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Volume 13, Number 2
—
April 2004
the spiritual idea will be understood." (Science and Health, p. 570)
CHRIST AND CHRISTMAS Duality, or the two-in-one Christ,
works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And I will give him the MORNING STAR. — Christ Jesus." Christ and Christmas, Epilogue
This issue of The Christian Science Standard includes material published in previous issues of the Standard that were compiled and edited by Stanley C. Larkin. Christ and Christmas, written by Mary Baker Eddy and published over one hundred years ago in December 1893, is Mrs. Eddy's disclosure, stated cryptically, that she is Christ, the dual Christ. Duality, or the two-in-one Christ, is the theme of this book. This issue of the Standard contains an exegesis of plates no. 5, 6, 7, and 8; the first four plates were discussed in the February issue. Mary Baker Eddy writes on page 308 of Miscellaneous Writings: Advanced scientific students are ready for "Christ and Christmas;" but those are a minority of its readers, and even they know its practicality only by healing the sick on its divine Principle. In the words of the prophet, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." MRS. EDDY AS CHRIST Mrs. Eddy as Christ In the February issue it was explained that plate no. 2 depicted Mrs. Eddy's incarnation* as Christ; thus, all subsequent pictures show her as having a halo. In plate no. 5 she is identified as being one of the two anointed ones who, in a later dispensation, are revealed to be the single two-in-one Christ and one of the two witnesses. Plates no. 6, 9, and 10 show her wearing the Christly mantle and plates no. 3, 5, 9, and 10 identify her with the scroll of Daniel. Since she has loosed the seven seals thereof this further identifies her as Christ, the Root of David (Rev. 5:5). (See February issue, pages 5 and 6) [*Incarnation. (1) A clothing, or state of being clothed, with flesh; taking on, or being manifested in, a body of flesh; (2) the union of Divinity with humanity in Christ. — Webster.] It will be shown in this exegesis that plate no. 6, the center plate of the eleven, has a special meaning which Mrs. Eddy says both illustrates and interprets her life. Plate no. 6 surely depicts her as Christ as will be shown below. It is impossible to separate the special meaning of this plate from the others that show certain select points in her life history which relate her to Christ. Mrs. Eddy's revealing admission came in her April 30, 1897, letter to Mr. Gilman which acknowledges improvements to plate no. 6: Do you know what you have done for yourself, for mankind, for our Cause? No, you do not, perhaps, but I will tell you. You have illustrated and interpreted my life on the plate that you sent me. (Diary Records of James F. Gilman, p. 91) Mrs. Eddy As the Morning Star The seven-pointed morning star and its radiant light is emblazoned on the front cover of the book, and it appears in nine of the eleven plates. This focal star is also in the first and last Bible texts of the book. The first one relates to the first verse and is found in the "Glossary" of Christ and Christmas, page 55, and the last is found in the epilogue, page 57. Since this book is an interpretation of Mrs. Eddy's life and since the star runs throughout the book, this parallel line of thought is one of the ways Mrs. Eddy describes herself as the morning star. The first text that mentions the star reads: "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Rev. 22:16) In our previous issue it was shown how both the root and the offspring of David were identical with both Mrs. Eddy and Jesus. Therefore, they both must be the morning star. The text in the epilogue has this promise by Jesus that we will have the morning star if we recognize Mary Baker Eddy and follow her teachings unto the end: works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And I will give him the MORNING STAR. — Christ Jesus. (Rev. 2: 26, 28) In addition, it should be noted that in the plate where healing is being attempted without success (plate no. 8), there is no morning star — no recognition of Christ Mary. The conclusion is apparent — for healing work to be successful, the Christ in Mrs. Eddy must be recognized. The Book Is Mrs. Eddy's Confession of Herself as Christ This confession served as the foundation stone or "headstone" of Mrs. Eddy's Church of Christ (Scientist) — The Mother Church — erected the following year in 1894. She demonstrated the God-rule which requires the confession of the Messiah before a building program of temple or church can be begun. This was illustrated in Zechariah's recognition of "the two anointed ones" before he could rebuild the temple, and in Peter's confession