New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-06
immeasurably the best that Mexico has
ever had.
HRS. EDDY.

MRS. EDDY.
The death of Mrs. Eddy closes a re-
nsarkable personal career and marks an
epoch in a remarkable religious move
ment. She was not alone woman of
exceptional force, both physical and
mental, OF ingenuity and resourceful-
ness and of singular fervor, but she
also enjoyed the distinction of being al
most the only woman who ever attained
important religious leadership. The
founders of great religious systems and
the leaders of great religious reforms
have hitherto been men-Moses, Zorro
aster, Gautama Luther, Knox, Wesley.
If in the estimation of the world, apart
from her own deTout disciples, Mrs.
Eddy is not TO be ranked or compared
with these, il may still be observed
that with very few exceptions even the
minor religious propagand1Sts ana iead-
ers have been men. Perhaps the most
conspicuous exception to the rule hIth-
erto WIS Ann Lee, and her work in
numbers and influence was NOT com
parable with that of Mrs Eddy. 1t is
worthy of comment that while women
form the majority of Church member
snip and do the bulk Of Church work.
they have chiefly, with the one eXcep-
ton of the Christian Science Church.
left the spiritual and business control
OF the churches to the minority of men.
Whether the example Of Mrs. Eddy and
lier followers will effect any general
modification of this rule remains 10 he
seen.
That a widespread and probably far
from superficial influence has been eX-
erted hy them in other respects, even
upon those who vigorously dissent from
Christian Science teachings. is not TO
be denied Churches Of other demon
nations have seriously taken up the
work of attempting TO heal the sick
through PRAYER and mental suggestion.
There has been perceptible reaction
against the extreme materialism which
5" widely prevails and which has made
Itself felt in as we'll as out OF the
Church, and 10 whatever extent Mrs
Eddy and her teachings are 10 be cred
tied with this they are entitled TO graft
tude. 1t is probable. moreover. that
the cult of Christian Science has pro-
NOTED the development and the exercise
of cheerfulness and of self-control. and
III so doing If has benefited the world
From some Of the fundamental profess
sions of that creed a large aiority OF
intelligent Christian believers earnestly
dissent and probably always will dis
sent: but il is not the only creed OF
which that is to be said. and even those
who most strongly dissent from some OF
its features must ccncede the beneh-
cence Of others and must also recognize
the extraordinary favor with which 1t
has been received hv large numbers OF
men and women of integrity, inteiii-
gence and judgment
The effect of Mrs. EddyS death upon
the Christian Science Church must he
considerable It is confidently asserted
that she will have no successor in the
unique place which she occupied. That
would seem 10 90 without Say1h"
IF her OWN professions and the beiief
of her followers concerning her are ac-
cepted at their face value. she coulu
have no successor. Her doctrines and
teachings are embodied in published
hooks. and will therefore probably re
main unchanged at least for some time.
though eventually they may share the
fate OF modification which has been
common to those Of other founders OF
rpv sects. The most marked change is
likely 10 he observed i'll the potity ana
control of the Christian Science Church
which viii naturally become more demo
cratic and less autocratic, oliSarchical
or hicrsrchicaI. And that circumstance.
if realized. may at once increase the
possibility and decrease the probability
of schism. The removal of the dominat-
ing will of Mrs Eddy will make 1t less
difficult for dissenting members to es-
tablish their independence. and the same
circumstance may lessen the temptation
to do so.