l
men are inspired who study and know the Laws of Nature. Health, after
all, is largely a matter of habit.

* * * * *

Back of the reading-desks, in the "Mother Church," at Boston, are
quotations from Paul and Mrs. Eddy, side by side. But the quotation from
Paul, which is behind the desk of the woman reader, is not this: "Let
women keep silence in the churches."

Mrs. Eddy believed the Scriptures are all true, word for word. Yet when
she quoted Paul she picked the thing she wanted and avoided all that did
not apply to her case. Personally, I like the plan. I do it myself. But
I do not believe the Scriptures are inspired by an all-wise Deity. So
far as I know, all books were written by men, and very often by faulty,
human men at that. Mrs. Eddy's "Key" does not unlock anything; and she
did not try to unlock any passages except the passages that seemingly
had a bearing on her belief. That is, Mrs. Eddy believed things first,
and then skirmished for proof. This is a very old plan. Says
Shakespeare: "In religion what damned error but some somber brow will
bless it and approve it with a text, hiding the grossness thereof with
fair ornament." Let no one read "Science and Health" in the hope of
finding in it simple and sensible statements concerning life and its
duties. They are not there.

I append a few quotations, and in mentioning the page I refer to the
pocket or "Oxford" edition of Nineteen Hundred Six. On page one hundred
eighty-three of "Science and Health" I find, "The Scriptures inform us
that sin, or error, first caused the condemnation of man to till the
ground, and indicate that obedience to God will remove this necessity."

Mrs. Eddy evidently believed that work is a punishment, and that the day
will come when God will remove the necessity of farming and making
garden. Can a sane person reply to such lack of logic?

On page five hundred forty-seven is this: "If one of the statements in
this book is true, every one must be true, for not one departs from its
system and rule. You can prove for yourself, dear reader, the Science of
healing, and so ascertain if the author has given you the correct
interpretation of Scripture."

This is evidently inspired by Paul's quibble, "If the dead rise not from
the grave, then is our religion vain." Lincoln once referred to this
kind of reasoning by saying, "I object to the assumption that my
ambition is to have my son marry a negress, simpl