Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 70

The mortal admission of the reality of evil perpetuates faith in evil; and the Scriptures declare that "to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are." This leading, self-evident proposition of Christian Science, that, good being real, its opposite is necessarily [20]

unreal, needs to be grasped in all its divine requirements.

Truth Versus Error

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." It is a rule in Christian Science never to re- peat error unless it becomes requisite to bring out Truth. [25]

Then lift the curtain, let in the light, and countermand

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this first command of Solomon, "Answer not a fool accord- [1]

ing to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him,"

A distant rumbling and quivering of the earth foretell the internal action of pent-up gas. To avoid danger from this source people have to escape from their houses to the [5]

open s.p.a.ce. A conical cloud, hanging like a horoscope in the air, foreshadows a cyclone. To escape from this calamity people prepare shelter in caves of the earth.

They who discern the face of the skies cannot always discern the mental signs of these times, and peer through [10]

the opaque error. Where my vision begins and is clear, theirs grows indistinct and ends.

There are diversities of operation by the same spirit.

Two individuals, with all the goodness of generous na- tures, advise me. One says, Go this way; the other [15]

says, Take the opposite direction! Between the two I stand still; or, accepting the premonition of one of them, I follow his counsel, take a few steps, then halt. A true sense not unfamiliar has been awakened. I see the way now. The guardians of His presence go before me. I [20]

enter the path. It may be smooth, or it may be rugged; but it is always straight and narrow; and if it be up- hill all the way, the ascent is easy and the summit can be gained.

G.o.d is responsible for the mission of those whom He [25]

has anointed. Those who know no will but His take His hand, and from the night He leads to light. None can say unto Him, What doest Thou?

_The Christian Science Journal_ was the oldest and only authenticated organ of Christian Science up to [30]

1898. Loyal Scientists are targets for envy, rivalry, slander; and whoever hits this mark is well paid by the

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umpire. But the Scientists aim highest. They press for- [1]

ward towards the mark of a high calling. They recog- nize the claims of the law and the gospel. They know that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap. They infringe neither the books nor the business of others; and [5]

with hearts overflowing with love for G.o.d, they help on the brotherhood of men. It is not _mine_ but _Thine_ they seek.

When G.o.d bids one uncover iniquity, in order to exterminate it, one should lay it bare; and divine Love will bless this endeavor and those whom it reaches. [10]

"Nothing is hid that shall not be revealed."

It is only a question of time when G.o.d shall reveal His rod, and show the plan of battle. Error, left to itself, acc.u.mulates. Hence, Solomon's transverse command: "Answer a fool according, to his folly, lest he be wise in [15]

his own conceit."

To quench the growing flames of falsehood, once in about seven years I have to repeat this,-that I use no drugs whatever, not even coffea (coffee), thea (tea), cap- sic.u.m (red pepper); though every day, and especially at [20]

dinner, I indulge in h.o.m.opathic doses of _Natrum muri-_ _atic.u.m_ (common salt).

When I found myself under this new _regime_ of medi- cine, the medicine of Mind, I wanted to satisfy my curi- osity as to the effect of drugs on one who had lost all [25]

faith in them. Hence I tried several doses of medicine, and so proved to myself that drugs have no beneficial effect on an individual in a proper state of mind.

I have by no means encouraged students of the Ma.s.sa- chusetts Metaphysical College to enter medical schools, [30]

and afterwards denied this and objected to their entering those schools. A student who consulted me on this sub-

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ject, received my consent and even the offer of pecuniary [1]

a.s.sistance to take lessons outside of my College, provided he received these lessons of a certain regular-school physi- cian, whose instructions included about twelve lessons, three weeks' time, and the surgical part of midwifery. I [5]

have students with the degree of M. D., who are skilful obstetricians. Such a course with such a teacher would not necessitate essential materialization of a student's thought, nor detract from the metaphysical mode of obstetrics taught in my College. [10]

This student had taken the above-named course in obstetrics when he consulted me on the feasibility of enter- ing a medical school; and to this I objected on the ground that it was inconsistent with Christian Science, which he claimed to be practising; but I was willing, and said [15]

so, that, notwithstanding my objection, he should do as he deemed best, for I claim no jurisdiction over any stu- dents. He entered the medical school, and several other students with him. My counsel to all of them was in substance the same as the foregoing, and some of these [20]

students have openly acknowledged this.

In answer to a question on the following subject, I will state that I preached four years, and built up the church, before I would accept the slightest remuneration.

When the church had sufficient members and means to [25]

pay a salary, and refused to give me up or to receive my gratuitous services, I accepted, for a time, fifteen dollars each Sunday when I preached. I never received more than this; and the contributions, when I preached, doubled that amount. I have accepted no pay from my [30]

church for about three years, and believe that I have put into the church-fund about two thousand dollars of

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my own contributions. I hold receipts for $1,489.50 paid [1]

in, and the balance was never receipted for.

I temporarily organized a secret society known as the P. M., the workings whereof were not "terrible and too shocking to relate." By and with advice of the very [5]

student who brings up the question of this society, it was formed. The P. M. (Private Meeting) Society met only twice. The first subject given out for considera- tion was this: "There is no Animal Magnetism." There was no advice given, no mental work, and there were [10]

no transactions at those meetings which I would hesitate to have known. On the contrary, our deliberations were, as usual, Christian, and like my public instruction.

The second P. M. convened in about one week from the first. The subject given out at that meeting was, in sub- [15]

stance, "G.o.d is All; there is none beside Him." This proved to be our last meeting. I dissolved the society, and we have not met since. If harm could come from the consideration of these two topics, it was because of the misconception of those subjects in the mind that [20]

handled them. An individual state of mind sometimes occasions effects on patients which are not in harmony with Science and the soundness of the argument used.

Hence it prevents the normal action, and the benefit that would otherwise accrue. [25]

I issue no arguments, and cause none to be used in mental practice, which consign people to suffering. On the contrary, I cannot serve two masters; therefore I teach the use of such arguments only as promote health and spiritual growth. My life, consecrated to humanity [30]

through nameless suffering and sacrifice, furnishes its own proof of my practice.

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I have sometimes called on students to test their ability [1]

and meet the mental malpractice, so as to lift the burdens imposed by students.

The fact is, that for want of time, and for the purpose of blessing even my enemies, I neglect myself. I never [5]

have practised by arguments which, perverted, are the weapons of the silent mental malpractice. I have no skill in occultism; and I could not if I would, and would not if I could, harm any one through the mental method of Mind-healing, or in any manner. [10]

The late much-ado-about-nothing arose solely from mental malicious practice, and the audible falsehood designed to stir up strife between brethren, for the purpose of placing Christian Science in the hands of aspirants for place and power. These repeated attempts of mad [15]

ambition may r.e.t.a.r.d our Cause, but they never can place it in the wrong hands and hold it there, nor benefit mankind by such endeavors.