Angels
When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, [1]
nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but
we know their presence by the love they create in our [25]
hearts. Oh, may you feel this touch,—it is not the
clasping of hands, nor a loved person present; it is more
than this: it is a spiritual idea that lights your path!
The Psalmist saith: “He shall give His angels charge
over thee.” God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in [1]
turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-
morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present
help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have
all you need every moment. What a glorious inheritance [5]
is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent
Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want:
more we cannot have. This sweet assurance is the
“Peace, be still” to all human fears, to suffering of every
sort. [10]
Deification Of Personality
Notwithstanding the rapid sale already of two editions
of “Christ and Christmas,” and many orders on hand, I
have thought best to stop its publication.
In this revolutionary religious period, the increasing [15]
inquiry of mankind as to Christianity and its unity—
and above all, God's love opening the eyes of the blind—is
fast fitting all minds for the proper reception of
Christian Science healing.
But I must stand on this absolute basis of Christian [20]
Science; namely, Cast not pearls before the unprepared
thought. Idolatry is an easily-besetting sin of all peoples.
The apostle saith, “Little children, keep yourselves from
idols.”
The illustrations were not intended for a golden calf, [25]
at which the sick may look and be healed. Christian
Scientists should beware of unseen snares, and adhere
to the divine Principle and rules for demonstration.
They must guard against the deification of finite personality.
Every human thought must turn instinctively to [30]
the divine Mind as its sole centre and intelligence. Until [1]
this be done, man will never be found harmonious and
immortal.
Whosoever looks to me personally for his health or
holiness, mistakes. He that by reason of human love or [5]
hatred or any other cause clings to my material per-
sonality, greatly errs, stops his own progress, and loses
the path to health, happiness, and heaven. The Scrip-
tures and Christian Science reveal “the way,” and per-
sonal revelators will take their proper place in history, [10]
but will not be deified.
Advanced scientific students are ready for “Christ
and Christmas;” but those are a minority of its readers,
and even they know its practicality only by healing
the sick on its divine Principle. In the words of the [15]
prophet, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one
Lord.”
Friends, strangers, and Christian Scientists, I thank
you, each and all, for your liberal patronage and scholarly,
artistic, and scientific notices of my book. This little [20]
messenger has done its work, fulfilled its mission, retired
with honor (and mayhap taught me more than it has
others), only to reappear in due season. The knowledge
that I have gleaned from its fruitage is, that intensely
contemplating personality impedes spiritual growth; even [25]
as holding in mind the consciousness of disease prevents
the recovery of the sick.
Christian Science is taught through its divine Prin-
ciple, which is invisible to corporeal sense. A material
human likeness is the antipode of man in the image and [30]
likeness of God. Hence, a finite person is not the model
for a metaphysician. I earnestly advise all Christian
Scientists to remove from their observation or study
the personal sense of any one, and not to dwell in thought [1]
upon their own or others' corporeality, either as good or
evil.
According to Christian Science, material personality is
an error in premise, and must result in erroneous con- [5]
clusions. All will agree with me that material portraiture
often fails to express even mortal man, and this declares
its unfitness for fable or fact to build upon.
The face of Jesus has uniformly been so unnaturally
delineated that it has turned many from the true con- [10]
templation of his character. He advances most in divine
Science who meditates most on infinite spiritual sub-
stance and intelligence. Experience proves this true.
Pondering on the finite personality of Jesus, the son of
man, is not the channel through which we reach the [15]
Christ, or Son of God, the true idea of man's divine
Principle.
I warn students against falling into the error of anti-
Christ. The consciousness of corporeality, and what-
ever is connected therewith, must be outgrown. Corporeal [20]
falsities include all obstacles to health, holiness, and
heaven. Man's individual life is infinitely above a
bodily form of existence, and the human concept an-
tagonizes the divine. “Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures,” on page 229, third and fourth para- [25]
graphs, elucidates this topic.5
My Christmas poem and its illustrations are not a text-
book. Scientists sometimes take things too intensely.
Let them soberly adhere to the Bible and Science and
Health, which contain all and much more than they [30]
have yet learned. We should prohibit ourselves the
childish pleasure of studying Truth through the senses, [1]
for this is neither the intent of my works nor possible
in Science.
Even the teachings of Jesus would be misused by sub-
stituting personality for the Christ, or the impersonal [5]
form of Truth, amplified in this age by the discovery of
Christian Science. To impersonalize scientifically the
material sense of existence—rather than cling to per-
sonality—is the lesson of to-day.
A Card
My answer to manifold letters relative to the return
of members that have gone out of The First Church of
Christ, Scientist, in Boston, is this: While my affec-
tions plead for all and every one, and my desire is that
all shall be redeemed, I am not unmindful that the Scrip- [15]
tures enjoin, “Let all things be done decently and in
order.”
To continue one's connection with this church, or to
regain it, one must comply with the church rules. All
who desire its fellowship, and to become members of it, [20]
must send in their petitions to this effect to the Clerk
of the church; and upon a meeting being called, the
First Members will determine the action of the church
on this subject.
