Words Of Commendation
_Editor of The Christian Science Journal_:-Permit me to say that your editorial in the August number is _par_ _excellence_.
It is a digest of good manners, morals, methods, and [5]
means. It points to the scientific spiritual molecule, pearl, and pinnacle, that everybody needs. May the Christlikeness it reflects rest on the dear readers, and throw the light of penetration on the page; even as the dawn, kindling its glories in the east, lightens earth"s [10]
landscape.
I thank the contributors to _The Christian Science_ _Journal_ for their jewels of thought, so adapted to the hour, and without ill-humor or hyperbolic tumor. I was impressed by the articles ent.i.tled "The New Pas- [15]
tor," by Rev. Lanson P. Norcross, "The Lamp," by Walter Church, "The Temptation," a poem by J. J.
Rome, etc.
The field waves its white ensign, the reapers are strong, the rich sheaves are ripe, the storehouse is ready: pray [20]
ye therefore the G.o.d of harvest to send forth more laborers of the excellent sort, and garner the supplies for a world.
Church And School
Humbly, and, as I believe, divinely directed, I hereby [25]
ordain the Bible, and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," to be hereafter the only pastor of
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The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land [1]
and in other lands.
From this date the Sunday services of our denomina- tion shall be conducted by Readers in lieu of pastors.
Each church, or society formed for Sunday worship, [5]
shall elect two Readers: a male, and a female. One of these individuals shall open the meeting by reading the hymns, and chapter (or portion of the chapter) in the Bible, lead in silent prayer, and repeat in concert with the congregation the Lord"s Prayer. Also, this First [10]
Reader shall give out any notices from the pulpit, shall read the Scriptures indicated in the Sunday School Les- son of the _Christian Science Quarterly_, and shall pro- nounce the benediction.
The First Reader shall read from my book, "Science [15]
and Health with Key to the Scriptures," alternately in response to the congregation, the spiritual interpreta- tion of the Lord"s Prayer; also, shall read all the selec- tions from Science and Health referred to in the Sunday Lessons. [20]
The Reader of the Scriptures shall name, at each reading, the book, chapter, and verses. The Reader of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" shall commence by announcing the full t.i.tle of this book, with the name of its author, and add to this announcement, [25]
"the Christian Science textbook." It is unnecessary to repeat the t.i.tle or page. This form shall also be observed at the Communion service; the selections from both the Bible and the Christian Science textbook shall be taken from the _Quarterly_, as heretofore, and this Lesson shall [30]
be such as is adapted to that service. On the first Sunday of each month, except Communion Sunday, a sermon
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shall be preached to the children, from selections taken [1]
from the Scriptures and Science and Health, especially adapted to the occasion, and read after the manner of the Sunday service. The children"s service shall be held on the Sunday following Communion Day. [5]
No copies from my books are allowed to be written, and read from ma.n.u.scripts, either in private or in pub- lic a.s.semblies, except by their author.
Christian Scientists, all over the world, who are let- terly fit and specially spiritually fitted for teachers, can [10]
teach annually three cla.s.ses only. They shall teach from the Christian Science textbook. Each cla.s.s shall consist of not over thirty-three students, carefully selected, and only of such as have promising proclivities toward Christian Science. The teacher shall hold himself mor- [15]
ally obligated to look after the welfare of his students, not only through cla.s.s term, but after it; and to watch well that they prove sound in sentiment, health, and practical Christian Science.
Teaching Christian Science shall be no question of [20]
money, but of morals and of uplifting the race. Teachers shall form a.s.sociations for this purpose; and for the first few years, convene as often as once in three months.
Teachers shall not silently mentally address the thought, to handle it, nor allow their students to do thus, except [25]
the individual needing it asks for mental treatment.
They shall steadily and patiently strive to educate their students in conformity to the unerring wisdom and law of G.o.d, and shall enjoin upon them habitually to study His revealed Word, the Scriptures, and "Science and [30]
Health with Key to the Scriptures."
They shall teach their students how to defend them-
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selves against mental malpractice, but never to return [1]
evil for evil; never to attack the malpract.i.tioner, but to know the truth that makes free,-and so to be a law not unto others, but themselves.
Cla.s.s, Pulpit, Students" Students
When will you take a cla.s.s in Christian Science or [6]
speak to your church in Boston? is often asked.
I shall speak to my dear church at Boston very seldom.
The Mother Church must be self-sustained by G.o.d.
The date of a cla.s.s in Christian Science should depend [10]
on the fitness of things, the tide which flows heavenward, the hour best for the student. Until minds become less worldly-minded, and depart farther from the primitives of the race, and have profited up to their present capac- ity from the written word, they are not ready for the [15]
word spoken at this date.
My juniors can tell others what they know, and turn them slowly toward the haven. Imperative, acc.u.mula- tive, sweet demands rest on my retirement from life"s bustle. What, then, of continual recapitulation of tired [20]
aphorisms and disappointed ethics; of patching breaches widened the next hour; of pounding wisdom and love into sounding bra.s.s; of warming marble and quench- ing volcanoes! Before entering the Ma.s.sachusetts Meta- physical College, had my students achieved the point [25]
whence they could have derived most benefit from their pupilage, to-day there would be on earth paragons of Christianity, patterns of humility, wisdom, and might for the world.
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To the students whom I have not seen that ask, "May [1]
I call you mother?" my heart replies, _Yes_, if you are doing G.o.d"s work. When born of Truth and Love, we are all of one kindred.
The hour has struck for Christian Scientists to do their [5]
own work; to appreciate the signs of the times; to dem- onstrate self-knowledge and self-government; and to demonstrate, as this period demands, over all sin, disease, and death. The dear ones whom I would have great pleasure in instructing, know that the door to my teaching [10]
was shut when my College closed.
Again, it is not absolutely requisite for some people to be taught in a cla.s.s, for they can learn by spiritual growth and by the study of what is written. Scarcely a moiety, compared with the whole of the Scriptures and [15]
the Christian Science textbook, is yet a.s.similated spirit- ually by the most faithful seekers; yet this a.s.similation is indispensable to the progress of every Christian Scientist.
These considerations prompt my answers to the above questions. Human desire is inadequate to adjust the [20]
balance on subjects of such earnest import. These words of our Master explain this hour: "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."