of Christ Jesus (Matt. 16:18) which served as the "Rock" or foundation on which the Church of Christ Jesus could be/was built throughout Christendom under the First Advent. The Book Is Holy, A Crowning Achievement Speaking of Christ and Christmas as one of the most marvelous achievements in Christian Science, Judge Hanna wrote in part: This book comes indeed as a Christmas gift, — a magnificent Mind-gem from the bounteous hand of infinite Love. If ever God spake to man through symbol and metaphor, or through the inspiration of Psalm or song, he so spoke through our Leader when she conceived and gave birth to that wondrous work! . . . To the casual reader it might seem but a beautiful poem and the illustrations exquisite bits of art, for these they surely are; but to the Christian Scientist whose eyes have been partly opened to Jesus' mission as it is being exemplified in Christian Science to-day, it must be a new revelation of the God-anointed mission of our Leader. (The Christian Science Journal, 1894, Vol. 11, pp. 466-7) Judge Hanna is saying that the book is divinely inspired, and that it is a revelation that Jesus' mission and our Leader's mission are the same. That this book was divinely inspired was apparent to Mrs. Eddy and her household: Christ and Christmas was an inspiration from beginning to end. The power of God and the wisdom of God was even more manifest in it and guided me more perceptibly, as those of my household can attest, than when I wrote Science and Health. . . . God taught me that the art of Christian Science has come through inspiration the same as its Science has. Hence the great error of human opinions passing judgment on it. (Letter to Carol Norton, December 14, 1893, quoted in History of the Christian Science Movement by William Lyman Johnson, Vol. 2, p. 448.) CONTINUED FROM FEBRUARY 2004 ISSUE PLATE NO. 5 Plate Title: Christmas Morn. This picture is a morning landscape with a road crossing a brook, leading to a city. The sun is about to rise at a focal point where there is a large domed building with a signal floating over it. Nearer the viewer is a prominent church steeple. Twelve sheep with their heads up are looking at the dual figure, Mrs. Eddy and Jesus. On each of the two heads is a candle. Mrs. Eddy is holding the book with one hand and shading her eyes with the other in alert watchfulness over the sheepfold, the church; while Jesus has his hands folded in prayer. Suggested Theme: The dual Christ Mary, or Root of David, is prior to Abraham. Verse 7: Of him ne'er born? What can rehearse the glorious worth Of his high morn? Scriptural Text for Verse 7: ("Glossary," Christ and Christmas, p. 55) "Before Abraham was, I am. — Christ Jesus." (John 8:58) In contrast to plate no. 4 with the tree of knowledge, this picture has everything in order, including the tree of life at the right side. Under the tree is the sheepfold, the church, where the sheep of Israel are gathered, — the number represents the twelve tribes. The sheep have their heads up watching the dual figure, Christ. The sheepfold, or church, which is the kingdom of heaven established on earth, is entered by following the shepherd. His/her followers will recognize him/her throughout eternity, — "and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:14, 16) In all editions of Christ and Christmas up through 1910, a candle stands on each of the two heads of the dual figure, although this may not be obvious in some later editions. The candles indicate that these figures are the two anointed ones, or two witnesses of Revelation 11. (See Zech. 4:11-14 and Rev. 11:3, 4) Therefore, these figures are not angels. In this picture, they identify the two-in-one Christ, which was in existence not only before Abraham, but before Adam and Eve. (Adam and Eve are the counterfeit of the two-in-one Christ.) The message of the illustration and verse is in the answer to the two questions raised. First, why "signalize the birth" of him who was never born? The dual Christ, which is the dual figure here, was never born and pre-dates Abraham. Jesus and Mrs. Eddy were a dual being always. The second question is "what can rehearse the glorious worth of" the dual Christ? The awareness of the duality, although unseen, is the rehearsal of the glorious worth in the church. The time is now at hand when human consciousness can comprehend that the Root of David, Jesus and Mary, existed before Abraham and the two were never born into the flesh. The oval or egg shape of the picture may symbolize the new birth, without which one cannot be aware of the spiritual fact, — duality. Plate Title: Christian Science Healing. This picture shows a practitioner healing a patient by a recognition of Mrs. Eddy as Christ in the Second Advent. (See Scriptural Text for verse 9) Suggested Theme: It is the Truth in Christ Mary which heals. Verse 8: Was Jesus' part; For Sharon's rose must bud and bloom In human heart.