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orthodox preacherquoted further back。 He conceded that this new
Christianity frees its possessor's life from frets； fears； vexations；
bitterness； and all sorts of imagination…propagated maladies and pains；
and fills his world with sunshine and his heart with gladness。 If
Christian Science； with this stupendous equipmentand final salvation
addedcannot win half the Christian globe； I must be badly mistaken in
the make…up of the human race。
I think the Trust will be handed down like Me other Papacy； and will
always know how to handle its limitless cash。 It will press the button；
the zeal； the energy； the sincerity； the enthusiasm of its countless
vassals will do the rest。
CHAPTER VIII
The power which a man's imagination has over his body to heal it or make
it sick is a force which none of us is born without。 The first man had
it； the last one will possess it。 If left to himself； a man is most
likely to use only the mischievous half of the forcethe half which
invents imaginary ailments for him and cultivates them； and if he is one
of thesevery wise people； he is quite likely to scoff at the beneficent
half of the force and deny its existence。 And so； to heal or help that
man； two imaginations are required： his own and some outsider's。 The
outsider； B； must imagine that his incantations are the healing…power
that is curing A； and A must imagine that this is so。 I think it is not
so； at all； but no matter； the cure is effected； and that is the main
thing。 The outsider's work is unquestionably valuable； so valuable that
it may fairly be likened to the essential work performed by the engineer
when he handles the throttle and turns on the steam； the actual power is
lodged exclusively in the engine； but if the engine were left alone it
would never start of itself。 Whether the engineer be named Jim； or Bob；
or Tom； it is all onehis services are necessary； and he is entitled to
such wage as he can get you to pay。 Whether he be named Christian
Scientist； or Mental Scientist； or Mind Curist； or King's…Evil Expert； or
Hypnotist； it is all one； he is merely the Engineer； he simply turns on
the same old steam and the engine does the whole work。
The Christian…Scientist engineer drives exactly the same trade as the
other engineers； yet he out…prospers the whole of them put together。
Is it because he has captured the takingest name？ I think that that is
only a small part of it。 I think that the secret of his high prosperity
lies elsewhere。
The Christian Scientist has organized the business。 Now that was
certainly a gigantic idea。 Electricity； in limitless volume； has existed
in the air and the rocks and the earth and everywhere since time began
and was going to waste all the while。 In our time we have organized that
scattered and wandering force and set it to work； and backed the business
with capital； and concentrated it in few and competent hands； and the
results are as we see。
The Christian Scientist has taken a force which has been lying idle in
every member of the human race since time began； and has organized it；
and backed the business with capital； and concentrated it at Boston
headquarters in the hands of a small and very competent Trust； and there
are results。
Therein lies the promise that this monopoly is going to extend its
commerce wide in the earth。 I think that if the business were conducted
in the loose and disconnected fashion customary with such things； it
would achieve but little more than the modest prosperity usually secured
by unorganized great moral and commercial ventures； but I believe that so
long as this one remains compactly organized and closely concentrated in
a Trust； the spread of its dominion will continue。
CHAPTER IX
Four years ago I wrote the preceding chapters。 I was assured by the wise
that Christian Science was a fleeting craze and would soon perish。 This
prompt and all…competent stripe of prophet is always to be had in the
market at ground…floor rates。 He does not stop to load； or consider； or
take aim； but lets fly just as he stands。 Facts are nothing to him； he
has no use for such things； he works wholly by inspiration。 And so； when
he is asked why he considers a new movement a passing fad and quickly
perishable； he finds himself unprepared with a reason and is more or less
embarrassed。 For a moment。 Only for a moment。 Then he waylays the
first spectre of a reason that goes flitting through the desert places of
his mind； and is at once serene again and ready for conflict。 Serene and
confident。 Yet he should not be so； since he has had no chance to
examine his catch； and cannot know whether it is going to help his
contention or damage it。
The impromptu reason furnished by the early prophets of whom I have
spoken was this：
〃There is nothing to Christian Science； there is nothing about it that
appeals to the intellect； its market will be restricted to the
unintelligent； the mentally inferior； the people who do not think。〃
They called that a reason why the cult would not flourish and endure。 It
seems the equivalent of saying：
〃There is no money in tinware； there is nothing about it that appeals to
the rich； its market will be restricted to the poor。〃
It is like bringing forward the best reason in the world why Christian
Science should flourish and live； and then blandly offering it as a
reason why it should sicken and die。
That reason was furnished me by the complacent and unfrightened prophets
four years ago； and it has been furnished me again to…day。 If
conversions to new religions or to old ones were in any considerable
degree achieved through the intellect； the aforesaid reason would be
sound and sufficient； no doubt； the inquirer into Christian Science might
go away unconvinced and unconverted。 But we all know that conversions
are seldom made in that way； that such a thing as a serious and
painstaking and fairly competent inquiry into the claims of a religion or
of a political dogma is a rare occurrence； and that the vast mass of men
and women are far from being capable of making such an examination。 They
are not capable； for the reason that their minds； howsoever good they may
be； are not trained for such examinations。 The mind not trained for that
work is no more competent to do it than are lawyers and farmers competent
to make successful clothes without learning the tailor's trade。 There
are seventy…five million men and women among us who do not know how to
cut out and make a dress…suit； and they would not think of trying； yet
they all think they can competently think out a political or religious
scheme without any apprenticeship to the business； and many of them
believe they have actually worked that miracle。 But； indeed； the truth
is； almost all the men and women of our nation or of any other get their
religion and their politics where they get their astronomyentirely at
second hand。 Being untrained； they are no more able to intelligently
examine a dogma or a policy than they are to calculate an eclipse。
Men are usually competent thinkers along the lines of their specialized
training only。 Within these limits alone ar