainly is going to extend
a gigantic idea. its commerce wide in
Electricity, in limitless the earth. I think
volume, has existed that if the business

60
 were conducted
in the loose
and disconnected fashion
customary with
such things,
it would achieve
but little more
than the modest
prosperity usually
secured by unorganized
great moral
and commercial ventures;
but I believe
that so long as
this one remains
compactly organized
and closely concentrated
in a Trust,
the spread of its
dominion will
continue.

61
Chapter 9

Four years less embarrassed.

ago I wrote For a moment.
the preceding chapters. Only for a
I was assured moment. Then he
by the wise waylays the first
that Christian spectre of a
Science was a reason that
fleeting craze goes flitting
and would soon through the desert
perish. This places of his
prompt and all- mind, and is
competent stripe at once serene
of prophet is always again and ready
to be had in for conflict. Serene
the market at ground- and confident. Yet he
floor rates. should not be
He does not stop so, since he has
to load, or consider, had no chance
or take aim, to examine his catch,
but lets fly just and cannot know
as he stands. whether it is
Facts are nothing going to help
to him, he has his contention or damage
no use for such it.
things; he works
wholly by inspiration. The impromptu reason
And so, when he furnished by the
is asked why he early prophets
considers a new of whom I have
movement a passing spoken was this:
fad and quickly
perishable, he finds “There is nothing
himself unprepared to Christian Science;
with a reason there is nothing
and is more or about it that

62
 appeals to the were in any considerable
intellect; its market degree achieved
will be restricted through the intellect,
to the unintelligent, the aforesaid reason
the mentally inferior, would be sound
the people who do and sufficient, no doubt;
not think.” the inquirer into
Christian Science
They called might go away
that a reason unconvinced and unconverted.
why the cult But we all know
would not flourish that conversions
and endure. It seems are seldom made in
the equivalent of saying: that way;
that such a
“There is no thing as a
money in tinware; serious and painstaking
there is nothing and fairly competent
about it that inquiry into
appeals to the the claims of a
rich; its market religion or of
will be restricted a political dogma
to the poor.” is a rare
occurrence; and that
It is like the vast mass of
bringing forward men and women
the best reason are far from
in the world being capable
why Christian Science of making such an
should flourish examination. They
and live, and then are not capable,
blandly offering for the reason
it as a reason that their
why it should minds, howsoever
sicken and die. good they
may be, are not
That reason trained for such
was furnished me by examinations. The mind
the complacent and unfrightened not trained for that
prophets four work is no more
years ago, competent to do
and it has been it than are lawyers
furnished me again and farmers competent
to-day. If conversions to make successful
to new religions clothes without
or to old ones learning the tailor’s

63
 trade. There Within these
are seventy- five limits alone
million men and are their opinions
women among and judgments valuable;
us who do not outside of these
know how to limits they
cut out and make grope and are
a dress- suit, lost– usually
and they would without knowing
not think of trying; it. In a church
yet they all think assemblage of five
they can competently hundred persons,
think out a there will be
political or religious a man or two
scheme without whose trained
any apprenticeship to the minds can seize
business, and many upon each
of them believe detail of a
they have great manufacturing
actually worked scheme and recognize
that miracle. its value or its
But, indeed, lack of value
the truth is, almost promptly; and can
all the men and pass the details
women of our in intelligent review,
nation or of section by section,
any other get their and finally as a
religion and their whole, and then
politics where deliver a verdict
they get their upon the scheme
astronomy– entirely which cannot
at second hand. be flippantly set aside
Being untrained, nor easily answered.
they are no And there will be
more able to one or two other
intelligently examine men there who can
a dogma or a do the same
policy than thing with a
they are to great and complicated
calculate an eclipse. educational project;
and one or two
Men are usually others who can
competent thinkers do the like
along the lines with a large
of their specialized scheme for applying
training only. electricity in a

64
 new and unheard- and seventy- five
of way; and one men and women
or two others present who can
who can do it draw upon
with a showy their training
scheme for revolutionizing and deliver incontrovertible
the scientific world’s judgments concerning
accepted notions cheese, and leather,
regarding geology. and cattle, and hardware,
And so on, and and soap, and tar,
so on. But the and candles, and patent
manufacturing experts medicines, and dreams,
will not be and apparitions, and garden
competent to examine trucks, and cats,
the educational scheme and baby food,
intelligently, and their and warts, and hymns,
opinion about and time- tables,
it would not be and freight- rates,
valuable; neither and summer resorts,
of these two groups and whiskey, and law,
will be able to and surgery, and dentistry,
understand and pass and blacksmithing, and shoemaking,
upon the electrical and dancing, and Huyler’s
scheme; none of candy, and mathematics,
these three and dog fights,
batches of experts and obstetrics, and music,
will be able to and sausages, and dry
understand and pass goods, and molasses,
upon the geological and railroad stocks,
revolution; and probably and horses, and literature,
not one man in and labor unions,
the entire lot will and vegetables, and morals,
be competent to examine, and lamb’s fries,
capably, the intricacies and etiquette, and agriculture.
of a political And not ten among
or religious scheme, the five hundred–
new or old, let their minds
and deliver a judgment be ever so good
upon it which and bright– will be
any one need competent, by grace
regard as precious. of the requisite
specialized mental
There you have training, to take
the top crust. hold of a complex
There will be abstraction of any
four hundred kind and make