* * "God was manifest in the flesh." — St. Paul (I Tim. 3:16) Scriptural Text for Verse 8: ("Glossary," p. 55) "If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit [God-likeness] is life because of righteousness. — St. Paul." (Rom. 8:10) Mrs. Eddy defines Spirit in the above Scriptural Text as the "God-likeness," or Christ. Sharon's rose*, Christ, was never crucified and is efficacious. As it buds and blooms in our heart, God is [made] "manifest in the flesh." The Christ which is in us by reflection must bud and bloom in the human heart, which at present believes in good and evil, until that heart reaches absolute righteousness in Christ. As it blooms in our heart it reaches out to all the world. [*The rose of Sharon has these two figurative meanings: (1) Jesus Christ is called the Rose of Sharon; how unbounded his comeliness, delightfulness, and efficacy, for the healing of our souls (Song of Solomon 2:1). (2) The wilderness blossoms as the rose; through the preaching of the gospel, the world shall be converted to Christ, and flourish with saints and graces (Isa. 35:1). (The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia, Chicago, 1911, Vol. 3, p. 1492.)] Plate no. 6 correlates with plate no. 2 (see February issue). Both Jesus and Mrs. Eddy have a halo and mantle denoting the Christ. That means they are present and recognized spiritually, but are not as "material personality"* physically present. Notice that her mantle reaches to the floor, — reaches to every aspect of a case. (Mrs. Eddy writes of "the Christly garment" in S&H 242:28.)** In the two plates the position of Mrs. Eddy's arms and hands are parallel to those of Christ Jesus and indicate the Christ power. When Mrs. Eddy declares that this plate no. 6 interprets her life (see letter, page 3), it must surely mean that it interprets her life as Christ Mary. [*Miscellaneous Writings 308:6-7; **See also "Christ's robe" in Science and Health 569:12; also "the hem of the Christ garment" in No and Yes 22:1; etc.] In plate no. 6 Mrs. Eddy is not the practitioner in the case, as she would not have worn a mantle on such an occasion. The mantle, therefore, indicates that Mrs. Eddy is not physically present. The practitioner is the woman in the background wearing a dress that might have been worn by a visiting practitioner. The woman in the background is not an onlooker. If an onlooker, she would appear as the onlookers in plate no. 2, watching the healing with wonder. Instead, she is in an attitude of prayer, effectively knowing the healing light of the star, Mrs. Eddy as Christ. She is demonstrating the Scriptural Text for verse 9, adapted to the present dispensation: — "In the name of Christ Mary rise up and walk." The picture behind the bed appears to be showing that spiritual light is dawning in the consciousness of the patient, breaking up dark clouds of corporeal sense, and revealing the tree of life and the "pure river of water of life." (Rev. 22:1) The patient is rising and leaving behind him (on the table) the three vials of science, theology, and medicine, — the false laws which bind mortals and make mankind weak and frail. He appears to have been at death's door and is being healed by the recognition of the Christ in Mrs. Eddy. Sharon's rose is budding and blooming in his consciousness. Verse 9: Christ comes in gloom; And aye, with grace towards you and me, For health makes room. Scriptural Text for Verse 9: ("Glossary," p. 55) "But such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. — St. Peter." (Acts 3:6) Peter was making his healing declaration in the name of Christ. Plate Title: None. Bible text substituted: "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. — Christ Jesus" (Matt. 11:25) This picture shows a little girl reading Science and Health to an old man. This is the book shown in plate no. 5 held by one of the two anointed ones. The man has a closed Bible on the table beside him with a bookmark in the Old Testament. There is a grandfather clock behind him. The morning star shines through the window over the little girl's shoulder. Suggested Theme: Christ Mary, the morning star, leads to where the young child is, and beyond, to where she (the child) was without birth,* — without father, mother, descent, beginning of days or end of life, — "but made like unto the Son of God." [*S&H 191:11] Verse 10: In seven-hued white! Life, without birth and without end, Emitting light! Scriptural Text for Verse 10: ("Glossary," p. 55) "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God. — St. Paul." (Hebrews 7:3, re: Melchizedek) In plate no. 2, Mrs. Eddy's