FROM THE DIRECTORS
[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, Feb. 17, 1923]
Relief in the Near East
Christian Scientists who have contributed to The Mother Church "Fund for Relief in the Near East" will be pleased to know that the distribution of money and supplies is now being carried on by one of our church representatives who is at Constantinople.
Lieutenant Joel H. Benson, attached as a Christian Science Chaplain to the U. S. S. Denebola, now in eastern waters, is personally supervising the disbursement of the funds which have been cabled to him from Boston at different times. This insures that all the deserving within his reach will be promptly and intelligently cared for, without any of the usual expenses often incidental to a more elaborate or extended organization. It is reassuring to know that the money contributed by Christian Scientists is, without any expense to the Fund, being disbursed by a Christian Scientist on the far side of the world in relieving suffering and distress.
Litigation
In response to inquiries, announcement is made that the report of the master appointed to find the facts in the suit brought by John V. Dittemore to contest his removal from The Christian Science Board of Directors, will be printed by The Christian Science Publishing Society, when it has been filed in court. The report, which has been issued in confidence to counsel on both sides, is at present in the form of a draft, subject to revision, and may be completed and filed in March.
In replying to other inquiries, the explanation is made that the next step in this litigation, after the master's report on the facts has been filed, will be an application to a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts for a hearing by the full court of the issues presented by the plaintiff's bill of complaint, the defendants' answer, the master's report of the facts found by him, and the objections thereto which may be filed. The defendants' appeal from the denial by a single justice of their motion for the appointment of a different master may be heard at the same time. The hearing by the full court is not likely to occur before November. The report of the master will not be a final adjudication of the case; only the court, not the master, can decide whether the removal of Mr. Dittemore was valid.
The Latest Editions of Mrs. Eddy's Writings, Our Authority
The sincere student of Christian Science is not readily misled by the prevailing form of self-mesmerism which has lately been given so much newspaper notoriety. He discerns it to be one of the signs of the times which has in it neither Principle nor permanence. He needs to be alert, however lest he be ensnared by a less palpable but more dangerous error which seeks acceptance as truth, claiming to be based on certain statements detached from Mrs. Eddy's earlier writings. These it presents in a false light, while ignoring altogether our Leader's repeated warnings against just such conditions as now seem to exist in some sections of the Field.
A specific statement by Mrs. Eddy is to be found in "Retrospection and Introspection," on page 82, "The arrangement of my last revision [of Science and Health], in 1890, makes the subject-matter clearer than any previous edition, and it is therefore better adapted to spiritualize thought and elucidate scientific healing and teaching." In the Church Manual she also commends her revised editions since 1902.
Speaking of the necessity of our adhering to her later writings only, as our guide, Mrs. Eddy writes in Miscellany, page 237, "What I wrote on Christian Science some twenty-five years ago I do not consider a precedent for a present student of this Science. The best mathematician has not attained the full understanding of the principle thereof, in his earliest studies or discoveries. Hence, it were wise to accept only my teachings that I know to be correct and adapted to the present demand." It is well to remember, also, what she has written on this subject on page 361 of Science and Health: "I have revised Science and Health only to give a clearer and fuller expression of its original meaning. Spiritual ideas unfold as we advance."
[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, March 3, 1923]
Mrs. Eddy's Unpublished Writings
The published writings of Mrs. Eddy contain that which she desired to give to the world from her pen. Her printed words, chosen with care and grouped with exactness, express her precise meaning and present a complete elucidation of Christian Science. She left no writings which are to be published at some future date. She left nothing unfinished in her exposition of this Science of Mind, which, when applied as she directs, heals the sick and reforms the sinner. Her personal correspondence was large, and was addressed to many individuals covering a wide range of subjects, but she expressly desired that her published writings alone should be taken as her voice to the world.
Mrs. Eddy saw that anything she had not written for publication or that might be circulated in manuscript form was open to adulteration and misapplication. Respecting her wishes in this regard, hundreds of her correspondents have sent in their cherished letters to be permanently filed in the vaults of The Mother Church, where they will be protected and preserved. The field at large also can honor her wishes by refusing to accept any papers which purport to be from her pen, but which are open to doubt.
Of late, certain typewritten articles and alleged extracts from letters claiming to have been written by our Leader have been circulated, which are not genuine and should therefore be shunned. Some of them are clever imitations of her style, and present occasional sentiments that in themselves are not objectionable, but which are mingled with others that are deleterious and foreign to her teachings. Still others of these spurious writings have been built up in part from phrases and sentences filched from genuine writings of our Leader and which are artfully surrounded and submerged in things she never wrote and which she never would have approved. To counterfeit a letter is as reprehensible as to counterfeit money; and those who would heed our Leader's wishes, and at the same time protect our Cause from imposition, should reject every writing or paper claiming to be from her which does not bear such unmistakable evidences of authenticity as would be accepted as conclusive in a court of law. To be genuine it should bear our Leader's signature, it should show the date and residence, and name of the person to whom it was originally addressed. If any of these essentials be lacking, the article or letter should be regarded as a snare for the unwary. Passing them from hand to hand is an offense against Christian Science, as well as a direct violation of our Leader's wishes.
