THE ONE TRUE "MOTHER CHURCH."[41]
It was in 1889, says Mrs. Eddy, that "I gave a lot of land in Boston," on
which to erect "a church edifice" as "a temple for Christian Science
worship."[42] The land, she is particular to say, was worth "twenty
thousand dollars," and was "rising in value." As she has been careful to
mention this increment of the "rise"--not hiding it under a bushel, but
setting it on top of the cover--we must be sure to add it to the sum of
the original benevolence.
But how much labor could be saved by a meek historian if only Mrs. Eddy's
word could ever be safely accepted without looking behind it! On
consulting the official registry of such matters, one finds that before
Mrs. Eddy gave her land to the Church of Christ Scientist, _the Church
itself owned the land_, under a mortgage of nine thousand dollars, four
thousand of which had been paid off. The balance was five thousand. The
provident "Mother" bought this mortgage and foreclosed it. She then
conveyed the property to the trustees of the First Church of Christ
Scientist, reserving the right to re-enter and repossess the land, with
improvements, in case a church erected on it should not be run to suit
her. All this was specified in ten conditions, which the angels have not
recorded in her biography.
Adjoining the Eddy castle of "metaphysics" are two lots on which stand two
buildings of the Christian Science Publishing Society. This real estate
was set down in February, 1898, by the editor of "The Christian Science
Journal," to be worth not less than twenty-two thousand dollars. On
January 25th, 1898, "Mother" Eddy generously conveyed it to the First
Church of Christ Scientist. _But_, three days before--on the 21st of
January, 1898--the Christian Science Publishing Society, for the sum of
one dollar, had _conveyed it to her_. The string tied to her
_re_-conveyance was that she should "have and occupy so much room
conveniently and pleasantly located" in the establishment, as might "be
necessary to carry on the publication and sale" of her "books" and
"literature"--a reservation of "room" which, under legal stress might
easily be interpreted to mean the whole thing--it being distinctively a
"publishing house."
With Mother Eddy's donation of January 25th, 1898, she threw in "The
Christian Science Journal" and "all the literary publications of the
Society"--these having been turned over to her with other things, for one
dollar, on January 21st, 1898--she saving to herself "only the right to
copyright the 'Journal' in her own name--an excellent way to make it
self-supporting, with no liability on her part to incur its debts, while
yet she could hold it under her absolute dictation.
"Let us endeavor," says the editor of "The Christian Science Journal"
(February, 1898), "to lift up our hearts in thankfulness to God ... and to
his servant, our Mother in Israel, for these evidences of a generosity and
self-sacrifice that appeal to our deepest sense of gratitude, even while
surpassing our comprehension."
Now such an evidence of generosity and self-sacrifice may intelligibly
"surpass" the "comprehension" of any stipendary of Mrs. Eddy' paid to
write such stuff as the foregoing; but Mary Baker Eddy's real bounty,
generosity, self-sacrifice and benefaction, consisted in cancelling a
mortgage of five thousand dollars, by which, on land thus obtained, a
church costing other people two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was
soon built to her glory, she keeping a Shylock grip on the land, church
and the adjacent property of her functionaries, with all its appurtenances
that were good for anything.
When "Mother Eddy" casts a loaf of bread upon the waters, it is always
safe to look for a hundred loaves on the way back to her.
"The First Church Scientist"--the edifice erected on Mrs. Eddy's donation
of land--is a handsome structure of rough granite, looking something like
a small armory with a big tower. This sacred castle of "metaphysics" is
situated a little on the outskirts of residential fashion in the
Hub-City, the district thereof being the Back Bay. It is accessible to the
world, when once in Boston, by "the electrics" and a short walk. As a
place of scientifico-religious assemblage, the building seats twelve
hundred actual "scientists" in the flesh, and the sympathetic spirits of
some twelve thousand other "members," absent throughout the country. On
this account, some Eddyites who have never seen it regard its size as
rivaling that of the earth.
The Cathedral (scientist) has much stained glass, and on nearly every
window is depicted some Mary; for all _good_ Marys, particularly the Marys
of the Bible, inferentially point to Mary Baker Eddy. This Mary's _Science
and Health_ is exceedingly prominent in the multi-colored glass, and so
gives countenance to all the representations taken from the Scriptures.
An organ is prominent--a large, harmonious present from a gentleman who
thinks that somebody was cured of something by Christian Science.
The church has two pretty pulpits side by side, from one of which the
Bible is read, while from the other, that ancient book is kept straight
by the reading of its only true meaning from _Science and Health_.
Singing the praises of "Immortal Mind," as discovered by Mrs. Eddy,
constitutes a part of the services, but there is no preaching--which is
just as well, perhaps, but needs a word of explanation.
