MRS. MINTURN VISITS HILTON.
Everything moved along harmoniously with Katherine in school. Of
course, there was work to be done and it required diligence,
patience and perseverance to accomplish her daily tasks. But there
is always satisfaction in overcoming difficulties, for such
conquest never fails to strengthen and uplift.
Between Sadie and herself there existed the tenderest relations.
Every day seemed to draw them closer to each other, for divine
Love was now the mutually acknowledged bond between them. The girl
had provided herself with the necessary books and was doing more
than "looking towards the Light"--she was really trying to walk in
it. She was also striving to "do her best" during this, her last
year at school, as she had avowed she would, and was reaping her
reward by finding that she was daily gaining in mental strength
and capacity.
Jennie also was making good progress. She did not love fun and
frolic one whit less, but she now sought it in legitimate hours
and ways, and never allowed herself to "kick over the traces," or,
in other words, to break rules, and so jeopardize her record,
although, as she once confessed, with the old mischievous sparkle
in her eyes, "the apples of Sodom did look very alluring
sometimes."
So the Christmas vacation found them, and Katherine and Jennie
went "home" to New York City, where every day was filled with
delightful experiences, Mr. and Mrs. Minturn having spared nothing
to make these holidays the brightest of the year, especially for
their protegee whose pleasures had been so limited.
There was nothing to mar their enjoyment during the two "heavenly"
weeks. They were like a pair of happy children, and not the least
of their pleasure consisted in helping Mrs. Minturn distribute her
yearly reminders among those of whom One said, "The poor ye always
have with you." And when, on Christmas morning, at breakfast, the
packages beside the various plates were inspected, there were
bright faces and loving smiles, and in one case almost a rain of
tears, in view of the numerous and lovely mementoes for which the
recipient was wholly unprepared. But it was only a "sunshower,"
and when Mr. Minturn, with a quizzical look, told her to "take
care, for she was losing some of her pearls," she laughingly wiped
the glittering drops away and retorted:
"I wish they were real pearls, and I would heap them upon you
all."
When it was all over and the two girls were rolling swiftly on
their way back to school, Jennie, her face radiant with delightful
memories, informed Katherine that she had "never had such an out
and out jolly time in all her life before."
"It is like a diamond to me," she said, "for it will glisten and
sparkle in my mind as long as I remember anything about this life.
But, best of all," she continued, earnestly, "has been the Science
part of it; those lovely services and meetings! and your mother's
talks! Oh! Katherine, if I could be with her all the time I know I
should grow to be a good Scientist!"
Katherine smiled into the yearning dark eyes.
"Our growth, Jennie, depends upon our own right thinking and
living, upon the faithfulness with which we study, assimilate and
demonstrate Truth," she said; then added: "Right environment is
very desirable, but when we lean upon that instead of on God, or
Principle, we are not 'working out our own salvation,' which
everyone must do. You know what happened to the five foolish
virgins who leaned, or tried to lean, upon their neighbors for oil
to fill their lamps."
"Yes; and it's like copying some one else's problems and shirking
your own daily work. When the exams come you're not 'in it'; you
just have to 'go way back and sit down,'" and the roguish dimples
played in her cheeks as the slang phrases slipped glibly from her
tongue. "All the same," she continued, "it is a help to have
others about you doing good work. Somehow it inspires you to
hustle for yourself--that is, if you honestly want to be the real
thing and not a sham."
The latter part of February Mrs. Minturn, having been called to
the western part of the State on business, stopped at Hilton on
her way back, to spend the Sabbath and make "my girls" a little
visit.
That visit was like an oasis to Prof. Seabrook, or, as he
afterwards expressed it, "it shone in his memory like a pure,
lustrous pearl set in jet."
Saturday afternoon was spent with Katherine and Jennie, doing a
little needful shopping and visiting some places of interest in
the city. Saturday evening, a party, including the Seabrooks,
Sadie, Miss Reynolds and Dr. Stanley, was made up to go to hear
Madam Melba, who was to sing in "Faust," and a rich treat it
proved for them all.
