Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 60
Then, is compiling and delivering that sermon for which [1]
you pay nothing, and which you deliver without the author's consent, and receive pay therefor, the _precedent_ for preaching Christian Science,-and are you doing to the author of the above-named book as you would [5]
have others do unto you?
Those authors and editors of pamphlets and periodi- cals whose substance is made up of my publications, are morally responsible for what the law construes as crime.
There are startling instances of the above-named law- [10]
breaking and gospel-opposing system of authorship, which characterize the writings of a few professed Christian Scientists. My Christian students who have read copies of my works in the pulpit require only a word to be wise; too sincere and morally statuesque are they to be long [15]
led into temptation; but I must not leave persistent plagiarists without this word of warning in public, since my private counsel they disregard.
To the question of my true-hearted students, "Is it right to copy your works and read them for our public [20]
services?" I answer: It is not right to copy my book and read it publicly _without my consent_. My reasons are as follows:-
_First:_ This method is an unseen form of injustice standing in a holy place. [25]
_Second:_ It breaks the Golden Rule,-a divine rule for human conduct.
_Third:_ All error tends to harden the heart, blind the eyes, stop the ears of understanding, and inflate self; counter to the commands of our hillside Priest, to [30]
whom Isaiah alluded thus: "I have trodden the wine- press alone; and of the people there was none with me."
[Page 302.]
Behind the scenes lurks an evil which you can prevent: [1]
it is a purpose to kill the reformation begun and increas- ing through the instructions of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures;" it encourages infringement of my copyright, and seeks again to "cast lots for his vesture,"-while [5]
the perverter preserves in his own consciousness and teaching the name without the Spirit, the skeleton without the heart, the form without the comeliness, the sense without the Science, of Christ's healing. My stu- dents are expected to know the teaching of Christian Sci- [10]
ence sufficiently to discriminate between error and Truth, thus sparing their teacher a task and themselves the temptation to be misled.
Much good has been accomplished through Christian Science Sunday services. If Christian Scientists occasion- [15]
ally mistake in interpreting revealed Truth, of two evils the less would be _not_ to leave the Word unspoken and untaught. I allowed, till this permission was _withdrawn_, students working faithfully for Christ's cause on earth, the privilege of copying and reading my works for Sunday [20]
service; _provided_, they each and all destroyed the copies at once after said service. When I should so elect and give suitable notice, they were to desist from further copy- ing of my writings as aforesaid.
This injunction did not curtail the benefit which the [25]
student derived from making his copy, nor detract from the good that his hearers received from his reading thereof; but it was intended to forestall the possible evil of putting the divine teachings contained in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" into human hands, to sub- [30]
vert or to liquidate.
I recommend that students stay within their own fields
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of labor, to work for the race; they are lights that can- [1]
not be hid, and need only to shine from their home sum- mits to be sought and found as healers physical and moral.
The kindly shepherd has his own fold and tends his [5]
own flock. Christian students should have their own inst.i.tutes and, _unmolested_, be governed by divine Love alone in teaching and guiding their students. When wisdom garrisons these strongholds of Christian Science, peace and joy, the fruits of Spirit, will rest upon us all. [10]
We are brethren in the fullest sense of that word; there- fore no queries should arise as to "who shall be great- est." Let us serve instead of rule, knock instead of push at the door of human hearts, and allow to each and every one the same rights and privileges that we [15]
claim for ourselves. If ever I wear out from serving students, it shall be in the effort to help them to obey the Ten Commandments and imbibe the spirit of Christ's Beat.i.tudes.
Notice
_Editor of Christian Science Journal_:-You will oblige me by giving place in your _Journal_ to the following notice.
The idea and purpose of a Liberty Bell is pleasing, and can be made profitable to the heart of our country. I feel a.s.sured that many Christian Scientists will respond to this [25]
letter by contributions.
MARY BAKER EDDY
[Page 304.]
COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BELL COMMITTEE, [1]
1505 Penna. Ave., Washington, D. C.
TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:-
It has been determined to create a Columbian Liberty Bell, to be placed by the lovers of liberty and peace in [5]
the most appropriate place in the coming World's Expo- sition at Chicago. After the close of the Exhibition this bell will pa.s.s from place to place throughout the world as a missionary of freedom, coming first to the capital of the nation under the care of our society. [10]
Then it will go to Bunker Hill or Liberty Island, to the battle-field of New Orleans (1812), to San Francisco, to the place where any great patriotic celebration is being held, until 1900, when it will be sent to the next World's Exhibition, which takes place at Paris, France. There it [15]
will continue until that Exhibition closes.
When not in use in other places, it will return to Wash- ington under the care of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Washington will be its home, and from there it will journey from place to place, fulfilling its mission [20]
throughout the world.
The following is the proposed use of the bell: It shall ring at sunrise and sunset; at nine o'clock in the morn- ing on the anniversaries of the days on which great events have occurred marking the world's progress toward liberty; [25]
at twelve o'clock on the birthdays of the "creators of liberty;" and at four o'clock it will toll on the anniver- saries of their death. (It will always ring at nine o'clock on October 11th, in recognition of the organization on that day of the Daughters of the American Revolution.) [30]
... The responsibility of its production, and the direc- tion of its use, have been placed in the hands of a
[Page 305.]
committee of women representing each State and Ter- [1]
ritory, one representative from each Republic in the world, and a representative from the patriotic societies, -Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, the Lyceum League of America, the Society of Ger- [5]
man Patriots, the Human Freedom League, and kindred organizations.
The National Board of Management has placed upon me the responsibility of representing the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution upon the [10]
General Committee, and this circular is sent to every member of the society, asking for her personal coopera- tion in making the undertaking successful. In creating the bell it is particularly desired that the largest number of persons possible shall have a part in it. For this reason [15]
small contributions from many persons are to be asked for, rather than large contributions from a few. They are to be of two kinds:-
_First:_ Material that can be made a part of the bell; articles of historic interest will be particularly appre- [20]
ciated-gold, silver, bronze, copper, and nickel can be fused.
_Second:_ Of money with which to pay for the bell.
Each member of the society is asked to contribute one cent to be fused into the bell, and twenty-five cents to [25]
pay for it. She is also asked to collect two dollars from others, in pennies, if possible, and send with the amount the name of each contributor. In order that the bell shall be cast April 30th, the anniversary of the inaugu- ration of George Washington as the first President of [30]
the United States, we ask every one receiving this cir- cular _to act at once_.
[Page 306.]
In forwarding material to be melted into the bell, please [1]
send fullest historical description. This will be entered carefully in a book which will accompany the bell wherever it goes.