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estimates the odds； makes up its mind； then goes at the enterprise
resolute to win or perish。 Recklessness does not reflect； it plunges
fearlessly in with a hurrah； and takes the risks； whatever they may be；
regardless of expense。 Recklessness often fails； Mrs。 Eddy has never
failedfrom the point of view of her followers。 The point of view of
other people is naturally not a matter of weighty importance to her。
The new Church was not born loose…jointed and featureless； but had a
defined plan； a definite character； definite aims； and a name which was a
challenge； and defied all comers。 It was 〃a Mind…healing Church。〃 It
was 〃without a creed。〃 Its name； 〃The Church of Christ； Scientist。〃
Mrs。 Eddy could not copyright her Church； but she chartered it； which was
the same thing and relieved the pain。 It had twenty…six charter members。
Mrs。 Eddy was at once installed as its pastor。
The other venture； above referred to； was Mrs。 Eddy's Massachusetts
Metaphysical College； in which was taught 〃the pathology of spiritual
power。〃 She could not copyright it； but she got it chartered。 For
faculty it had herself； her husband of the period （Dr。 Eddy）； and her
adopted son； Dr。 Foster…Eddy。 The college term was 〃barely three
weeks；〃 she says。 Again she was bold； brave； rash； recklesschoose for
yourselffor she not only began to charge the student； but charged him a
hundred dollars a week for the enlightenments。 And got it？ some may
ask。 Easily。 Pupils flocked from far and near。 They came by the
hundred。 Presently the term was cut down nearly half； but the price
remained as before。 To be exact； the term…cut was to seven lessons
price； three hundred dollars。 The college 〃yielded a large income。〃
This is believable。 In seven years Mrs。 Eddy taught； as she avers； over
four thousand students in it。 （Preface to 1902 edition of Science and
Health。） Three hundred times four thousand isbut perhaps you can cipher
it yourself。 I could do it ordinarily； but I fell down yesterday and
hurt my leg。 Cipher it； you will see that it is a grand sum for a woman
to earn in seven years。 Yet that was not all she got out of her college
in the seven。
At the time that she was charging the primary student three hundred
dollars for twelve lessons she was not content with this tidy assessment；
but had other ways of plundering him。 By advertisement she offered him
privileges whereby he could add eighteen lessons to his store for five
hundred dollars more。 That is to say； he could get a total of thirty
lessons in her college for eight hundred dollars。
Four thousand times eight hundred isbut it is a difficult sum for a
cripple who has not been 〃demonstrated over〃 to cipher； let it go。 She
taught 〃over〃 four thousand students in seven years。 〃Over〃 is not
definite； but it probably represents a non…paying surplus of learners
over and above the paying four thousand。 Charity students； doubtless。 I
think that as interesting an advertisement as has been printed since the
romantic old days of the other buccaneers is this one from the Christian
Science Journal for September； 1886：
〃MASSACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL COLLEGE
〃REV。 MARY BAKER G。 EDDY； PRESIDENT
〃571 Columbus Avenue； Boston
〃The collegiate course in Christian Science metaphysical healing includes
twelve lessons。 Tuition； three hundred dollars。
〃Course in metaphysical obstetrics includes six daily lectures； and is
open only to students from this college。 Tuition； one hundred dollars。
〃Class in theology； open （like the above） to graduates； receives six
additional lectures on the Scriptures； and summary of the principle and
practice of Christian Science； two hundred dollars。
〃Normal class is open to those who have taken the first course at this
college； six daily lectures complete the Normal course。 Tuition； two
hundred dollars。
〃No invalids； and only persons of good moral character； are accepted as
students。 All students are subject to examination and rejection； and
they are liable to leave the class if found unfit to remain in it。
〃A limited number of clergymen received free of charge。
〃Largest discount to indigent students； one hundred dollars on the first
course。
〃No deduction on the others。
〃Husband and wife； entered together； three hundred dollars。
〃Tuition for all strictly in advance。〃
There it isthe horse…leech's daughter alive again； after a three…
century vacation。 Fifty or sixty hours' lecturing for eight hundred
dollars。
I was in error as to one matter： there are no charity students。 Gratis…
