Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 59
inine ambition which, in this unknown gentleman's language, "poises and poses, higgles and wriggles" it- self into publicity? Why fall into such patronage, unless from their affinity for the worst forms of vice?
And the barmaids! Do they enter this line of occu- [25]
pation from a desire for notoriety and a wish to promote female suffrage? or are they incited thereto by their own poverty and the bad appet.i.tes of men? What man- ner of man _is_ this unknown individual who utters bar- maid and Christian Scientist in the same breath? If he [30]
but knew whereof he speaks, _his_ shame would not lose its blush!
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Taking into account the short time that has elapsed [1]
since the discovery of Christian Science, one readily sees that this Science has distanced all other religious and pathological systems for physical and moral reforma- tion. In the direction of temperance it has achieved far [5]
more than has been accomplished by legally coercive measures,-and because this Science bases its work on ethical conditions and mentally destroys the appet.i.te for alcoholic drinks.
Smart journalism is allowable, nay, it is commend- [10]
able; but the public cannot swallow reports of American affairs from a surly censor ventilating his lofty scorn of the sects, or societies, of a nation that perhaps he has never visited.
A Christian Science Statute
I hereby state, in unmistakable language, the follow- [16]
ing statute in the _morale_ of Christian Science:-
A man or woman, having voluntarily entered into wedlock, and accepted the claims of the marriage cove- nant, is held in Christian Science as morally bound to [20]
fulfil all the claims growing out of this contract, unless such claims are relinquished by mutual consent of both parties, or this contract is legally dissolved. If the man is dominant over the animal, he will count the conse- quences of his own conduct; will consider the effects, [25]
on himself and his progeny, of selfishness, unmerciful- ness, tyranny, or l.u.s.t.
Trust Truth, not error; and Truth will give you all that belongs to the rights of freedom. The Hebrew bard
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wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean [1]
not unto thine own understanding." Nothing is gained by wrong-doing. St. Paul's words take in the situation: "Not ... (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? [5]
whose d.a.m.nation is just."
When causing others to go astray, we also are wan- derers. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be meas- ured to you again." Ask yourself: Under the same circ.u.mstances, in the same spiritual ignorance and power [10]
of pa.s.sion, would I be strengthened by having my best friend break troth with me? These words of St. Matthew have special application to Christian Scientists; namely, "It is not good to marry."
To build on selfishness is to build on sand. When [15]
Jesus received the material rite of water baptism, he did not say that it was G.o.d's command; but implied that the period demanded it. Trials purify mortals and deliver them from themselves,-all the claims of sensuality.
Abide by the _morale_ of absolute Christian Science,- [20]
self-abnegation and purity; then Truth delivers you from the seeming power of error, and faith vested in righteous- ness triumphs!
Advice To Students
The true consciousness is the true health. One says, [25]
"I find relief from pain in unconscious sleep." I say, You mistake; through unconsciousness one no more gains freedom from pain than immunity from evil. When unconscious of a mistake, one thinks he is not mistaken; but this false consciousness does not change the fact, or [30]
[Page 299.]
its results; suffering and mistakes recur until one is awake [1]
to their cause and character. To know the what, when, and how of error, destroys error. The error that is seen aright as error, has received its death-blow; but never until then. [5]
Let us look through the lens of Christian Science, not of "self," at the following mistake, which demands our present attention. I have no time for detailed report of this matter, but simply answer the following question sent to me; glad, indeed, that this query has finally come [10]
with the courage of conviction to the minds of many students.
"Is it right to copy your works and read them for our public services?"
The good which the material senses see not is the only [15]
absolute good; the evil which these senses see not is the only absolute evil.
If I enter Mr. Smith's store and take from it his gar- ments that are on sale, array myself in them, and put myself and them on exhibition, can I make this right [20]
by saying, These garments are Mr. Smith's; he manu- factured them and owns them, but you must pay me, not him, for this exhibit?
The spectators may ask, Did he give you permission to do this, did he sell them or loan them to you? No. [25]
Then have you asked yourself this question on the sub- ject, namely, What right have I to do this? True, it saves your purchasing these garments, and gives to the public new patterns which are useful to them; but does this silence your conscience? or, because you have con- [30]
fessed that they are the property of a noted firm, and you wished to handle them, does it justify you in appro-
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priating them, and so avoiding the cost of hiring or [1]
purchasing?
Copying my published works _verbatim_, compiling them in connection with the Scriptures, taking this copy into the pulpit, announcing the author's name, then reading [5]
it publicly as your own compilation, is-what?
We answer, It is a mistake; in common parlance, it is an _ignorant_ wrong.
If you should print and publish your copy of my works, you would be liable to arrest for infringement of copy- [10]
right, which the law defines and punishes as theft. Read- ing in the pulpit from copies of my publications gives you the clergyman's salary and spares you the printer's bill, but does it spare you our Master's condemnation?
You literally publish my works through the pulpit, instead [15]
of the press, and thus evade the law, _but not the gospel_.
When I consent to this act, you will then be justified in it.
Your ma.n.u.script copy is liable, in some way, to be printed as your original writings, thus incurring the pen- [20]
alty of the law, and increasing the record of theft in the United States Circuit Court.
To The Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, which I had organized and of which I had for many years been pastor, I gave permission to cite, in the _Christian Science_ [25]
_Quarterly_, from my work Science and Health, pa.s.sages giving the spiritual meaning of Bible texts; but this was a special privilege, and the author's gift.
Christian Science demonstrates that the patient who pays whatever he is able to pay for being healed, is more [30]
apt to recover than he who withholds a slight equiva- lent for health. Healing morally and physically are one.
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