incarnation as Christ Mary was immaculate in that she was figuratively raised from a coffin where she had died to the flesh (and birth) and was healed and aroused to her Christ mission by Christ Jesus. She received her vision of Science. "Woman must give it birth." (Retrospection and Introspection, 26:22-30) (See footnote #1, "incarnation") (Verse 10) The radical demand of Christian Science is to change thought to where life is seen as without birth, — without father, mother, or descent. This means to see Adam and Eve as never having been separated. Then the descendants of Adam and Eve will vanish as the dream they are, and we will have that life which reflects the Father-Mother God and the Son, Christ. Life will have no material structure but will have a spiritual embodiment with form and outline composed of an intelligent substance "emitting light" or intelligence. The wise and prudent of this world who cling to the "pale star" of "olden faith," will be forced to blend their beliefs into the life of "the Son of God," — Christ. The Bible text quoted below this picture (plate no. 7), tells us that God has hidden from the worldly wise new views which come only by revelation, including the recognition of the Christ, specifically, Christ Mary. Jesus said that Peter's confession and recognition of the Christ in Jesus had come only from the Father, through revelation. (Matt. 16:16, 17) The child in the picture represents the state of thought that is receptive to the new dispensation, the advancing pure thought which is free from the beliefs of intellectualism, false education, old theology, materia medica, and physical science. She has little or no resistance to the acceptance of the revelation of Christ as the presence and power of Christ Mary. To her pure thought the light of the star parts the fleecy gray curtains, with the five folds typical of the five senses, illuming them with truth. The old man would represent the large community of people of "olden faith" who hold onto old and time-honored opinions and methods, as well as modern physical and medical "break-throughs," all of which obscure the Christ light from the star which shines on the girl and her book, but does not shine on the man even though he appears to be listening to the truth. The lesson of the picture points to the need to judge new ideas correctly and to be open to the truth. The five physical senses are seen in the time of the clock, five minutes past five. The man has grown old only because of the five physical senses, the beliefs of life with birth, with father and mother, and the knowledge of the material sciences, theology, and medicine, all of which obscure a spiritual interpretation of the Bible. The man has marked his Bible in the Old Testament, showing he has not advanced very far, but the girl, representing the star of "seven-hued white," has gone a great way in Science and represents the understanding of life without birth. The picture is showing where we all are going, back to the "babe" and beyond, where there is "Life, without birth," — where Life is "emitting light" through man. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. . . . 'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.'" (S&H 323:32) Jesus told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. . . . That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3, 6, 7) The dispensation of the Second Advent is taken to its final development in this era where Mrs. Eddy is the dual, or two-in-one, Christ, encompassing the man, and creation is seen as two-in-one. This strips mankind of everything material and makes him like unto the Son of God. Plate Title: Treating the Sick. This picture shows a woman treating a sick man who shows no response. Science and Health is closed in the woman's lap as she sits beside an elongated bed. The Christ star is not in evidence, indicating that she does not recognize Mrs. Eddy in her fulfillment of prophecy. Suggested Theme: Treating the sick apparently from the basis of the "pale star," referred to in the previous plate, and without recognizing the new dispensation of Christ Mary. Verse 11: Are here, and now Christ's silent healing, heaven heard, Crowns the pale brow. Scriptural Text for Verse 11: ("Glossary," p. 55) "Heal the sick. — Christ Jesus." (Matt. 10:8) This plate is notable in that the letter of Science is in the practitioner's lap, but there is no morning star and no response from the patient. The practitioner is doing her healing work in the context of olden faith's pale star — no recognition of Christ Mary. The God-rule presented in this plate is that the author of Science and Health must be recognized not just partially, but correctly, as the God-appointed messenger of revealed truth. Otherwise, you