Page:The Life of Mary Baker Eddy (Wilbur).djvu/371

Rh in which she waited for the culmination of the conspiracy in the Boston church she turned over in her mind the many-sided problem of safeguarding the organization. She was once more submitting herself for divine guidance, and in the sacred secrecy of such communion was evolving a plan by which security should be attained against explosive schism.

Now the first step toward the masterly solution of this great problem of organization which confronted her was a loosening of all the bonds which apparently held her students together. With absolute reliance upon the underlying, irrevocable compact of spirit, which constitutes the “church invisible,” Mrs. Eddy first closed the Metaphysical College and then a few months later dissolved the organization of the Boston church.

She had discontinued teaching classes at the college in May, 1889, and on October 29 of that year she closed its doors. Its dissolution was accomplished after due deliberation and earnest discussion by a vote of the board of directors of the college corporation. In announcing its purpose the board presented to the public resolutions in which it thanked the state for its charter, the public for its patronage, and declared its everlasting gratitude to its president for her great and noble work. The teaching was henceforth to be done by the qualified students.

In “Retrospection and Introspection” Mrs. Eddy has given her clearly defined argument for this procedure and it is an unmistakable disclaimer of