Preaching used to be allowed "in Science"; but some of Mother Eddy's
apostles, having just enough knowledge for their creed, yet great gifts of
speech, sermonized, it is said, with such honest zeal that their eloquence
was in danger of casting an unglorified shadow on the Mother herself. It
must be stated, indeed, that sundry who have listened to St. Mary
(scientist) affirm that her divine pen has always been much more potent
than her divine tongue. And some go so far as to declare that her sermons,
when she preached, were often dull to the non-elect, even if they cured
every disease within ten miles of them. However these things may have
been, Mrs. Eddy, early in 1895, issued the following ecclesiastical
edict:[43]
"Humbly, and as I believe divinely directed, I hereby ordain that the
Bible and _Science and Health_ with _Key to the Scriptures_ shall
hereafter be the only pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist,
throughout our land, and in other lands."
This edict prevented Mrs. Eddy's theological subordinates from setting
themselves up on "earthly pinnacles." Mother Eddy at the same time decreed
this:
"No copies of my books are allowed to be written, and read from
manuscript, either in private, or in public assemblies, except by their
author."
She included the commandment that
"The reader of _Science and Health_ with _Key to the Scriptures_, shall
commence by announcing the full title of this book, with the name of the
author, and afterwards repeat at each reading its abbreviated title."
Directions followed regarding classes in "Christian Science"--the number
of pupils each teacher might instruct, and the annual number of
classes--all to be taught "from the Christian Science text-book."
Thus "Mother" Eddy's edict of 1895, abolishing pulpiteers "in Science,"
while it redounded widely to her own glory, piously amplified, also, the
proceeds of her "precious volume," _Science and Health_. But to the
innocent lambkins of her church, she said:
"Teaching Christian Science shall be no question of money, but of morals
and uplifting the race."
So that lovely bird, the ostrich, still buries her head in the sand, but
leaves out much that ornaments the landscape.
In a rounded corner of the First Church Scientist, but conspicuous from
the main passage, is a little apartment celebrated as "The Mother's Room."
There is no use of mentioning the Mother Church "in Science," without
dwelling on "The Mother's Room." It is never done, especially by any
"Scientist." The Church is holy, throughout; but that room is the
demonstrated environment of Immortal Mind.
The entrance to "The Mother's Room" is through a white-marble arch,
lustrous to behold. Over the door, cut into the marble, is the
inscription, "LOVE." It is not "love of money," or "love of flattery," but
just "LOVE." On the floor of the entrance we read in mosaic: "Mother's
Room. The children's offering"--which signifies that Mother Eddy knows how
to attract the pennies of little Scientists as well as the dollars of her
larger infants.
As you enter the room, you tread on white-marble mosaic, sprayed with figs
and fig-leaves, and you feel an emanation of pale green and old rose. If
you know your business, you are struck with awe on being in this
holy-of-holies.
On your right is a mantel of white Italian marble and gold, with an open
fireplace, wherein to throw all your mortal thoughts, that they may be
consumed. Opposite the mantel on your left, is a rather large painting,
set back in the wall, but well lighted by electricity and divine science.
It shows the sacred chair in which Mrs. Eddy sat when she wrote _Science
and Health_. The chair is empty--as typical, perhaps, of her departure
from Boston when she closed her "Metaphysical College." As Mrs. Eddy has
no need of a table when she writes, but can perform miracles of literature
on a pad, the picture shows this phenomenon. Sheets of her manuscript are
scattered on the floor, illustrating the logical chaos which fills them.
A part of "The Mother's Room" is fenced off by a ribbon, to protect a rug
made from the downy breasts of five hundred eider-ducks. The legend, as
told by the guide, is that "no man's hand ever touched this rug." It is
sacred to the Mother's immaculate foot. But it was not manufactured by the
Audubon Society.
A beautiful showcase, of white and gold, ornaments the room, and in it are
the white and gold editions of Mrs. Eddy's works. They are samples of what
you can buy at the regular price, and are very tempting to wealthy
"scientists."
The Mother's room has a gorgeous bay-window, or three windows in one, of
stained glass. The Mother herself is there, searching the Scriptures,
encircled by a halo from the star of Bethlehem. The Christian Science seal
is emblazoned on the window, and a little girl is there, reading _Science
and Health_ to an old man. The little girl must be Mary Baker and the old
man, probably, is Moses or Abraham. An alabaster bee-hive must not be
forgotten, which contains the names of the little busy bees "in
Science"--those children who squeezed out the cash to construct the room.
As you turn and go out, you observe, on the right, an alcove, which
contains a folding bed, to be pulled out into the main room in case of
use; for the alcove itself is almost as small as a mind that disagrees
with Mrs. Eddy.
At your left--still going out--there is a toilet-room, corresponding to
the alcove, but on the other side of the arch and doorway. In practical
construction, this toilet-room is very much like other small inclosures
adapted to the same ends. The chief difference, here, is that all the
water-pipes, faucets, and such fixtures, are plated with gold. Thus Mother
Eddy's lavatory proudly reminds her of Solomon's temple at Jerusalem.
It is said that "Mother Eddy" has never slept in "The Mother's Room" but
once. This one occasion, however, was quite enough to sanctify it
forever.