"Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy obtained a college charter [1]
in January, 1881, with all the rights and privileges per- taining thereunto (_including the right to grant degrees_) under Act of 1874, Chapter 375, Section 4.
"This Act was _repealed_ from and after January 31, [5]
1882. Mrs. Eddy"s grant for a college, for metaphysical purposes _only_, is the first on record in history, and no charters were granted for similar colleges, except hers, from January, 1881, till the repealing of said Act in January, 1882. [10]
"The substance of this Act is at present incorporated in Public Statutes, Chapter 115, Section 2, with the fol- lowing important restrictions: In accordance with Statutes of 1883, Chapter 268, any officer, agent, or servant of any corporation or a.s.sociation, who confers, or authorizes [15]
to be conferred, any diploma or degree, shall be pun- ished by a fine not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars.
"All the mind-healing colleges (except Rev. Mrs.
Eddy"s) have simply an incorporated grant, which may [20]
be called a charter, such as any stock company may ob- tain for any secular purposes; but these so-called char- ters bestow no rights to _confer degrees_. Hence to name these inst.i.tutions, under such charters, _colleges_, is a fraud- ulent claim. There is but one legally chartered college [25]
of metaphysics, with powers to confer diplomas and de- grees, and that is the Ma.s.sachusetts Metaphysical College, of which Rev. Mrs. Eddy is founder and president."
I have endeavored to act toward all students of Chris- tian Science with the intuition and impulse of love. If [30]
certain natures have not profited by my rebukes,-
[Page 273.]
some time, as Christian Scientists, they will know the [1]
value of these rebukes. I am thankful that the neo- phyte will be benefited by experience, although it will cost him much, and in proportion to its worth.
I close my College in order to work in other directions, [5]
where I now seem to be most needed, and where none other can do the work. I withdraw from an overwhelm- ing prosperity. My students have never expressed so grateful a sense of my labors with them as now, and never have been so capable of relieving my tasks as at [10]
present.
G.o.d bless my enemies, as well as the better part of mankind, and gather all my students, in the bonds of love and perfectness, into one grand family of Christ"s followers. [15]
Loyal Christian Scientists should go on in their pres- ent line of labor for a good and holy cause. Their insti- tutes have not yet accomplished all the good they are capable of accomplishing; therefore they should con- tinue, as at present, to send out students from these [20]
sources of education, to promote the growing interest in Christian Science Mind-healing.
There are one hundred and sixty applications lying on the desk before me, for the Primary cla.s.s in the Ma.s.sa- chusetts Metaphysical College, and I cannot do my best [25]
work for a cla.s.s which contains that number. When these were taught, another and a larger number would be in waiting for the same cla.s.s instruction; and if I should teach that Primary cla.s.s, the other three cla.s.ses- one Primary and two Normal-would be delayed. [30]
The work is more than one person can well accomplish, and the imperative call is for my exclusive teaching.
[Page 274.]
From the scant history of Jesus and of his disciples, [1]
we have no Biblical authority for a public inst.i.tution.
This point, however, had not impressed me when I opened my College. I desire to revise my book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and in order to do [5]
this I must stop teaching at present. The work that needs to be done, and which G.o.d calls me to outside of College work, if left undone might hinder the progress of our Cause more than my teaching would advance it: therefore I leave all for Christ. [10]
Deeply regretting the disappointment this will occa- sion, and with grateful acknowledgments to the public for its liberal patronage, I close my College.
MARY BAKER G. EDDY
Malicious Reports
_Truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter._-ISAIAH lix. 14.
When the press is gagged, liberty is besieged; but when the press a.s.sumes the liberty to lie, it discounts clemency, mocks morality, outrages humanity, breaks common law, gives impulse to violence, envy, and hate, [20]
and prolongs the reign of inordinate, unprincipled clans.
At this period, 1888, those quill-drivers whose consciences are in their pockets hold high carnival. When news- dealers shout for cla.s.s legislation, and decapitated reputa- tions, headless trunks, and quivering hearts are held up [25]
before the rabble in exchange for money, place, and power, the _vox populi_ is suffocated, individual rights are trodden under foot, and the car of the modern In- quisition rolls along the streets besmeared with blood.
[Page 275.]
Would not our Master say to the chief actors in scenes [1]
like these, "Ye fools and blind!" Oh, tardy human justice! would you take away even woman"s trembling, clinging faith in divine power? Who can roll away the stone from the door of this sepulchre? Who-but G.o.d"s [5]
avenging angel!
In times like these it were well to lift the veil on the sackcloth of home, where weepeth the faithful, stricken mother, and the bruised father bendeth his aching head; where the bereft wife or husband, silent and alone, looks [10]
in dull despair at the vacant seat, and the motherless little ones, wondering, huddle together, and repeat with quivering lips words of strange import. May the great Shepherd that "tempers the wind to the shorn lamb,"
and binds up the wounds of bleeding hearts, just comfort, [15]
encourage, and bless all who mourn.
Father, we thank Thee that Thy light and Thy love reach earth, open the prison to them that are bound, con- sole the innocent, and throw wide the gates of heaven.
Loyal Christian Scientists
Pen can never portray the satisfaction that you afforded me at the grand meeting in Chicago of the National Chris- tian Scientist a.s.sociation in 1888. Your public and private expressions of love and loyalty were very touch- ing. They moved me to speechless thanks. [25]
Chicago is the wonder of the western hemisphere. The Palmer House, where we stopped, is magnificent and orderly. The servants are well-mannered, and the fare is appetizing. The floral offerings sent to my apartments
[Page 276.]
were superb, especially the large book of rare flowers, and [1]
the crescent with a star.
The reception in the s.p.a.cious rooms of the Palmer House, like all else, was purely Western in its cordiality and largeness. I did not hold interviews with all with [5]
whom I desired to, solely because so many people and circ.u.mstances demanded my attention that my person- ality was not big enough to fill the order; but rest as- sured my heart"s desire met the demand.
My students, our delegates, about one thousand Chris- [10]
tian Scientists, active, earnest, and loyal, formed a goodly a.s.semblage for the third convention of our National As- sociation,-an a.s.semblage found waiting and watching for the full coming of our Lord and Christ.
In Christian Science the midnight hour will always be [15]
the bridal hour, until "no night is there." The wise will have their lamps aglow, and light will illumine the darkness.
Out of the gloom comes the glory of our Lord, and His divine Love is found in affliction. When a false [20]
sense suffers, the true sense comes out, and the bride- groom appears. We are then wedded to a purer, higher affection and ideal.
I pray that all my students shall have their lamps trimmed and burning at the noon of night, that not one [25]