A frequent charge against Christian Science is that the claim of inspiration for its text-booK, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and that its author, the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy was divinely appointed to its preparation, is preposterous. The clergy are especially pronounced in their denunciation of this claim. That one— and especially a woman — untrained in the theological seminaries, should assume the prerogative of interpreting the Scriptures from a higher standpoint than they have reached, is to their sense, the height of presumption.
This is not surprising when we look back upon the history of theology and note the peculiarities of doctrine and conception which have entered into it. The Roman Catholic, Greek and Anglican Churches, adhere strictly to the doctrine of priestly authority as coming in direct line from the apostles, or through what is commonly called the apostolic succession. This doctrine has been so firmly engrafted upon the general church polity that the so-called Evangelical churches have not yet cast it off. True, in some of its denominations the theological seminaries have in some sense taken the place of the apostolic succession, and a prescribed line of educational and intellectual training has become the test of fitness to preach the gospel and interpret the Scriptures, yet this can scarcely be said to be a general rule within those churches.
Judaism also adheres strictly to the rabbinical idea, and only the rabbi, educated according to well established and prescribed methods, may authoritatively preach the word and interpret the Scriptures. Thus an exclusiveness has been built up, which, so far as it can be enforced, of course rules out all but the traditionally authorized classes from teaching the people the word of God.