65
 head or tail of their environment.
it.
Environment is the
The whole five chief thing
hundred are thinkers, to be considered
and they are all when one is
capable thinkers– proposing to predict
but only within the future of Christian
the narrow limits Science. It is
of their specialized not the ability
trainings. Four to reason that
hundred and ninety makes the Presbyterian,
of them cannot or the Baptist,
competently examine or the Methodist,
either a religious or the Catholic,
plan or a political or the Mohammedan,
one. A scattering or the Buddhist,
few of them do or the Mormon;
examine both– it is environment.
that is, they If religions were
think they got by reasoning,
do. With we should have
results as precious the extraordinary spectacle
as when I examine of an American
the nebular theory family with a
and explain it to Presbyterian in it,
myself. and a Baptist,
a Methodist, a Catholic,
If the four a Mohammedan, a Buddhist,
hundred and ninety and a Mormon.
got their religion A Presbyterian family
through their does not produce
minds, and by Catholic families
weighed and measured or other religious
detail, Christian brands, it produces
Science would its own kind;
not be a scary and not by intellectual
apparition. But they processes, but by
don’t; they association. And so
get a little also with
of it through Mohammedanism, the cult
their minds, which in our
more of it through day is spreading
their feelings, with the sweep
and the overwhelming of a world-
bulk of it through conflagration through

66
 the Orient, that it, and can get
native home of along quite
profound thought well without
and of subtle it.
intellectual fence,
that fertile Provided. Provided
womb whence what? That it
has sprung every can secure that
great religion thing which
that exists. is worth two or
Including our own; three hundred
for with all our thousand times
brains we cannot more than an
invent a religion “appeal to the
and market it. intellect”– an environment.
Can it get that?
The language of my Will it be a
quoted prophets menace to regular
recurs to us Christianity if it
now, and we gets that?
wonder to think Is it time
how small a space for regular Christianity
in the world to get alarmed?
the mighty Mohammedan Or shall regular
Church would Christianity smile
be occupying now, if a smile and turn
a successful trade over and take
in its line of another nap?
goods had been Won’t it be
conditioned upon an wise and proper
exhibit that for regular Christianity
would “appeal to do the old
to the intellect” way, Me customary
instead of to way, the historical
“the unintelligent, way– lock
the mentally inferior, the stable- door
the people who do after the horse
not think.” is gone? Just as
Protestantism has smiled
The Christian Science and nodded this
Church, like long time
the Mohammedan Church, (while the alert
makes no embarrassing and diligent Catholic
appeal to the was slipping in and
intellect, has no capturing the public
occasion to do schools), and is

67
 now beginning to hunt some more
around for the factories.
key when it is
too late? Four years
ago there were
Will Christian six Christian Scientists
Science get a in a certain
chance to show town that I
its wares? It has am acquainted with;
already secured a year ago there
that chance. were two hundred
Will it flourish and fifty there;
and spread and prosper they have
if it shall built a church,
create for itself and its membership
the one thing now numbers four
essential to those hundred. This
conditions– an environment? has all been
It has already quietly done;
created an environment. done without
There are families frenzied revivals,
of Christian Scientists without uniforms,
in every community brass bands,
in America, and each street parades,
family is a corner oratory,
factory; each or any of the
family turns other customary
out a Christian persuasions to a
Science product godly life.
at the customary Christian Science,
intervals, and contributes like Mohammedanism,
it to the Cause is “restricted” to the
in the only “unintelligent, the people
way in which who do not think.”
contributions of recruits There lies
to Churches are ever the danger. It makes
made on a large Christian Science
scale– by the formidable. It is
puissant forces “restricted” to ninety-
of personal contact nine one-hundredths
and association. Each of the human
family is an race, and must
agency for the be reckoned with by
Cause, and makes regular Christianity.
converts among And will be, as
the neighbors, and starts soon as it is

68
too late.

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