The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-10
MRS. EDDY'S
INCOME
FOUNDER OF CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE NOT AS RICH
AS REPUTED
HER BOOK ROYALTIES
GreatIyESaggerated, Accord.
ing TO AuthOrizedStatement
az AssocIated Press.l

Boston, Mass, Aug. lO.-The first
authorized statement in regard to the
wealth Of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy and
her profits from her book, Science
and Health with Key to the Scrip
tures.p has just been issued. The
statement is given out from the Office
of the publication committee of the
First Church Of Christ, Scientist. and
is intended as a contradiction or cor
rection Of stories recently circulated
concerning the enormous income al.
legged to be received by Mrs Eddy
Referring to these stories the offi-
cial statement says, in part:
For example, It is said that re-
cent edition Of Science and Health
With Key to the Scriptures, by Mary
Baker G. Eddy, brings the total issue
Of this work TO date up to 4Ss,OO0
copies. The correct number Is 404.-
600 copies. The article quoted also
declares IL is said that the actual
cost Of making the book is less than
fifty cents, and at the lowest esti-
mate she has made from this source
alone upwards Of s12OO,000. 1t seems
strange that any sane person would
be reckless enough to venture upon
so unreasonable a statement and then
seek TO give the impression that the
retail price Of Science and Health"
is altogether profit. From this price
he should deduct, not only the print
ers charges but the retailers profit
the cost of delivery and the publish
er's commissions we have no apology
to offer for the enormous sale Of
.'science and Health nor for the fact
that It brings Mrs Eddy a handsome
profit, for the book is well worth the
price It bears. and II is well known to
Christian Scientists that Mrs. Eddy
spends her money in WAYS that are
most advantageous to the cause Of
Christ and the general well-belng Of
mankind. The sale Of Science and
Health" IS not pushed The marked
demand FOR the book is occasioned by
its unparalleled value as a Key to
the Scriptures.
1T is quite true that Christian
Science literature is placed before the
I public and In keeping with the conduo,
of all other denominations. the mem
bers OF the Christian Science church
are expected to purchase and circu-
late its literature as far as possible,
but who can complain Of this since
no one is or ever has been compelled
20 buy or sell Christian Science liter
Iature? However. the most of those
who have purchased Science ana
Health and have practiced what It
teaches, are ready to testify that,
aside from the extraordinary spirituai
benefits which they have derived
therefrom, It has saved them a great
many times its value In dollars and
cents, by doing away with doctors
bills.
THE estimate which the writer Of
the article quoted undertakes to make
Of the amount Of money which Mrs.
Eddy made out Of the Massachusetts
Metaphysical college is pure guess
and oyershoots the mark, since from
her earlier classes Mrs. Eddy receiy.
ed almost no compensation. and by
means of free tuition and necessary
discounts she always made it possible
for an worthy applicants TO be receiv-
ei into her college whether they had
money or not, and from her last class
of seventy she refused to accept any