not she but God was the Author.” I cannot find that in her autobiography
she makes this transference of the authorship, but I think that in it she
definitely claims that she did her work under His inspiration–definitely
for her; for as a rule she is not a very definite person, even when she
seems to be trying her best to be clear and positive. Speaking of the
early days when her Science was beginning to unfold itself and gather
form in her mind, she says (Autobiography, page 43):
“The divine hand led me into a new world of light and Life, a fresh
universe–old to God, but new to His ‘little one.'”
She being His little one, as I understand it.
The divine hand led her. It seems to mean “God inspired me”; but when a
person uses metaphors instead of statistics–and that is Mrs. Eddy’s
common fashion–one cannot always feel sure about the intention.
[Page 56.] “Even the Scripture gave no direct interpretation of the
Scientific basis for demonstrating the spiritual Principle of healing,
until our Heavenly Father saw fit, through the Key to the Scriptures, in
Science and Health, to unlock this ‘mystery of godliness.'”
Another baffling metaphor. If she had used plain forecastle English, and
said “God wrote the Key and I put it in my book”; or if she had said “God
furnished me the solution of the mystery and I put it on paper”; or if
she had said “God did it all,” then we should understand; but her phrase
is open to any and all of those translations, and is a Key which unlocks
nothing–for us. However, it seems to at least mean “God inspired me,”
if nothing more.
There was personal and intimate communion, at any rate we get that much
out of the riddles. The connection extended to business, after the
establishment of the teaching and healing industry.
[Page 71.] “When God impelled me to set a price on my instruction,” etc.
Further down: “God has since shown me, in multitudinous ways, the wisdom
of this decision.”
She was not able to think of a “financial equivalent”–meaning a
pecuniary equivalent–for her “instruction in Christian Science Mind-
healing.” In this emergency she was “led” to charge three hundred
dollars for a term of “twelve half-days.” She does not say who led her,
she only says that the amount greatly troubled her. I think it means
that the price was suggested from above, “led” being a theological term
identical with our commercial phrase “personally conducted.” She “shrank
from asking it, but was finally led, by a strange providence, to accept
this fee.” “Providence” is another theological term. Two leds and a
providence, taken together, make a pretty strong argument for
inspiration. I think that these statistics make it clear that the price
was arranged above. This view is constructively supported by the fact,
already quoted, that God afterwards approved, “in multitudinous ways,”
her wisdom in accepting the mentioned fee. “Multitudinous ways”–
multitudinous encoring–suggests enthusiasm. Business enthusiasm. And
it suggests nearness. God’s nearness to his “little one.” Nearness, and
a watchful personal interest. A warm, palpitating, Standard-Oil
interest, so to speak. All this indicates inspiration. We may assume,
then, two inspirations: one for the book, the other for the business.
The evidence for inspiration is further augmented by the testimony of
Rev. George Tomkins, D.D., already quoted, that Mrs. Eddy and her book
were foretold in Revelation, and that Mrs. Eddy “is God’s brightest
thought to this age, giving us the spiritual interpretation of the Bible
in the ‘ little book'” of the Angel.
I am aware that it is not Mr. Tomkins that is speaking, but Mrs. Eddy.
The commissioned lecturers of the Christian Science Church have to be
members of the Board of Lectureship. (By-laws Sec. 2, p. 70.) The
Board of Lectureship is selected by the Board of Directors of the Church.
(By-laws, Sec. 3, p. 70.) The Board of Directors of the Church is the
property of Mrs. Eddy. (By-laws, p. 22.) Mr. Tomkins did not make that
statement without authorization from headquarters. He necessarily got it
from the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors from Mrs. Eddy, Mrs.
Eddy from the Deity. Mr. Tomkins would have been turned down by that