have the effect of a lie as explained in an address by Dr. Foster-Eddy. In 1890, Dr. Foster-Eddy was one of several to address the National Christian Scientist Association in New York. At the time, he was a member of Mrs. Eddy's household and administrative staff, and, as her adopted son, was very close to her. Attending the Association were the teachers of Christian Science, and other students of Mrs. Eddy. In his address Dr. Foster-Eddy reminded them that truth is effective only as it is entered into through "the door," otherwise it has the effect of a lie: Now some have made this observation: "Truth is truth. No matter where you find it, it is truth, and is all right." But truth may be changed to a lie, or the effect be the same in appearance. [By declaring the truth] from SCIENCE AND HEALTH, [and] not acknowledging its Author, . . . the effect will be the same as a direct lie, for the healing power of Truth is destroyed. . . . There is but one way. There was but one Moses, one Jesus; and there is but one Mary [i.e., Christ Mary]. If we are true Christian Scientists we must stand by our cause, by SCIENCE AND HEALTH; and we cannot ignore its Author. When we are in darkness we have got to turn towards the light or we cannot see the light. Then we must see the door [i.e., the Author — Christ/Christ Mary], accept the way and walk in it until we gain our God-given birthright." (The Christian Science Journal, Vol. 8, p. 146) (Emphasis added) Dr. Foster-Eddy is saying that if you do not accept Mrs. Eddy as "Author," which he capitalizes, signifying Christ, and do not accept her as "the [Christ] door," then the effect of your declarations of truth from Science and Health are as effective as a lie. This is correlative with the words of Jesus: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door [that is, acknowledge him as the author or door of the advanced teachings he revealed] into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, [i.e., acknowledges some other way as door, or Christ] the same is a thief and a robber [has the effect of a lie]. . . . I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:1, 9) Mrs. Eddy must be acknowledged as Christ. Dr. Foster-Eddy's statement correlates with these words from Science and Health ". . . without a correct sense of its highest visible idea [Christ Mary], we can never understand the divine Principle." Mrs. Eddy also says, "To misunderstand Paul [his character and mission], was to be ignorant of the divine idea he taught." (S&H 560:15, 28-30) In verse 13 of plate no. 9 in our next issue, Mrs. Eddy says that her hand of authorship is also Jesus' hand: "'Tis the same hand unfolds His power, and writes the page." This substantiates the fact that she and Jesus are two-in-one, stated in her own words. The last plates of Christ and Christmas will be discussed in the July issue of the Standard.
What, in the Christian
Science estimate, Reminiscences of Mary Baker
Eddy Judge Septimus J. Hanna, CSD, writes: "God has ever manifested Himself, in large measure, through persons or individuals. Through the Biblical writers, and through Moses, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and many others, He manifested Himself in a sense above and beyond that of the average of their contemporaries or the generality of those who preceded them. In Christ Jesus He manifested Himself in the largest sense of all and in ways apart from all. Yet, . . . notwithstanding the wonderful and striking character of such manifestations, the material perception of that age and generation could not accept them as of God. The 'remnant' only could see and accept. It has been so in a relative sense ever since. . . . "Must the 'Spirit of Truth,' or the 'Comforter,' that Jesus said should come be personalized or individualized? Undoubtedly. There could be no fulfillment of prophecy otherwise. "What, then, in the Christian Science estimate, is the second-coming? "First appeared the person or individual. Then followed the works. "Who is the personality or individuality manifesting the second-coming? "The answer of every true Christian Scientist will be: 'The person or individual who has done, and is doing, the works, in a sense above and beyond that of the average of those, even, who are addressing themselves to the task of regenerating the race.' "Is there one such? "Christian Scientists unhesitatingly answer, Yes: The Reverend Mary Baker Eddy."
Reminiscences
of Mary Baker Eddy by Judge Septimus J. Hanna, CSD,
and Camilla Hanna, CSD The
Christian Science Seminar (Class)
Notes
(Six Volumes) Christian
Science Editorials by Annie M. Knott,
CSD Articles
on Christian Science by Nellie B.
Mace Reference
Edition of The Christian Science
Standard The
Christian Science Standard
Index |