[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, March 17, 1923]
Class Notes
A practice far too common among students of Christian Science is that of exchanging so-called "class notes," or of pupils' giving to a few favored friends copies of notations made during class instruction in Christian Science.
This is a most undesirable practice, for a student at best can write only a few words, intended to recall some thought expressed by the teacher, which he (the pupil) wishes to retain. In passing these notes on to another, unless the inquirer is in a receptive condition of thought, and unless the same careful explanation accompanies the transfer as was given originally by the teacher, the notes are quite likely to be misunderstood; and misunderstandings can only serve to darken the thought of the recipient. The danger, however, does not stop there. The new possessor also wants to be generous and loving, and so he passes these notes along, no doubt supposedly in strict confidence; and thus they are started on their perpetual round. They are copied, recopied, augmented, curtailed, and otherwise altered, until perchance, sometime this little slip may work its way back home, but with such a variety of additions, alterations, and omissions, that its originator scarcely knows it.
This unwise practice may be easily stopped if Christian Scientists will only refuse to be parties to it. In her numerous writings Mrs. Eddy has generously provided every truth-seeker with all he requires in the way of written instructions. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our wonderful textbook, is filled with "class notes" of the rarest significance, which present the pure, unadulterated truths in terms so carefully selected that their meaning is unmistakable. What if we do not immediately understand all our Leader has written! Cannot we be patient and wait for the unfoldment of Truth in our consciousness, when we are assured that progress will be ours, and that we shall be free from the confusion that arises from having our thought filled with the misconceptions of others?
When a person is healed of lameness, his natural impulse is to lay aside his crutches; and he cannot possibly improve his gait by returning to their use. We do not need to resort to outgrown penciled notes, when we have before us the invigorating and healing words of our Leader.
A wise writer has said, "A good teacher is not one who fills his pupil's mind, but one who opens his pupil's mind." When our thought is filled with "class notes" of doubtful value, it is correspondingly closed to the revelation of Truth, which would unquestionably come to us through a closer study of our Leader's writings.
[As published in the Christian Science Sentinel, March 31, 19231
Applications for Membership in The Mother Church
The Manual of The Mother Church sets forth in detail the qualifications for membership in The Mother Church, and describes fully what is necessary to be done in filling out applications. In all cases except those which are specifically designated, the applicant, if a class-taught student, requires the signature of his teacher only, and if not a class-taught student, there must be the proper approval required by the By-laws.
The Directors, of themselves, have no means of knowing the eligibility of the applicant, and must therefore rely upon the assurance of the approver that the applicant is worthy of membership. In every case this approval should be based upon personal acquaintance or upon thorough investigation. The most important points to be ascertained are the applicant's previous religious affiliations or connections, how long he has been interested in Christian Science, and to what extent he is a student of the Bible and Science and Health. It is also helpful to know which of our Leader's writings he owns, and whether or not he is a reader of our periodicals.
If, after investigation, the approver or countersigner is convinced that the applicant has responded satisfactorily to the questions mentioned above, no statement of that fact is necessary when the application is sent to the Clerk of The Mother Church. On the other hand, if the applicant is found lacking in regard to either of the first two named qualifications, that is, previous church connections and length of time interested in Christian Science, full particulars relative thereto should accompany the application. In every case, if a previous application has ever been made, the fact should be stated, and the date given if possible. If not a member of any Christian Science organization, the reason should be stated briefly on a separate sheet.
It will greatly facilitate prompt consideration if applications are filed early, without waiting for the approach of the close of the period fixed for admission. The few weeks previous to the May and November admissions find the Clerk's office heavily taxed with applications, many of which could have been forwarded weeks or, perhaps, months before. Every day of delay tends to cause congestion of business, as the season for admission approaches.
In addition to the foregoing, mentioned in paragraph one above, complete instructions for filling out applications are printed in a leaflet obtainable at our Reading Rooms, from clerks of branch churches, and at the office of the Clerk of The Mother Church.
By cooperating, as above stated, with the Clerk and the Board of Directors of The Mother Church, it can be determined accurately whether or not the candidate is worthy of admission to The Mother Church, as "a believer in the doctrines of Christian Science, according to the platform and teaching contained in the Christian Science textbook, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' by Rev. Mary Baker Eddy" (Manual, Art. IV, Sect. 1).
CLERK OF THE MOTHER CHURCH
The Tenets of The First Church of Christ, Scientist,—The Mother Church—for the use of branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, are printed on folded sheets, containing space for adding the authorized application form for membership in branch organizations, or for extracts from their by-laws. These sheets may be ordered from the Clerk at seventy-five cents a hundred; but orders are not taken for less than one hundred. Postage stamps should not be sent in payment.
The Tenets may also be obtained printed in English and German on alternate pages.
Correspondence relative to the Tenets should be addressed to Geo. Wendell Adams, Clerk, 236 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts.
ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE MOTHER CHURCH
Please address correspondence relating to membership with The Mother Church and requests for application forms for membership to Geo. Wendell Adams, Clerk, 236 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Station, Boston, Massachusetts.
