Standing tall in the face of censure

What a valuable worker Julia Bartlett was as a church pioneer of the development of the Cause of Christian Science! In his book, Historical Sketches, Clifford Smith tells us (pp. 228, 229 in the chapter “Among the early workers”) about all the positions she held in the church. He says it is difficult to mention them all. She served –

·       For The Church of Christ, Scientist: President for one year; Treasurer for over 5 years; one of the Directors for over 6 years.

·       On many committees: Original member of the Committee on Bible Lessons; for the Massachusetts Metaphysical College she was one of its constituent members as a corporation; for the National Christian Scientist Association, she was a founding member, a member of its Executive Committee for one term, and its treasurer twice; for The Mother Church she was one of the original First Members, continuing as a First Member or Executive Member from 1892 until this office was abolished in 1908.

One thinks of the churches, societies, and informal groups of Christian Scientists in this present era. We know of groups successfully working with only three or so members, holding weekly testimony meetings and having Reading Rooms open to the public. Members wearing lots of hats, we presume.

§§

Another fascinating chapter is “Censures Now Discredited”. Smith’s book was published in 1941, so I am left wondering about the censures or criticisms current in the present day. I have requested of our Committee on Publication, Edwina Aubin, that she give me an idea of those.

Censures mentioned in Historical Sketches include the following:

·        It was claimed that Christian Science is not a religion. (I found Mr. Smith’s explanation of this to be interesting. Before she founded a Church, Mrs. Eddy used the terms “Metaphysical Science” and “Moral Science” for the discovery she was presenting to the world, more often than she used the term Christian Science.)

·        It was claimed that Christian Science does not accept the Bible and does not believe in God.

·        It was claimed that Christian Science does not believe in Christ.

·        It was claimed that Christian Science does not believe in prayer.

·        It was claimed that Christian Science healings are the result of mesmerism. (This was an early one in the history of Christian Science.)

Mr. Smith puts the question: “How can this Science be distinguished from other teachings or practices?” He quotes Mrs. Eddy as saying,“[What is the cardinal point of the difference in my metaphysical system? This: that] by knowing the unreality of disease, sin, and death, you demonstrate the allness of God. This difference wholly separates my system from all others” (Unity of Good, by Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 9-10).*

Edwina Aubin has now answered my question: One criticism from orthodox Christians is that Christian Science is not Christian. Another is that Christian Science is a cult.

The Committee on Publication is still being kept busy, as it has been since it was introduced by Mrs. Eddy. The Mary Baker Eddy Library has this information on its site under the title: What is the history of the name “Committee on Publication”?

August 8, 2018

On December 13, 1898, the Christian Science Board of Directors adopted a By-Law that Mary Baker Eddy had submitted. It established a three-person “Publication Committee,” tasked with obtaining “the publication in respectable newspapers or such as she [Eddy] shall select―whatever the Pastor Emeritus commits to them for this purpose.”1 In accordance with Eddy’s wish, this By-Law was not made public, for unknown reasons.2

On January 9, 1900, Eddy submitted another By-Law, calling for a “Publishing Committee.” The Board adopted this By-Law on January 11. At Eddy’s request news of it appeared in the January 18, 1900 edition of the Christian Science Sentinel.3

For several months the church’s publications confusingly used both the names “Publishing Committee” and “Publication Committee.” This was ironed out when the second By-Law appeared in the 14th edition (1900) of the Church Manual and “Publication Committee” became the standard title, used through the 56th edition (1906). However occasional references to the “Publishing Committee” still appeared for years.

The shift from “Publication Committee” to “Committee on Publication” officially took place on September 5, 1906, with the adoption of By-Laws that replaced the old name with the new one in every instance.4

We have not been able to find any records suggesting reasons why Eddy changed the name. The updated By-Law first appeared in the 57th edition of the Manual (1906)—but the name change only found gradual acceptance. For example Alfred Farlow (the first Committee on Publication) didn’t make the change on his letterhead until early 1907. In fact we have found the old title “Publication Committee” used in the Christian Science periodicals as late as the 1940s.

[Ed: Good sleuthing Joyce!]

Joyce Voysey

This is the full quote from Unity of Good.

·        What is the cardinal point of the difference in my metaphysical system? This: that by knowing the unreality of disease, sin, and death, you demonstrate the allness of God. This difference wholly separates my system from all others. The reality of these so-called existences I deny, because they are not to be found in God, and this system is built on Him as the sole cause. It would be difficult to name any previous teachers, save Jesus and his apostles, who have thus taught.
(Unity of Good, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 9:27)