"Thank you, Sadie, for so pat an ill.u.s.tration of an exceedingly uncomfortable frame of mind," said Prof. Seabrook, with a merry twinkle in his fine eyes, while an appreciative laugh ran around the circle.
The girl flushed scarlet in sudden dismay.
"Prof. Seabrook!" she faltered, "I didn"t mean--I was only thinking of what I said to Katherine about being a Christian Scientist the day she came here. I told her, very grandly, that I was an Episcopalian, that my grandfather was an Episcopalian clergyman, and I had my doubts about his resting easy in his grave if he knew what a rank heretic I had for a roommate. Well, she just unfurled a white banner of Love to me, and I"ve wanted to hide my diminished head every time I"ve thought of it since."
"All right, Sadie; there"s no offense," returned the princ.i.p.al, with a smiling glance at her still flushed cheeks, "and I think there may be some others among us who have learned a salutary lesson from our modest but stanch "brown-eyed la.s.sie," for she certainly has tried, as she told me she would on that same day, "to live her religion of Love." But," turning again to Mrs.
Minturn, "that reminds me of something else I wished to ask you."
Reopening his book, he read aloud the sixth tenet, emphasizing the phrase "to love one another."
"I find, in reading this book," he resumed, "that you Scientists give a higher signification to that word "love" than is implied by the ordinary interpretation. Mere sentiment or emotion have nothing in common with your concept of its meaning?"
"Our Leader says, in her book of "Miscellaneous Writings,"
[Footnote: By Mary Baker G. Eddy, page 230.] that "no word is more misconstrued, no sentiment less understood,"" said Mrs. Minturn.
"Spiritual love is governed by its principle--divine Love.
Emotional or sentimental love has no principle. It is governed by mortal impulse, moods, personal attraction, and so forth. Divine Love has but one impulse--infinite impersonal good. Paul"s sublime definition of charity, or the love that "beareth all things,"
"that never faileth," "that thinketh no evil," is the Christian Science idea of love, and as our text-book teaches, nothing short of this, lived and demonstrated in the daily life, is Christian Science love."
"That is your lesson to me over again," whispered Miss Reynolds, who was sitting beside Katherine, "and I need it."
"But you would not abolish human love?" Dr. Stanley here abruptly questioned.
"I would have it governed, transformed by divine Love," returned Mrs. Minturn, gently. "There is much more of selfishness embodied in so-called human love than one can realize until one learns its spiritual signification. The mother"s is the purest of all human affection, and yet, even this is not devoid of selfishness, for it is "my boy" or "my girl" for whom she will toil and efface herself to secure advantages, and often to their detriment. The love that is absorbed in my wife or husband, my sister or brother, my friend, is not the truest, although it is right to care tenderly for those who are dependent upon us. But the yearning that reaches out to all men, recognizing in everyone "my mother, my sister, my brother"--for all are G.o.d"s children, and there are no mine or thine in Truth--is the love of G.o.d, the reflected Love that is G.o.d."
"I see, Mrs. Minturn; it is manifesting what the "little book"
says, the "love of Love," [Footnote: "Science and Health," page 319.] or the good of Good without regard to personality, so if we are reflecting it we cannot even think anything but good of everyone," here interposed Dorothy, who had listened intently to all that had been said.
"You dear child! how much better you have said it than I with my multiplicity of words!" observed Mrs. Minturn, bending a look of affection upon her.
"She has simply summarized what you have given us; but your a.n.a.lysis has been very helpful to me, and I now see more clearly much that I have been questioning during my recent perusal of the book," Prof. Seabrook remarked.
"Our Leader has long been reflecting this impersonal Love in her wonderful devotion to the Cause she has espoused," Mrs. Minturn resumed. "Her one thought and motive is and always has been--since the Science of Christianity was revealed to her--to send forth the new gospel to all "nations and peoples and tongues," and gather them under its sacred banner, knowing that it is the "pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night" that will surely guide them into the "Promised Land.""
"Yet she is severely criticised for claiming that it was a divine revelation; for a.s.suming "unwarrantable authority" and demanding "unquestioning obedience,"" said her host.
"Is that a fair or an honest criticism, Prof. Seabrook?" inquired his guest. "Has she not proved that Christian Science was a divine revelation, not only by her own wonderful demonstrations, but by the marvelous results which follow the study of her book, "Science and Health," not to dwell upon the great work accomplished by the thousands of her students who have faithfully followed her teachings? Then, a leader must lead. Under supreme orders she became the pioneer to mark the way for others; she has scaled heights which no others have attained since the days of the Master, and so she alone is fitted to direct. You, after long experience, have organized this school; you know best what is most needed to promote the highest interests of your students and maintain the superior standard of your inst.i.tution. But your word has to be law to attain these conditions, and you insist upon implicit obedience to your rules and mandates. Are you autocratically exacting or "a.s.suming unwarrantable authority" by so doing in order to meet the responsibilities devolving upon you?
As I said before, "a leader must lead," and a general must direct, as he discerns the need from his vantage ground above the field of battle, or the cause would be lost."
"I see your point. It is fairly and logically argued, and I am frank to admit that much of the criticism of Mrs. Eddy may be prompted by antagonism, jealousy and prejudice," the gentleman returned.
"But much more it is the outgrowth of misunderstanding," said Mrs.