taught clergymen must not be placed under that head； they are merely an
advertisement。 Pauper students can get into the infant class on a two…
third rate （cash in advance）； but not even an archangel can get into the
rest of the game at anything short of par； cash down。 For it is 〃in the
spirit of Christ's charity； as one who is joyful to bear healing to the
sick 〃 that Mrs。 Eddy is working the game。 She sends the healing to them
outside。 She cannot bear it to them inside the college； for the reason
that she does not allow a sick candidate to get in。 It is true that this
smells of inconsistency； but that is nothing； Mrs。 Eddy would not be Mrs。
Eddy if she should ever chance to be consistent about anything two days
running。
Except in the matter of the Dollar。 The Dollar； and appetite for power
and notoriety。 English must also be added； she is always consistent； she
is always Mrs。 Eddy； in her English： it is always and consistently
confused and crippled and poor。 She wrote the Advertisement； her
literary trade…marks are there。 When she says all 〃students〃 are subject
to examination； she does not mean students； she means candidates for that
lofty place When she says students are 〃liable〃 to leave the class if
found unfit to remain in it； she does not mean that if they find
themselves unfit； or be found unfit by others； they will be likely to ask
permission to leave the class； she means that if she finds them unfit she
will be 〃liable〃 to fire them out。 When she nobly offers 〃tuition for
all strictly in advance；〃 she does not mean 〃instruction for all in
advance…payment for it later。〃 No； that is only what she says； it is not
what she means。 If she had written Science and Health； the oldest man in
the world would not be able to tell with certainty what any passage in it
was intended to mean。
Her Church was on its legs。
She was its pastor。 It was prospering。
She was appointed one of a committee to draught By…laws for its
government。 It may be observed； without overplus of irreverence； that
this was larks for her。 She did all of the draughting herself。 From the
very beginning she was always in the front seat when there was business
to be done； in the front seat； with both eyes open； and looking sharply
out for Number One； in the front seat； working Mortal Mind with fine
effectiveness and giving Immortal Mind a rest for Sunday。 When her
Church was reorganized； by…and…by； the By…laws were retained。 She saw to
that。 In these Laws for the government of her Church； her empire； her
despotism； Mrs。 Eddy's character is embalmed for good and all。 I think a
particularized examination of these Church…laws will be found
interesting。 And not the less so if we keep in mind that they were
〃impelled by a power not one's own；〃 as she saysAnglice。 the
inspiration of God。
It is a Church 〃without a creed。〃 Still； it has one。 Mrs。 Eddy
draughted itand copyrighted it。 In her own name。 You cannot become a
member of the Mother…Church （nor of any Christian Science Church） without
signing it。 It forms the first chapter of the By…laws； and is called
〃Tenets。〃 〃Tenets of The Mother Church； The First Church of Christ；
Scientist。〃 It has no hell in itit throws it overboard。
THE PASTOR EMERITUS
About the time of the reorganization； Mrs。 Eddy retired from her position
of pastor of her Church； abolished the office of pastor in all branch
Churches； and appointed her book； Science and Health； to be pastor…
universal。 Mrs。 Eddy did not disconnect herself from the office
entirely； when she retired； but appointed herself Pastor Emeritus。 It is
a misleading title； and belongs to the family of that phrase 〃without a
creed。〃 It advertises her as being a merely honorary official； with
nothing to do； and no authority。 The Czar of Russia is Emperor Emeritus
on the same terms。 Mrs。 Eddy was Autocrat of the Church before； with
limitless authority； and she kept her grip on that limitless authority
when she took that fictitious title。
It is curious and interesting to note with what an unerring instinct the
Pastor Emeritus has thought out and forecast all possible encroachments
upon her planned autocracy； and barred the way against them； in the By…
laws which she framed and copyrightedunder the guidance of the Supreme
Being。
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
For instance； when Article I。 speaks of a President and Board of
Directors； you think you have discovered a formidable check upon the
powers and ambitions of the honorary pastor； the ornamental pastor； the
functionless pastor； the Pastor Emeritus； but it is a mistake。