The announcement made in the Sentinel of Dec. 21 that Mrs. Eddy purposes founding "a Christian Science institution for the special benefit of the poor and the general good of all mankind," has been widely copied by the daily press, and has been the subject of favorable editorial comment. Much of this comment is along the line of that which appeared in The Boston Herald of Dec. 24, which was as follows:—
The intimation from Mrs. Eddy that she intends to set apart one million dollars for a permanent fund with which to relieve poverty and extend aid to the needy, is a departure significant as a precedent, as well as commendable in itself. The Christian Science sect has been severely criticised for its omission to carry on relief and charitable work under institutional auspices. Mrs. Eddy, with her unchallenged power, can alter this, and by implication would seem to be willing to do so.
Alluding to this article in the Herald, Mrs. Eddy says that about 1878 she opened a Christian Science "Home" in Lynn, Mass., in which indigent students were given their board and instruction in Christian Science gratuitously, but the misconduct of some of these students caused her to close this "Home."
Mrs. Eddy has consented that the institution which she purposes to found shall bear her name, therefore it will be known as "Mary Baker G. Eddy's Charitable Fund." Its Board of Directors will be located in Boston, the recognized headquarters of her church, The Church of Christ, Scientist, and in plan and scope this Fund will be an educational opportunity by which indigent persons will be taught gratuitously the Science of the Christ healing as practised by Jesus and as made known to this age through "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and the other writings of Mrs. Eddy.
The sum of one million dollars will be devoted to this sole purpose Mrs. Eddy's benevolence will be open to all those individuals who are genuinely interested in Christian Science for its truth's sake, and who shall present to the Board of Directors of the Fund satisfactory certificates as to their indigence, their religious views, and their moral character. These certificates must bear the signature of some well-known Christian Scientist who can vouch for the facts stated therein. The students of Christian Science will be maintained by this Fund until such time as the Board of Directors shall have pronounced them good healers of the sick, and delivered to them certificates to this effect. The beneficiaries of this Fund, and the families of those who have families, are to be supported from the income of the Fund, and the number of students and their families to be supported will depend upon the amount of this income. Among those to be taught and supported thus will be some persons who are trained and qualified nurses and genuinely interested in Christian Science.
Mrs. Eddy has turned this matter over to a prospective Board of Directors, for them to work out the details of the charity, and necessarily it will be some considerable time before the work of this Board can be completed. In the mean time no further information upon this subject can be given out, and no letters of inquiry should be addressed to Mrs. Eddy.