Minturn, charitably. "Those who have most uncompromisingly denounced Christian Science and its Founder have spoken and written without a proper knowledge of their subject, without having even attempted to investigate, in order to prove the truth or error of what they had heard. They claim to have "read the book," but you know, from your own experience, that one casual reading is not sufficient to enable one to grasp the fundamental principles contained therein."
"That is true," he a.s.sented.
"And no man of good judgment," she went on, "would feel that he was prepared to write a treatise or exposition of some profound subject and give it to a critical public, until he had thoroughly mastered it; and this he would know he could not do in one, or even two, superficial readings. But these criticisms do not disturb us; they only make us love our Leader more, for her sweet patience, forbearance and forgiveness; and we know that the time will come when all will learn the Truth, "from the least to the greatest," and "rise up to call her blessed.""
"I am beginning to see that, too," said the professor. "But there is one thing more. Of course, you have had to meet the question many times--one hears it everywhere, and the papers every now and then reiterate it--how about the high price of the text-book and the teaching?"
"I would hardly have thought that such a question would have suggested itself to you, Prof. Seabrook, knowing, as you do, the high price demanded for some of your own text-books. Then, regarding the teaching, Hilton students pay from eight hundred to a thousand dollars a year, according to the privileges they enjoy, not counting the extras; and the course is four years, making quite a round sum in the aggregate. You force me to be personal as well as practical in my arguments," Mrs. Minturn interposed, with an arch smile. "Now for the other side of the question. Seventeen years ago I was healed of what several physicians--to whom I paid many hundreds of dollars--said was an incurable disease, by simply reading "Science and Health," for which I paid three dollars. A year later I studied with one of Mrs. Eddy"s loyal students, to whom I paid one hundred dollars for my course of instruction.
Since that time I have never employed a physician or paid out a penny for medicines. In view of these facts, do you think that the price of the book and teaching should be regarded as "exorbitant,"
"out of all reason," an "imposition upon the public," and many similar expressions, as are repeated over and over by numerous denouncers and newspapers?"
Prof. Seabrook made a deprecatory gesture.
"I am ashamed to have raised such a point," he said; "it seems exceedingly narrow and petty."
"And besides," Mrs. Minturn continued, "this same book and teaching have enabled me to heal hundreds of people of all manner of diseases, and send them on their way rejoicing and to help others. Ah!" she cried, with eyes that shone through starting tears, "how can anyone speak slightingly of that dear woman who has been instrumental in giving such a boon to suffering humanity, or criticise any act which, in her G.o.d-given wisdom, she is led to do? But, I am sure, I have talked enough for now, although I am at your service at any time if other questions arise to perplex," she concluded, as she arose, and the little company, after a few moments spent in social converse, separated for the night.
A few days later Miss Reynolds sought Katharine. The girl was in a music room, where she had been practicing for nearly an hour, and arose as her friend entered, an expectant look on her face, for she seemed to feel at once that there was something unusual in the atmosphere.
The woman was evidently in a strangely serious mood. There was an expression of exaltation in her eyes, which told of some deep, new experience that had aroused profound reverence and wonder, and a drooping of her sweet lips that bespoke a spirit bowed beneath a sense of humility, and she carried a letter in her hand.
"Read that, dear," she said, in a repressed tone, as she pa.s.sed it to her pupil.
Katherine removed the missive from its envelope and read:
"MISS ADELE REYNOLDS:
"DEAR MADAM: My father, as, possibly you may have heard ere this, pa.s.sed away one week ago to-day. You will perhaps be surprised to learn that I have long known there existed an error at the time of the settlement of Mr. Reynolds"--your father"s--affairs nearly eleven years ago, and, although I sought several times to do so, I was powerless to have the matter rectified. Now, however, my sister and I, being the only heirs to our father"s property, have agreed that justice must be done, and have deposited in the First National Bank of this city the amount--with accrued interest--that is your rightful due, and it is subject to your order. Trusting that you will kindly throw the veil of charity over what has been a great wrong, I am,
"Very respectfully yours, JOHN F. HOWARD."
As she finished reading this letter Katherine looked into the eyes of her teacher and smiled.
"Kathie, I can hardly believe it!" said Miss Reynolds, in a voice choked with tears.
""The measure that ye mete shall be measured to you again," you know," softly returned her companion, "and love begets love. You, long since, threw the mantle of Love over your "brother," and Truth has uncovered and destroyed the error--in other words, the greed--that seemed to rob you of what was justly yours."
"It makes me very humble," faltered her teacher. "I have tried to love because, to be loyal to Truth, I must do nothing else."
"Yes, and so Love has fulfilled the law; and, as our text-book says, "Mercy cancels the debt only when justice approves.""
[Footnote: "Science and Health," page 22]
"And Katharine"--and Miss Reynolds" face glowed with happiness-- "now the way is opened for me to do what I had decided I must do by the end of this year--"go work in His vineyard." I did not clearly see how I could do it, but I have tried to know that "G.o.d is the source of all supply, and I left it there.""
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE END OF SCHOOL DAYS.
Time seemed to fly after Mrs. Minturn"s visit. Winter melted into spring, spring budded and blossomed into summer, and June, with its examinations, commencement exercises and formalities, was once more close upon the students at Hilton.
Mr. and Mrs. Minturn came on from New York to be present at Katherine"s graduation, after which the family, Jennie included, were going directly to their summer home at Manchester.