saturated with convictions of one sort and another concerning a
scribbler's limitations； and these are so strong that when I am familiar
with a literary person's work I feel perfectly sure that I know enough
about his limitations to know what he can not do。 If Mr。 Howells should
pretend to me that he wrote the Plague…Spot Bacilli rhapsody； I should
receive the statement courteously； but I should know it for awell； for
a perversion。 If the late Josh Billings should rise up and tell me that
he wrote Herbert Spencer's philosophies； I should answer and say that the
spelling casts a doubt upon his claim。 If the late Jonathan Edwards
should rise up and tell me he wrote Mr。 Dooley's books； I should answer
and say that the marked difference between his style and Dooley's is
argument against the soundness of his statement。 You see how much I
think of circumstantial evidence。 In literary mattersin my beliefit
is often better than any person's word； better than any shady character's
oath。 It is difficult for me to believe that the same hand that wrote
the Plague…Spot…Bacilli and the first third of the little Eddy biography
wrote also Science and Health。 Indeed； it is more than difficult； it is
impossible。
Largely speaking； I have read acres of what purported to be Mrs。 Eddy's
writings； in the past two months。 I cannot know； but I am convinced；
that the circumstantial evidence shows that her actual share in the work
of composing and phrasing these things was so slight as to be
inconsequential。 Where she puts her literary foot down； her trail across
her paid polisher's page is as plain as the elephant's in a Sunday…school
procession。 Her verbal output； when left undoctored by her clerks； is
quite unmistakable It always exhibits the strongly distinctive features
observable in the virgin passages from her pen already quoted by me：
Desert vacancy； as regards thought。
Self…complacency。
Puerility。
Sentimentality。
Affectations of scholarly learning。
Lust after eloquent and flowery expression。
Repetition of pet poetic picturesquenesses。
Confused and wandering statement。
Metaphor gone insane。
Meaningless words； used because they are pretty； or showy； or unusual。
Sorrowful attempts at the epigrammatic。
Destitution of originality。
The fat volume called Miscellaneous Writings of Mrs。 Eddy contains
several hundred pages。 Of the five hundred and fifty…four pages of prose
in it I find ten lines； on page 319； to be Mrs。 Eddy's； also about a page
of the preface or 〃Prospectus〃； also about fifteen pages scattered along
through the book。 If she wrote any of the rest of the prose； it was
rewritten after her by another hand。 Here I will insert two…thirds of
her page of the prospectus。 It is evident that whenever； under the
inspiration of the Deity； she turns out a book； she is always allowed to
do some of the preface。 I wonder why that is？ It always mars the work。
I think it is done in humorous malice I think the clerks like to see her
give herself away。 They know she will； her stock of usable materials
being limited and her procedure in employing them always the same；
substantially。 They know that when the initiated come upon her first
erudite allusion； or upon any one of her other stage…properties； they can
shut their eyes and tell what will follow。 She usually throws off an
easy remark all sodden with Greek or Hebrew or Latin learning； she
usually has a person watching for a starshe can seldom get away from
that poetic ideasometimes it is a Chaldee； sometimes a Walking
Delegate； sometimes an entire stranger； but be he what he may； he is
generally there when the train is ready to move； and has his pass in his
hat…band； she generally has a Being with a Dome on him； or some other
cover that is unusual and out of the fashion； she likes to fire off a
Scripture…verse where it will make the handsomest noise and come nearest
to breaking the connection； she often throws out a Forefelt； or a
Foresplendor； or a Foreslander where it will have a fine nautical
foreto'gallant sound and make the sentence sing； after which she is
nearly sure to throw discretion away and take to her deadly passion；
Intoxicated Metaphor。 At such a time the Mrs。 Eddy that does not
hesitate is lost：
〃The ancient Greek looked longingly for the Olympiad。 The Chaldee
watched the appearing of a star； to him no higher destiny dawned on the
dome of being than that foreshadowed by signs in the heavens。 The meek
Nazarene； the scoffed of all scoffers； said； 'Ye can discern the face of
the sky； but can ye not discern the signs of the times？'for He forefelt
and foresaw the ordeal of a perfect Christianity； hated by sinners。
〃To kindle all minds with a gleam of gratitude； the new idea that comes
welling up from infinite Truth needs to be understood。 The seer of this
age should be a sage。
〃Humility is the stepping…stone to a higher recognition of Deity。 The
mounting sense gathers fresh forms and strange fire from the ashes of
dissolving self； and drops the world。 Meekness heightens immortal
attributes； only by removing the dust that dims them。 Goodness reveals
another scene and another self seemingly rolled up in shades； but brought
to light by the evolutions of advancing thought； whereby we discern the
power of Truth and Love to heal the sick。
〃Pride is ignorance； those assume most who have the least wisdom or
experience； and they steal from their neighbor； because they have so
little of their own。〃Miscellaneous Writings； page 1； and six lines at
top of page 2。
It is not believable that the hand that wrote those clumsy and affected
sentences wrote the smooth English of Science and Health。
CHAPTER IV
It is often said in print that Mrs。 Eddy claims that God was the Author
of Science and Health。 Mr。 Peabody states in his pamphlet that 〃she says
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 inspirationdefinitely
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
universeold 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 statisticsand that is Mrs。 Eddy's
common fashionone 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
nothingfor 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 equivalentfor 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 encoringsuggests 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
procession if his remarks had been unsatisfactory to it。
It may be that there is evidence somewhereas has been cl