Commentary on Ms. Eddy’s “Christ and Christmas”

While I had heard about Ms. Eddy’s Christ and Christmas poem growing up, I didn’t read it until just recently, when I came across MJSmith’s analyses of it on The Ark of Truth Mother’s Hood. I am more acquainted with Ms. Eddy’s hymn/poem Christmas Morn as it regularly made an appearance at Christmas Hymn Sings, along with the generically Christian  Joy to the World.

MJSmith makes some interesting observations and draws some interesting conclusions from the poem and illustrations, so I decided to find a copy and see for myself. Christ and Christmas is not in our personal collection, but Google Books and Archive.org have copies available online.

I was never much for poetry analysis (my high school English teachers will agree), and I’m sure if I attempted to analyzing Christ and Christmas it would devolve into a study in esoteric minutia and I would likely come to all the wrong conclusions.

I will leave the musings and analysis to MJSmith and the Discover of New Christian Science, Rolf Witzsche. Below is the full text of the poem, a YouTube video of Wizsche’s “New Christian Science: Christ & Christmas,” and links to MJSmith’s analyses.
A quick note: There is much criticism of Christian Scientists by Christian Scientists about the “right” and “wrong” ways to practice, as well as selective/intentional ignorance about certain aspects of the religion. I feel that these things which may be preceived as controversial should be made more broadly available so that people can judge for themselves — and I’m sure it will make for interesting conversation around the dinner table.

Christ and Christmas, a poem by Mary Baker G. Eddy

1. Fast circling on, from zone to zone,
Bright, blest, afar, —
O’er the grim night of chaos, shone
One lone, brave star.

2. In tender mercy, Spirit sped
A loyal ray.
To rouse the living, wake the dead,
And point the Way, —

3. The Christ-idea, God anoints.
Of Truth and Life;
The Way in Science, He appoints.
That stills all strife.

4. What the Beloved knew and taught.
Science repeats,
Through understanding, dearly sought.
With fierce heart-beats;

5. Thus Christ, eternal and divine.
To celebrate
As Truth demands, — this Living Vine
Ye demonstrate.

6. For Heaven’s Christus, earthly Eves,
By Adam bid,
Make merriment on Christmas eves,
O’er babe and crib.

7. Yet wherefore signalize the birth
Of him ne’er born?
What can rehearse the glorious worth
Of his high morn.’

8. Christ was not crucified; that doom
Was Jesus’ part;
For Sharon’s rose must bud and bloom
In human heart.*

9. Forever present, bounteous, free,
Christ comes in gloom ;
And aye, with grace towards you and me.
For health makes room.

10. Thus olden faith’s pale star now blends
In seven-hued white!
Life, without birth and without end,
Emitting light!

11. The Way, the Truth, the Life,— His word,-
Are here, and now
Christ’s silent healing. Heaven heard,
Crowns the pale brow.

12. For Christian Science brings to view
The great I Am,
Omniscient power, — gleaming through
Mind, mother, man.

13. As in blest Palestina’s hour.
So in our age,
‘T is the same hand unfolds His power.
And writes the page.

14. To-day, as oft, — away from sin
Christ summons thee!
Truth pleads to-night; just take me in!
No mass for me!

15. No blight, no broken wing, no moan,
Truth’s fane can dim;
Eternal swells Christ’s music-tone.
In Heaven’s hymn.

via https://archive.org/details/christchristmasp01eddy

New Christian Science: Christ & Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHXFUyrn8wM  more at http://www.ice-age-ahead-iaa.ca/scrp_jesus/tamb000.htm ?

From The Ark of Truth Mother’s Hood

Christmas Morn by Mary Baker Eddy

Bless Christmas morn, though murky clouds
Pursue thy way,
Thy light was born where storm enshrouds
Nor dawn nor day!

Dear Christ, forever here and near,
No cradle song,
No natal hour and mother’s tear,
To thee belong.

Thou God-idea, Life-encrowned,
The Bethlehem babe—
Beloved, replete, by flesh embound—
Was but thy shade!

Thou gentle beam of living Love,
And deathless Life!
Truth infinite,—so far above
All mortal strife,

Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:
Fill us today
With all thou art—be thou our saint,
Our stay, alway.

Images via GoogleBooks Christ and Christmas: A Poem by Mary Baker Eddy

4 thoughts on “Commentary on Ms. Eddy’s “Christ and Christmas””

  1. Marcia says:

    Interesting blog post. Just a note: commentary is misspelled in your title. Also, I believe there was quite a controversy about this book and specifically the illustrations at one time. I could be wrong but I think the book was actually withdrawn by the church for awhile and then republished later on for some reason. Can’t recall the specifics.

    Marcia

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    • kat @ kindism says:

      Thanks for catching that, I’ve made the appropriate corrections!

      I’d heard of the book, but hadn’t actually read it until recently. The imagery is interesting, as are some of the conclusions drawn. I also find it interesting that none of these are ideas that I heard while I was still “in Science.” The strangest was the Sunday School teacher who went off on God as Atomic Energy.

    • EG says:

      I too recall that there was some controversy about “Christ and Christmas”. I think it was more regarding the illustrations. I distinctly recall my parents having an un-illustrated version in their collection, so that would lead me to believe that TMC was producing those at one time.

  2. spindrifterr says:

    From years of studying Christian Science in its bifurcated sense of its Christian side and then its scientific side, the religion side beats the science side almost all the time. So that a better translation of atomic force and energy as God would not be heard from a mind soaked in religion. Mrs. Wrote that “Atomic action is Mind….”

Comments are closed.