In the Glossary of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives as the metaphysical definition of the name of the river Gihon, "The rights of woman acknowledged morally, civilly, and socially" (p. 587). The Science which she discovered and founded is a constant reminder to humanity of what one inspired woman, girt with the moral courage of spiritual freedom, can do to bring health and happiness to the world. Largely by reason of Christian Science public opinion is nearer today than ever before to an unstinted acknowledgment of "the rights of woman;" yet there is hesitancy on the part of many men in power to face the logical conclusion of such an acknowledgment, due to an instinctive fear of the influence of the bondwoman.
Paul in writing to the Galatians drew a metaphysical distinction between the bondwoman and freewoman which needs to be especially studied at this hour. "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman," he says. "But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."
The greatest obstacle to the advance of the right woman is the presence of the wrong woman. The bondwoman is the principal enemy of the freewoman; she stands in the relationship of Agar and old Jerusalem to new Jerusalem. Therefore in the inevitable rise of woman's inspiration through the crust of earth a strong resistance comes from the type of thought which glories in servitude and dreads liberty. The strongest ally of reactionary governments and hierarchies is the willing subjection of countless women to the traditional belief of inferiority; and the principal dread of the rise of woman entertained by righteous governments conducted by men is due to the bondwoman herself.
