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.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

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.”