Overflowing Thoughts
In this receding year of religious jubilee, 1894, I as [26]
an individual would cordially invite all persons who
have left our fold, together with those who never have
been in it,—all who love God and keep His command- [1]
ments,—to come and unite with The Mother Church in
Boston. The true Christian Scientists will be welcomed,
greeted as brethren endeavoring to walk with us hand
in hand, as we journey to the celestial city. [5]
Also, I would extend a tender invitation to Christian
Scientists' students, those who are ready for the table of
our Lord: so, should we follow Christ's teachings; so,
bury the dead past; so, loving one another, go forth to
the full vintage-time, exemplifying what we profess. But [10]
some of the older members are not quite ready to take
this advanced step in the full spirit of that charity which
thinketh no evil; and if it be not taken thus, it is impracti-
cal, unfruitful, Soul-less.
My deepest desires and daily labors go to prove that [15]
I love my enemies and would help all to gain the abiding
consciousness of health, happiness, and heaven.
I hate no one; and love others more than they can
love me. As I now understand Christian Science, I would
as soon harm myself as another; since by breaking [20]
Christ's command, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself,” I should lose my hope of heaven.
The works I have written on Christian Science con-
tain absolute Truth, and my necessity was to tell it;
therefore I did this even as a surgeon who wounds [25]
to heal. I was a scribe under orders; and who can
refrain from transcribing what God indites, and ought
not that one to take the cup, drink all of it, and give
thanks?
Being often reported as saying what never escaped [30]
from my lips, when rehearsing facts concerning others
who were reporting false charges, I have been sorry that
I spoke at all, and wished I were wise enough to guard [1]
against that temptation. Oh, may the love that is talked,
be felt! and so lived, that when weighed in the scale of
God we be not found wanting. Love is consistent, uni-
form, sympathetic, self-sacrificing, unutterably kind; even [5]
that which lays all upon the altar, and, speechless and
alone, bears all burdens, suffers all inflictions, endures
all piercing for the sake of others, and for the kingdom
of heaven's sake.
A Great Man And His Saying
Hon. Charles Carrol Bonney, President of the World's [11]
Congress Auxiliary, in his remarks before that body,
said, “No more striking manifestation of the interposi-
tion of divine Providence in human affairs has come in
recent years, than that shown in the raising up of the [15]
body of people known as Christian Scientists, who are
called to declare the real harmony between religion and
Science, and to restore the waning faith of many in the
verities of the sacred Scriptures.”
In honest utterance of veritable history, and his own [20]
spiritual discernment, this man must have risen above
worldly schemes, human theorems or hypotheses, to
conclusions which reason too supine or misemployed
cannot fasten upon. He spake inspired; he touched a
tone of Truth that will continue to reverberate and renew [25]
its emphasis throughout the entire centuries, into the vast
forever.
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 entitled “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 God 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
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 title 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 title 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
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 manuscripts, either in private or in pub-
lic assemblies, 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 classes only. They shall teach
from the Christian Science textbook. Each class 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 class 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 associations 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 God, 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-
selves against mental malpractice, but never to return [1]
evil for evil; never to attack the malpractitioner, but
to know the truth that makes free,—and so to be a law
not unto others, but themselves.
Class, Pulpit, Students' Students
When will you take a class 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 God.
The date of a class 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, accumula-
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 brass; of warming marble and quench-
ing volcanoes! Before entering the Massachusetts 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.
To the students whom I have not seen that ask, “May [1]
I call you mother?” my heart replies, Yes, if you
are
doing God'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 class, 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 assimilated spirit-
ually by the most faithful seekers; yet this assimilation 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.”
My sympathies are deeply enlisted for the students
of students; having already seen in many instances their [25]
talents, culture, and singleness of purpose to uplift the
race. Such students should not pay the penalty for
other people's faults; and divine Love will open the
way for them. My soul abhors injustice, and loves
mercy. St. John writes: “Whom God hath sent speaketh [30]
the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by meas-
ure unto him.”
My Students And Thy Students
Mine and thine are obsolete terms in absolute Christian [2]
Science, wherein and whereby the universal brotherhood
of man is stated and demands to be demonstrated. I have
a large affection, not alone for my students, but for thy [5]
students,—for students of the second generation. I can-
not but love some of those devoted students better than
some of mine who are less lovable or Christly. This
natural affection for goodness must go on ad libitum unto
the third and fourth and final generation of those who [10]
love God and keep His commandments. Hence the
following is an amendment of the paragraph on page 476
of “Retrospection and Introspection”:—
Any student, having received instructions in a Primary
class from me, or from a loyal student of Christian Science, [15]
and afterwards studied thoroughly “Science and Health
with Key to the Scriptures,” can enter upon the gospel
work of teaching Christian Science, and so fulfil the command
of Christ. Before entering this sacred field of labor,
the student must have studied faithfully the latest edi- [20]
tions of my works, and be a good Bible scholar and a
devout, consecrated Christian.
These are the indispensable demands on all those who
become teachers.
Unseen Sin
Two points of danger beset mankind; namely, making [26]
sin seem either too large or too little: if too large, we
are in the darkness of all the ages, wherein the true sense [1]
of the unity of good and the unreality of evil is lost.
If good is God, even as God is good, then good and
evil can neither be coeval nor coequal, for God is All-in-
all. This closes the argument of aught besides Him, aught [5]
else than good.
If the sense of sin is too little, mortals are in danger
of not seeing their own belief in sin, but of seeing too
keenly their neighbor's. Then they are beset with
egotism and hypocrisy. Here Christian Scientists must [10]
be most watchful. Their habit of mental and audible
protest against the reality of sin, tends to make sin less
or more to them than to other people. They must either
be overcoming sin in themselves, or they must not lose
sight of sin; else they are self-deceived sinners of the [15]
worst sort.