MRS. EDDY HEAD OF THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11692, 29 June 1901, Page 5 (Supplement)

MRS. EDDY HEAD OF THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS.

an INTERVIEW. (A' REPORTER oi the New York Herald recently interviewed Mrs. Eddy, the creator c « Christian Science." He says — The house represents only a part of Mrs. Eddy's wealth, resulting from the sale of Jjer books. It, contains hundreds of costly Objects, sent to her with heartfelt good wishes by her " children in Christ." ' ' Seated in the large parlour, I became aware of a white-haired lady slowly descend- , ing the stairs. She entered with a gracious smile, walking uprightly and with light step, and after a kindly greeting took a seat on a sofa. It was Mrs. Eddy. While the lady in a clear but not loud voice was telling how she had sought light upon the matter, of seeing hie, and what had induced her at last to reach a favourable conclusion, let mo say first of all that the . ]a dy was Mrs. Eddy indeed. There was no '"'■ThTcoSfnuity of the Church of Christ, Scientist," she said, in her clear voice, "is assured. It is growing wonderfully. It will embrace all the churchy, one by one, because in it alone is the simplicity of the oneness of God; the oneness of Christ aad. the perfecting of man stated scientifically. "How will it be governed after all now concerned in its government shall have ja * S ' & lfwili evolve scientifically. Its essence is evangelical. Its government will develop as it progresses." .. , " Will there he a hierarchy, or will it be Sheeted by a single earthly ruler":" "In time its present rules ol: service and present rulership will advance nearer perfection." : * It .was plain that the answers to questions would be in Mrs. Eddy's own spirit. She • has a rapt way of talking, looking large-eyed into space, arid works around a question in her own way, reachiifg an answer often unexpectedly after a prolonged exordium. She explained":—"No present change is contemplated in the rulership. You would ask, perhaps, whether my successor- will be a woman or a man. I can answer that. It ■will be a man." "Can you name the man?'" "I cannot answer that now."

Here, then, was the definite statement that Mrs. ' Eddy's immediate successor would, like herself, be the ruler. "I have been called a Pope, but surely I have sought no such distinction. I have simply taught as I learned while healing the sick. • It was in 1867 that the light of the science came first to me. In 1875 I wrote my book. It brought down a shower of abuse upon my head, but it won converts from the first. I followed it up, teaching and 'organising, and trust in me grew. I was: the mother, but of course, the term Pope is used figuratively. "A position of authority," she went on, "became necessary. Rules were necessary, and I made a code of by-laws, but each one was the fruit of experience and the result of prayer. Entrusting their enforcements to others, I found a$ one time that they had six churches.under discipline. I intervened. Dissensions are dangerous in an infant church. I wrote to each church in tenderness, in exhortation, and in rebuke, and' so brought all back to union and' love again. 'If that is to be Pope, then you can judge for yourself. • I have even been spoken of as a Christ, but to my understanding of Christ that is impossible. If we say that the sun stands for God, then all his rays collectively stand for Christ, and each separate ray for men and women. God. the Father is greater than Christ, but Christ is 'one with the Father,' and so the mystery is scientifically explained. There can be but one Christ." "And the soul of man?'' "It is the spirit of God, inhabiting clay and withdrawn from—but preserving individuality and personality to the end. I hold it absurd to say that when a man dies his soul will be ebetter than he was. How-can it be? The individuality of him must make gradual approaches to perfection." "Do you reject utterly the bacteria theory of tho propagation of disease?" " Oil," with a prolonged inflection, "entirely, If I harboured that idea about disease, I should think myself in danger of catching it. No such thing. I may say that I am very susceptible, to an atmosphere of fear about me."

"Then, as to the law—-the health laws of the States on the question of infectious and contagious diseases. How does Christian Science stand as to them ?"..

"I say render unto Ctesar the things which are Cajsar's. We cannot force perfection on the world. Were vaccination of any avail I should tremble for mankind, but knowing it is not and that the fear of catching smallpox is more dangerous than tiny material infection, I say where vaccination is compulsory let your children be vaccinated and see that your mind is in such a state that by your prayers it will do the children no harm." " So long as Christian Scientists obey the daws I don't suppose their mental reservations will.be thought to matter much. But every thought tells, and Christian Science will overthrow false knowledge in the end." "What is your attitude to science in general? Do you oppose it?" "Not," with a smile, "if it is really science." "Well, electricity, engineering, the telephone, the steam engine—are these too material for Christian Science?" "■No, only false sciencehealing by drugs. I was a sickly child. I was dosed with drugs until they had no effect on me. The doctors said I would live if the drugs could be made to "act on me. Then homceopathy came like blessed relief to me, but I found that when I prescribed pellets without any medication they acted just the same, and healed the sick. How could I believe in the science of drugs ?" "But surgery?" "The work done by the surgeon is the last healing that will be vouchsafed to us or rather attained by us as we. near a state of spiritual perfection. At present I am conservative about advice on surgical cases." "But the pursuit of modern material inventions?"

• "P' l ' v ' cannot oppose them. They all tend to newer, finer, more etlierealised ways of living. They seek the finer essences. I hey light the way to the Church of Christ, we use them, we make them our figures of speech. They are preparing the. way for

•v 6 talked on many subject,';, some only of whiclf arc here touched upon, and her views, strictly and always from the standpoint of Christian Science, were continually surprising. '-.She talks as one who lias lived with her subject, for a lifetime— ordinary lifetime—and so far from being puzzled by any Question welcomes it as another opportunity tor presenting another view of her religion.