Chapter 12 — Readers, Teachers, Lecturers
From Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy
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Table of Contents
- The New York Churches
- The November Class, 1898
- Massachusetts Metaphysical College
- The Board of Education
- To a First Reader
- The Christian Science Board of Lectureship
- Readers in Church
- Words for the Wise
- Afterglow
- Teachers of Christian Science
- The General Association of Teachers, 1903
- The London Teachers’ Association, 1903
- The General Association of Teachers, 1904
- The Canadian Teachers, 1904
- Students in the Board of Education, December, 1904
- The May Class, 1005
- The December Class, 1905
- “Rotation in Office”
- Mrs. Eddy’s Reply
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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
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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-
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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
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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
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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,
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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.”
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!
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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
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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.
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;
Page 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, 1909