The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-12
DENIES MOTHER EDDY
HAS GREAT WEALTH
Scientist Committee Declares Els
Inmates of Leaders Earn
ings Are Exaggerated.

Boston, Mass, aug. 1.-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 Scriptures
has just been issued. The statement is
cation committee Of the First Church of
Christ, Scientist, and is intended as
contradiction or correction Of stories
recently circulated concerning the
enormous income - alleged to be re-
ceived by Mrs Eddy. 1"ttE5 '~S5ss = n
- Referring to these stories the official
statement says, In part: ~
"For example, it is said that a re-
cent edition Of tScience and Health
Baker G. Eddy, brings the total issue
Of this work to date up to 4S8,000
COPIES The correct number is 100000
copies. The article quoted also de-
clares 1T is said that the actual cost
Of making the book is less than SO
CENTS and at 'the lowest estimate, she
has made from this source alone upward
of $1,200,000.' It seems strange that
any sane person :. would be reckless
enough to venture upon 50 unreasonable
Impression that the retail price Of
Science and Health is altogether
profit. From this, price he should de-
duct, not only the printers charges, but
| the retailer s profit, the cost Of delivery
and the publishers commissions. We
| have no apology to offer for the enor-
| nous sale of Science and Health nor
for the fact that it brings Mrs. Eddy
handsome profit, for the book is we'll
worth the price 1t bears, and 1t 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-being Of
mankind. The sale Of Science and
Health is not pushed The marked
demand for the book is occasioned by
its unparalleled value as key to the
Scriptures. - -
"1t is quite true that Christian Sci
ence literature Is placed before the
public and in keeping with the con
duct of all other, determinations, the
members Of the Christian Science
church are expected to purchase and
circulate It's literature as far as pos
sible; but who can complain Of this.
since no one is or ever has been COM
literature. However, the most Of
those who have purchased Science
and Health and have practiced what
it teaches, are ready to testify that,
aside from the extraordinary spiritual
benefits which they have derived there
from, it has saved them 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 Massachu.
setts Metaphysical college, is pure
guess and overshoots the mark, since
from her earlier classes Mrs. Eddy re.
ceived almost no compensation, and by
means Of free tuition and necessary
discount she always made it possible
for all worthy applicants to be re.
ceived into her college whether they
had money or not, and from her last
class of seventy she refused to accept
any compensation whatever; and fol
about seventeen years she has had nc
income except from the sale Of he1
books, and whatever, interest she may
"The writer is again misinformed
regarding the sums she is supposed
to have made during her early career
as q healer AS matter Of fact
when Mrs. Eddy received patients, the
she healed all manner Of diseases, she
refused compensation in every instance
except one, where the circumstance
seemed to demand that she deviate
from her rule.
The statement concludes with pro
test against the application of the
term mother to Mrs. Eddy. Many
years ago, says the statement, the tern
entists, and as it was simply intended
as term Of endearment, Mrs. Eddy
permitted it, until it became abused
whereupon she caused a church bylaw
to be made forbidding Christian Sci
entiSts to use the term.