EVERY student of Christian Science loves the revelation of Science. But sometimes the argument presents itself that he does not love the organization. Such a student would tell you that decidedly he is a follower of Mary Baker Eddy, he believes implicitly in her teachings, and in a measure he demonstrates them. But is he really a follower? Can one follow by going halfway, or possibly by going all the way for a time and then branching off on a tangent of one's own? No.
Before the disciples could understand the purport of the Master's mission, they had to understand the Master. Hence the tremendous import of Peter's stirring pronouncement, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). This recognition of the Christ, of the divinity of Jesus' mission, was the rock upon which the primitive Christian church was founded. To understand the Christian Science movement we must understand its Discoverer and Founder. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she states (p. 560), "Again, without a correct sense of its highest visible idea, we can never understand the divine Principle."
When Mrs. Eddy rose up healed from what the physicians had pronounced would be her deathbed, she did not know that the Master's promise was at the point of fulfillment (John 14:16): "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."
For many years Mrs. Eddy had been searching for the secret of spiritual healing. At the moment of her recovery she was ready to recognize her Redeemer. For three years thereafter she withdrew from society and searched the Scriptures. Little did she realize when she taught her first student Christian Science Mind-healing that the wheels of a stupendous movement had been set in motion. In the pages of her precious autobiography, "Retrospection and Introspection," may be found the record of the outstanding events in the development of her unparalleled lifework and the blossoming of her revelation. Truly this revelation is "the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind" (Gen. 1:12).
In the authorized biographies and other books concerning Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science which are published by The Christian Science Publishing Society, the student may read for himself the stirring unfoldment of the Christian Science movement impelled by an impetus above the human. No preconceived idea was hers of establishing a religious movement or founding a church. Indeed she tells us that until she learned something of mortal mind's resistance she entertained hopes that her discovery would at once be universally accepted. From the year 1866 to the time, over forty years later, when earthly vision lost sight of her, achievement after achievement marked the career of this extraordinary woman.
Molded and chiseled by a hand from on high, the Christian Science movement took form until it stood forth in bold relief, a complete, living, self-perpetuating, evergrowing and expanding body. Briefly the record is as follows: 1866, Mrs. Eddy's healing and for three years thereafter her deep and diligent search of the Scriptures, which led to the writing of the textbook, "Science and Health"; 1867, the first student was taught. From this seed grew the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, which was chartered in 1881; 1875, the publication of "Science and Health"; 1876, the first Christian Scientist Association was organized by Mrs. Eddy and six students on July Fourth, the nation's centenary of its Declaration of Independence; 1879, at a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association, April 12, 1879, on Mrs. Eddy's motion, it was voted to organize the Church of Christ, Scientist; 1881, Mrs. Eddy was ordained its pastor; 1883. The Christian Science Journal was founded; 1887, the first Free Dispensary for Christian Science Healing was started (such dispensaries were the forerunners of the Reading Rooms); 1889, the College was closed; 1892, The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, was organized, the Tenets, Rules, and By-Laws as prepared by Mrs. Eddy were adopted; 1895, the Original Mother Church edifice was dedicated, and the impersonal Pastor, the Bible and Science and Health, was ordained; 1898, the Christian Science Sentinel came into being, and The Christian Science Publishing Society as it stands today was created by a Deed of Trust; 1903, the German edition of The Herald of Christian Science began its publication; 1906, the Extension of The Mother Church was dedicated; 1908, The Christian Science Monitor was launched.
Statistics and dates can tell but little of the drama of those years, years so fraught with import for humanity that only eternity shall disclose their meaning. Mrs. Eddy substantiated all she taught by healing. Every step in the unfoldment of the movement was undertaken through prayer, under divine guidance. Certain of Mrs. Eddy's published writings give precious glimpses of these historic years.
Throughout these times Mrs. Eddy was revising the textbook assiduously; she published the Manual of The Mother Church, containing By-Laws which came to her through divine direction as the need for them arose, until in 1910 there stood complete that inspired masterpiece of government which in years to come was to be recognized by the highest court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and her Church was to be preserved intact and free. Truly it was the pattern showed to her in the mount, flexible enough that the activities of the movement may grow and grow, yet ever remain within the divine pattern. Through these years also the rich heritage of her other writings was bestowed.
Like the intrepid Paul, indefatigable pioneer of the early Christian church, Mrs. Eddy labored and triumphed. Often friendless and alone, she faced the hostility of the world, undaunted in spirit, unflagging in courage. None before her had ever proclaimed so bluntly the nothingness of matter and the allness of Mind. The pulpit and press denounced her, friends deserted her, and students were disloyal, yet undismayed she stood and gathered around her a resolute band of followers. Divinely appointed and divinely anointed, with the strength and intuition of pure womanhood, she fulfilled her place in prophecy. Never will the Church she established be abandoned. As human thought is spiritualized, it will be seen in the splendor of ever-brightening spiritual light, until at length it shall be recognized and shine forth, even as man himself shines forth, in the glory of pure spirituality, undimmed and untainted by materiality.
The greatest privilege that could be vouchsafed the individual is membership in this Church. The greatest trust which our Leader herself has bestowed upon him is to keep his membership sacred, aflame with holiness, in the purity and spirituality of his thinking and living. Intrepidly, courageously, Mary Baker Eddy stood and will stand through the ages in her inspired writings, as Leader. Unswervingly under the hand of divine wisdom, girt with the power of God, she stands as Discoverer and Founder. The institution which she founded is built on no quicksand of personal following, emotionalism, religious intolerance, or self-vindication. It stands foursquare upon the rock of Christ, Truth. In "Miscellaneous Writings" she says (p. 140): "Built on the rock, our church will stand the storms of ages: though the material superstructure should crumble into dust, the fittest would survive,—the spiritual idea would live, a perpetual type of the divine Principle it reflects."
The human mind did not evolve the Christian Science movement, nor can it overthrow it. Without peer or competitor the movement stands together with its beloved Discoverer and Founder, inseparable from its divine source, the forever appearing of the divine idea. May this truth so illumine the heart of every Christian Scientist and permeate his affections that it may be said of him, as of John on the resurrection morning (John 20:8), "He saw, and believed."