Sunday morning found them all, except the principal and his wife,
at the service in the hall on Grove Street, and which was now far
too small to comfortably accommodate the people who were flocking
to it; while Sunday evening, at Mrs. Seabrook's invitation, saw
our friends gathered in her spacious parlor to listen to a little
talk on Christian Science from Mrs. Minturn.
"I see you each have your book," she began, glancing around the
circle, "and I think we cannot do better than to look into the
tenets of our faith--you will find them on page 497. There is much
more than at first appears in those few brief paragraphs, and I
hope no one will let a point go by, if it seems perplexing,
without trying to get at the heart of it. Don't fear to interrupt
me with questions, for they will show me your trend of thought."
Then, one by one, she took up the sections, which were freely and
thoughtfully discussed. Prof. Seabrook, however, was the chief
interlocutor of the evening and plied the patient woman with
queries both practical and profound.
She met him logically on every one, and by the time they had come
to the end of the fifth paragraph much of the perplexity had
vanished from the man's face and a look of peace was enthroned in
its place, while not one in the room ever forgot that hour, which
was so fraught with helpfulness and intense interest to them all.
"Mrs. Minturn," he gravely observed, as she paused for a moment,
"when one begins to understand something of what Christian Science
really is, one finds himself suddenly shorn of his former
intellectual arrogance and ecclesiastical intolerance, while he
stands abashed and is amazed that he had never seen these things
before."
"That is because, in our previous study of the Scriptures, we were
governed by human opinions, doctrines and creeds, instead of by
the spiritual law of interpretation, which always brings the proof
of its supremacy."
"But it makes one wish one hadn't been quite so pert in flaunting
one's feathers before finer birds," drawled Sadie, as she shot a
peculiar glance at Katherine, "like a turkey we had at home once
that had never seen a peacock's plumage until after he had done a
good deal of strutting around, with his own self-sufficient
appendage spread out to its widest extent. He collapsed, though,
when he saw that blaze of glory."
"Thank you, Sadie, for so pat an illustration of an exceedingly
uncomfortable frame of mind," said Prof. Seabrook, with a merry
twinkle in his fine eyes, while an appreciative laugh ran around
the circle.
The girl flushed scarlet in sudden dismay.
"Prof. Seabrook!" she faltered, "I didn't mean--I was only
thinking of what I said to Katherine about being a Christian
Scientist the day she came here. I told her, very grandly, that I
was an Episcopalian, that my grandfather was an Episcopalian
clergyman, and I had my doubts about his resting easy in his grave
if he knew what a rank heretic I had for a roommate. Well, she
just unfurled a white banner of Love to me, and I've wanted to
hide my diminished head every time I've thought of it since."
"All right, Sadie; there's no offense," returned the principal,
with a smiling glance at her still flushed cheeks, "and I think
there may be some others among us who have learned a salutary
lesson from our modest but stanch 'brown-eyed lassie,' for she
certainly has tried, as she told me she would on that same day,
'to live her religion of Love.' But," turning again to Mrs.
Minturn, "that reminds me of something else I wished to ask you."
Reopening his book, he read aloud the sixth tenet, emphasizing the
phrase "to love one another."
"I find, in reading this book," he resumed, "that you Scientists
give a higher signification to that word 'love' than is implied by
the ordinary interpretation. Mere sentiment or emotion have
nothing in common with your concept of its meaning?"
"Our Leader says, in her book of 'Miscellaneous Writings,'
[Footnote: By Mary Baker G. Eddy, page 230.] that 'no word is more
misconstrued, no sentiment less understood,'" said Mrs. Minturn.
"Spiritual love is governed by its principle--divine Love.
Emotional or sentimental love has no principle. It is governed by
mortal impulse, moods, personal attraction, and so forth. Divine
Love has but one impulse--infinite impersonal good. Paul's sublime
definition of charity, or the love that 'beareth all things,'
'that never faileth,' 'that thinketh no evil,' is the Christian
Science idea of love, and as our text-book teaches, nothing short
of this, lived and demonstrated in the daily life, is Christian
Science love."
"That is your lesson to me over again," whispered Miss Reynolds,
who was sitting beside Katherine, "and I need it."
"But you would not abolish human love?" Dr. Stanley here abruptly
questioned.
