dents will receive the combined instruction of Mrs. Eddy and Dr. Foster for $200 tuition." In every direction she strove to strengthen her position, to regain her lost ground, and to gather new followers. She reiterated her divine right of supremacy, she asserted with greater emphasis her command of the situation, and she declared with no uncertainty the duties of Christian Scientists toward her, giving the Bible as her authority. "Students will do well," says the Journal (October, 1888) under the head, "Who Hath Ears to Hear, let Him Hear," "to bear in mind the Master's warning: 'except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.' This Scripture means practically to each individual to-day all that it implies in its relative bearing towards the Truth as Divine Science, and towards its rightful Discoverer."
Christian Scientists were held even more rigidly than before to the rule forbidding them to read any but Mrs. Eddy's writings on mental healing. This war against heresy was carried on too zealously at last, and when the Journal (October, 1890) admonished beginning students to lay aside the Bible for Science and Health,[1] it was felt even by Scientists that this was going too far. The Journal also instructed Mrs. Eddy's loyal students to burn all forbidden literature. "Burn every scrap of 'Christian Science literature,' so-called," it said, "except Science and Health, and the publications bearing
- ↑ "A student," says the Journal, "—in the tongue of the world called a patient who says to a Scientist, 'I take so much comfort in reading my Bible,' if guided wisely, will be answered, 'Let your Bible alone for three months or more. Don't open it even, nor think of it, but dig night and day at Science and Health.' "
In response to public criticism concerning these utterances, the Christian Science publication committee met and unanimously voted that this sentiment was "unauthorised, unwise, and not the thought of our committee."
