Chapter 19 — A Memorable Coincidence and Historical Facts
From Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy
Click here to play the audio as you read:
- Mrs. Eddy’s Letter
- Miss Elizabeth Earl Jones’ Letter
- Miss Mary Hatch Harrison’s Letter
- A Card
- Major Glover’s Record as a Mason
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[The Christian Science Journal]
1 WE are glad to publish the following interesting
letter and enclosures received from our Leader.
3 That legislatures and courts are thus declaring the liberties
of Christian Scientists is most gratifying to our people; not
because a favor has been extended, but because their
6 inherent rights are recognized in an official and authori-
tative manner. It is especially gratifying to them that
the declaration of this recognition should be coincident
9 in the Southern and Northern States in which Mrs. Eddy
has made her home.
MRS. EDDY’S LETTER
12 Dear Editor: — I send for publication in our periodicals
the following deeply interesting letter from Elizabeth Earl
Jones of Asheville, N. C., — the State where my husband,
15 Major George W. Glover, passed on and up, the State
that so signally honored his memory, where with wet eyes
the Free Masons laid on his bier the emblems of a master
18 Mason, and in long procession with tender dirge bore his
remains to their last resting-place. Deeply grateful, I
recognize the divine hand in turning the hearts of the noble
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1 Southrons of North Carolina legally to protect the practice
of Christian Science in that State.
3 Is it not a memorable coincidence that, in the Court of
New Hampshire, my native State, and in the Legislature
of North Carolina, they have the same year, in 1903, made
6 it legal to practise Christian Science in these States?
MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
9 October 16, 1903
MISS ELIZABETH EARL JONES’ LETTER
Beloved Leader: — I know the enclosed article will make
12 your heart glad, as it has made glad the hearts of all the
Christian Scientists in North Carolina. This is the result
of the work done at last winter’s term of our Legislature,
15 when a medical bill was proposed calculated to limit or
stop the practice of Christian Science in our State. An
amendment was obtained by Miss Mary Hatch Harrison
18 and a few other Scientists who stayed on the field until the
last. After the amendment had been passed, an old law,
or rather a section of an act in the Legislature regulating
21 taxes, was changed as follows, because the representa-
tive men of our dear State did not wish to be “discour-
teous to the Christian Scientists.” The section formerly
24 read, “pretended healers,” but was changed to read as
follows: “All other professionals who practise the art of
healing,” etc.
27 We thank our heavenly Father for this dignified
legal protection and recognition, and look forward to
the day, not far distant, when the laws of every State
30 will dignify the ministry of Christ as taught and prac-
tised in Christian Science, and as lived by our dear,
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1 dear Leader, even as God has dignified, blessed, and
prospered it, and her.
3 With devoted love,
ELIZABETH EARL JONES
105 BAILEY ST., ASHEVILLE, N. C.,
6 October 11, 1903
The following article, copied from the Raleigh (N. C.)
News and Observer, is the one referred to in Miss Jones’
9 letter: —
The Christian Science people, greatly pleased at the
law affecting them passed by the last Legislature, are
12 apt also to be pleased with the fact that the law recog-
nizes them as healers, and that it gives them a license
to heal. This license of five dollars annually, required
15 of physicians, has been required of them, and how this
came about in Kinston is told in the Kinston Free Press
as follows: —
18 Sheriff Wooten issued licenses yesterday to two
Christian Science healers in this city. This is probably
the first to be issued to the healers of this sect in the
21 State.
Upon the request of a prominent healer of the church,
the section of the machinery act of the Legislature cover-
24 ing it was shown, whereupon application for license was
made and obtained.
The section, after enumerating the different professions
27 for which a license must be obtained to carry them on in
this State, further says, “and all other professionals who
practise the art of healing for pay, shall pay a license fee
30 of five dollars.”
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1 This was construed to include the healers of the Chris-
tian Science church, and license was accordingly taken
3 out.
The idea prevails that the last General Assembly of
North Carolina relieved the healers of this sect from paying
6 this fee, but this is not so. The board only excused them
from a medical examination before a board of medical
examiners.
9 Mrs. Eddy’s reference to the death of her husband,
Major George W. Glover, gives especial interest to the
following letter from Newbern, N. C., which appeared
12 in the Wilmington (N. C.) Dispatch, October 24, 1903.