"I would have it governed, transformed by divine Love," returned
Mrs. Minturn, gently. "There is much more of selfishness embodied
in so-called human love than one can realize until one learns its
spiritual signification. The mother's is the purest of all human
affection, and yet, even this is not devoid of selfishness, for it
is 'my boy' or 'my girl' for whom she will toil and efface herself
to secure advantages, and often to their detriment. The love that
is absorbed in my wife or husband, my sister or brother, my
friend, is not the truest, although it is right to care tenderly
for those who are dependent upon us. But the yearning that reaches
out to all men, recognizing in everyone 'my mother, my sister, my
brother'--for all are God's children, and there are no mine or
thine in Truth--is the love of God, the reflected Love that is
God."
"I see, Mrs. Minturn; it is manifesting what the 'little book'
says, the 'love of Love,' [Footnote: "Science and Health," page
319.] or the good of Good without regard to personality, so if we
are reflecting it we cannot even think anything but good of
everyone," here interposed Dorothy, who had listened intently to
all that had been said.
"You dear child! how much better you have said it than I with my
multiplicity of words!" observed Mrs. Minturn, bending a look of
affection upon her.
"She has simply summarized what you have given us; but your
analysis has been very helpful to me, and I now see more clearly
much that I have been questioning during my recent perusal of the
book," Prof. Seabrook remarked.
"Our Leader has long been reflecting this impersonal Love in her
wonderful devotion to the Cause she has espoused," Mrs. Minturn
resumed. "Her one thought and motive is and always has been--since
the Science of Christianity was revealed to her--to send forth the
new gospel to all 'nations and peoples and tongues,' and gather
them under its sacred banner, knowing that it is the 'pillar of
cloud by day and of fire by night' that will surely guide them
into the 'Promised Land.'"
"Yet she is severely criticised for claiming that it was a divine
revelation; for assuming 'unwarrantable authority' and demanding
'unquestioning obedience,'" said her host.
"Is that a fair or an honest criticism, Prof. Seabrook?" inquired
his guest. "Has she not proved that Christian Science was a divine
revelation, not only by her own wonderful demonstrations, but by
the marvelous results which follow the study of her book, 'Science
and Health,' not to dwell upon the great work accomplished by the
thousands of her students who have faithfully followed her
teachings? Then, a leader must lead. Under supreme orders she
became the pioneer to mark the way for others; she has scaled
heights which no others have attained since the days of the
Master, and so she alone is fitted to direct. You, after long
experience, have organized this school; you know best what is most
needed to promote the highest interests of your students and
maintain the superior standard of your institution. But your word
has to be law to attain these conditions, and you insist upon
implicit obedience to your rules and mandates. Are you
autocratically exacting or 'assuming unwarrantable authority' by
so doing in order to meet the responsibilities devolving upon you?
As I said before, 'a leader must lead,' and a general must direct,
as he discerns the need from his vantage ground above the field of
battle, or the cause would be lost."
"I see your point. It is fairly and logically argued, and I am
frank to admit that much of the criticism of Mrs. Eddy may be
prompted by antagonism, jealousy and prejudice," the gentleman
returned.
"But much more it is the outgrowth of misunderstanding," said Mrs.
Minturn, charitably. "Those who have most uncompromisingly
denounced Christian Science and its Founder have spoken and
written without a proper knowledge of their subject, without
having even attempted to investigate, in order to prove the truth
or error of what they had heard. They claim to have 'read the
book,' but you know, from your own experience, that one casual
reading is not sufficient to enable one to grasp the fundamental
principles contained therein."
"That is true," he assented.
"And no man of good judgment," she went on, "would feel that he
was prepared to write a treatise or exposition of some profound
subject and give it to a critical public, until he had thoroughly
mastered it; and this he would know he could not do in one, or
even two, superficial readings. But these criticisms do not
disturb us; they only make us love our Leader more, for her sweet
patience, forbearance and forgiveness; and we know that the time
will come when all will learn the Truth, 'from the least to the
greatest,' and 'rise up to call her blessed.'"
"I am beginning to see that, too," said the professor. "But there
is one thing more. Of course, you have had to meet the question
many times--one hears it everywhere, and the papers every now and
then reiterate it--how about the high price of the text-book and
the teaching?"
