Christian Science

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...the Sanhedrin. It is Mrs. Eddy's property. She herself is the Sanhedrin. No one can get into the Church if she wishes to keep him out. This veto power could some time or other have a large value for her, therefore she was wise to reserve it. It is likely that it is not frequently used. It is also probable that the difficulties attendant upon getting admission to membership have been instituted more to invite than to deter, more to enhance the value of membership and make people, long for it than to make it really difficult to get. I think so, because the Mother Church has many thousands of members more than its building can accommodate. 'ANDSOME ENGLISH REQUIRED Mrs. Eddy is very particular as regards one detail--curiously so, for her, all things considered. The Church Readers must be "good English scholars"; they must be "thorough English scholars." She is thus sensitive about the English of her subordinates for cause, possibly. In her chapter defining the duties of the Clerk there is an indication that she harbors resentful memories of an occasion when the hazy quality of her own English made unforeseen and mortifying trouble: Understanding Communications. Sec. 2. If the Clerk of this Church shall receive a communication from the Pastor Emeritus which he does not fully understand, he shall inform her of this fact before presenting it to the Church, and obtain a clear understanding of the matter--then act in accordance therewith. She should have waited to calm down, then, but instead she added this, which lacks sugar: Failing to adhere to this By-law, the Clerk must resign. I wish I could see that communication that broke the camel's back. It was probably the one beginning: "What plague spot or bacilli were gnawing at the heart of this...