This Sanhedrin can’t do anything of the slightest
importance, but it can talk. It can “discuss.”
That is, it can discuss “important questions
relative to Church members”, evidently persons
who are already Church members. This affords
it amusement, and does no harm.
It can “fix the salaries of the Readers.”
Twice a year it “votes on” admitting candidates.
That is, for Church membership. But its work
is cut out for it beforehand, by Art. IX.:
“Every recommendation for membership In the
Church ’shall be countersigned by a loyal student
of Mrs. Eddy’s, by a Director of this Church,
or by a First Member.’”
All these three classes of beings are the personal
property of Mrs. Eddy. She has absolute control
of the elections.
Also it must “transact any Church business that
may properly come before it.”
“Properly” is a thoughtful word.
No important business can come before it. The
By laws have attended to that. No important business
goes before any one for the final word except Mrs.
Eddy. She has looked to that.
The Sanhedrin “votes on” candidates for
admission to its own body. But is its vote worth
any more than mine would be? No, it isn’t.
Sec. 4, of Art. V.—Election of
First Members—makes this quite plain:
“Before being elected, the candidates for First
Members shall be approved by the Pastor Emeritus over
her own signature.”
Thus the Sanhedrin is the personal property of Mrs.
Eddy. She owns it. It has no functions,
no authority, no real existence. It is another
Board of Shadows. Mrs. Eddy is the Sanhedrin
herself.
But it is time to foot up again and “see where
we are at.” Thus far, Mrs. Eddy is
The Massachusetts Metaphysical College;
Pastor Emeritus,
President;
Board of Directors;
Treasurer;
Clerk;
Future Board of Trustees;
Proprietor of the Priesthood:
Dictator of the Services;
Proprietor of the Sanhedrin. She has come far,
and is still on her way.
In this Article there is another exhibition of a couple
of the large features of Mrs. Eddy’s remarkable
make-up: her business-talent and her knowledge
of human nature.
She does not beseech and implore people to join her
Church. She knows the human race better than
that. She gravely goes through the motions of
reluctantly granting admission to the applicant as
a favor to him. The idea is worth untold shekels.
She does not stand at the gate of the fold with welcoming
arms spread, and receive the lost sheep with glad emotion
and set up the fatted calf and invite the neighbor
and have a time. No, she looks upon him coldly,
she snubs him, she says:
“Who are you? Who is your sponsor?
Who asked you to come here? Go away, and don’t
come again until you are invited.”