"I would hardly have thought that such a question would have
suggested itself to you, Prof. Seabrook, knowing, as you do, the
high price demanded for some of your own text-books. Then,
regarding the teaching, Hilton students pay from eight hundred to
a thousand dollars a year, according to the privileges they enjoy,
not counting the extras; and the course is four years, making
quite a round sum in the aggregate. You force me to be personal as
well as practical in my arguments," Mrs. Minturn interposed, with
an arch smile. "Now for the other side of the question. Seventeen
years ago I was healed of what several physicians--to whom I paid
many hundreds of dollars--said was an incurable disease, by simply
reading 'Science and Health,' for which I paid three dollars. A
year later I studied with one of Mrs. Eddy's loyal students, to
whom I paid one hundred dollars for my course of instruction.
Since that time I have never employed a physician or paid out a
penny for medicines. In view of these facts, do you think that the
price of the book and teaching should be regarded as 'exorbitant,'
'out of all reason,' an 'imposition upon the public,' and many
similar expressions, as are repeated over and over by numerous
denouncers and newspapers?"
Prof. Seabrook made a deprecatory gesture.
"I am ashamed to have raised such a point," he said; "it seems
exceedingly narrow and petty."
"And besides," Mrs. Minturn continued, "this same book and
teaching have enabled me to heal hundreds of people of all manner
of diseases, and send them on their way rejoicing and to help
others. Ah!" she cried, with eyes that shone through starting
tears, "how can anyone speak slightingly of that dear woman who
has been instrumental in giving such a boon to suffering humanity,
or criticise any act which, in her God-given wisdom, she is led to
do? But, I am sure, I have talked enough for now, although I am at
your service at any time if other questions arise to perplex," she
concluded, as she arose, and the little company, after a few
moments spent in social converse, separated for the night.
A few days later Miss Reynolds sought Katharine. The girl was in a
music room, where she had been practicing for nearly an hour, and
arose as her friend entered, an expectant look on her face, for
she seemed to feel at once that there was something unusual in the
atmosphere.
The woman was evidently in a strangely serious mood. There was an
expression of exaltation in her eyes, which told of some deep, new
experience that had aroused profound reverence and wonder, and a
drooping of her sweet lips that bespoke a spirit bowed beneath a
sense of humility, and she carried a letter in her hand.
"Read that, dear," she said, in a repressed tone, as she passed it
to her pupil.
Katherine removed the missive from its envelope and read:
"MISS ADELE REYNOLDS:
"DEAR MADAM: My father, as, possibly you may have heard ere this,
passed away one week ago to-day. You will perhaps be surprised to
learn that I have long known there existed an error at the time of
the settlement of Mr. Reynolds'--your father's--affairs nearly
eleven years ago, and, although I sought several times to do so, I
was powerless to have the matter rectified. Now, however, my
sister and I, being the only heirs to our father's property, have
agreed that justice must be done, and have deposited in the First
National Bank of this city the amount--with accrued interest--that
is your rightful due, and it is subject to your order. Trusting
that you will kindly throw the veil of charity over what has been
a great wrong, I am,
"Very respectfully yours, JOHN F. HOWARD."
As she finished reading this letter Katherine looked into the eyes
of her teacher and smiled.
"Kathie, I can hardly believe it!" said Miss Reynolds, in a voice
choked with tears.
"'The measure that ye mete shall be measured to you again,' you
know," softly returned her companion, "and love begets love. You,
long since, threw the mantle of Love over your 'brother,' and
Truth has uncovered and destroyed the error--in other words, the
greed--that seemed to rob you of what was justly yours."
"It makes me very humble," faltered her teacher. "I have tried to
love because, to be loyal to Truth, I must do nothing else."
"Yes, and so Love has fulfilled the law; and, as our text-book
says, 'Mercy cancels the debt only when justice approves.'"
[Footnote: "Science and Health," page 22]
"And Katharine"--and Miss Reynolds' face glowed with happiness--
"now the way is opened for me to do what I had decided I must do
by the end of this year--'go work in His vineyard.' I did not
clearly see how I could do it, but I have tried to know that 'God
is the source of all supply, and I left it there.'"