Page:The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy.djvu/527

Rh Mrs. Eddy lost not a moment in condemning the project. Her daily newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor of Boston, and her church organ, the Christian Science Sentinel, which reach the entire Christian Science membership, announced editorially that Mrs. Eddy was not pleased "with what purport to be plans of First Church of Christ Scientist of New York City, for she learned of this proposed rival to the Mother Church for the first time, from the daily press." "Three leading facts," continued the editorial, "remain immortal in the history of Christian Science, namely:

1. This Science is already established, and it has the support of all true Christian Scientists throughout the world.

2. Any competition or any rivalry in Christian Science is abnormal, and will expose and explode itself.

3. Any attempt at rivalry or superiority in Christian Science is unchristian; therefore it is unscientific. The great Teacher said: "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye."

Thoughtful Christian Scientists are profoundly grateful to their beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, because in her far-seeing wisdom she has ordained The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., already famous for originating reforms, as The Mother Church of Christian Science, and all other churches in the denomination as branches of the parent Vine. Says the Church Manual: "In its relation to other Christian Science churches, in its by-laws and self-government, The Mother Church stands alone; it occupies a pos i tion that no other church can fill" (Art. xxiii., Sec. 3). It is a fact of general observation that in proportion as branch churches adhere loyally to The Mother Church, and obey implicitly its by-laws, they bear abundant fruit in healing the sick and sinful.

Machinery was set in motion at headquarters to restrain and repress Mrs. Stetson's activities. In the summer of 1909 a new by-law was issued. It provided that teachers and practitioners could no longer maintain offices or rooms in the churches, in the reading-rooms, or in rooms connected therewith. It was