Mrs. Eddy has in her possession photographed copies of
the notice of her husband’s death and of her brother’s
15 letter, taken from the Wilmington (N. C.) Chronicle as
they appear in that paper in the issues of July 3 and
August 21, 1844, respectively. The photographs are ver-
18 ified by the certificate of a notary public and were pre-
sented to Mrs. Eddy by Miss Harrison.
MISS MARY HATCH HARRISON’S LETTER
21 To the Editor: — At no better time than now, when the
whole country is recognizing the steady progress of Chris-
tian Science and admitting its interest in the movement,
24 as shown by the fair attitude of the press everywhere,
could we ask you to give your readers the following com-
munication. It will put before them some interesting
27 facts concerning Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, and some in-
cidents of her life in North and South Carolina which
might not have been known but for a criticism of this
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1 good woman which was published in your paper in
August, 1901.
3 I presume we should not be surprised that a noteworthy
follower of our Lord should be maligned, since the great
Master himself was scandalized, and he prophesied that
6 his followers would be so treated. The calumniator who
informed you in this instance locates Mrs. Eddy in Wil-
mington in 1843, thus contradicting his own statement,
9 since Mrs. Eddy was not then a resident of Wilmington.
A local Christian Scientist of your city, whose womanhood
and Christianity are appreciated by all, assisted by a
12 Mason of good standing there and a Christian Scientist of
Charleston, S. C., carefully investigated the points con-
cerning Major Glover’s history which are questioned by
15 this critic, and has found Mrs. Eddy’s statements, rela-
ting to her husband (who she states was of Charleston,
S. C., not of Wilmington, but who died there while on
18 business in 1844, not in 1843, as claimed in your issue) are
sustained by Masonic records in each place as well as
by Wilmington newspapers of that year. In “Retro-
21 spection and Introspection” (p. 19) Mrs. Eddy says of
this circumstance: —
“My husband was a Free Mason, being a member in St.
24 Andrew’s Lodge, No. 10, and of Union Chapter, No. 3, of
Royal Arch Masons. He was highly esteemed and sin-
cerely lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaint-
27 ances, whose kindness and sympathy helped to support me
in this terrible bereavement. A month later I returned to
New Hampshire, where, at the end of four months, my
30 babe was born. Colonel Glover’s tender devotion to his
young bride was remarked by all observers. With his
parting breath he gave pathetic directions to his brother
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1 Masons about accompanying her on her sad journey to
the North. Here it is but justice to record, they per-
3 formed their obligations most faithfully.”
Such watchful solicitude as Mrs. Eddy received at the
hands of Wilmington’s best citizens, among whom she
6 remembers the Rev. Mr. Reperton, a Baptist clergyman,
and the Governor of the State, who accompanied her to
the train on her departure, indicates her irreproachable
9 standing in your city at that time.
The following letter of thanks, copied from the Wil-
mington Chronicle of August 21, 1844, testifies to the love
12 and respect entertained for Mrs. Eddy by Wilmington’s
best men, whose Southern chivalry would have scorned
to extend such unrestrained hospitality to an unworthy
15 woman as quickly as it would have punished the assail-
ant of a good woman: —
A CARD
18 Through the columns of your paper, will you permit
me, in behalf of the relatives and friends of the late
Major George W. Glover of Wilmington and his be-
21 reaved lady, to return our thanks and express the feeling
of gratitude we owe and cherish towards those friends of
the deceased who so kindly attended him during his last
24 sickness, and who still extended their care and sympathy
to the lone, feeble, and bereaved widow after his decease.
Much has often been said of the high feeling of honor
27 and the noble generosity of heart which characterized the
people of the South, yet when we listen to Mrs. Glover
(my sister) whilst recounting the kind attention paid to
30 the deceased during his late illness, the sympathy ex-
tended to her after his death, and the assistance volun-
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1 teered to restore her to her friends at a distance of more
than a thousand miles, the power of language would be
3 but beggared by an attempt at expressing the feelings of
a swelling bosom. The silent gush of grateful tears alone
can tell the emotions of the thankful heart, — words are
6 indeed but a meagre tribute for so noble an effort in be-
half of the unfortunate, yet it is all we can award: will our
friends at Wilmington accept it as a tribute of grateful
9 hearts? Many thanks are due Mr. Cooke, who engaged
to accompany her only to New York, but did not desert
her or remit his kind attention until he saw her in the
12 fond embrace of her friends.
Your friend and obedient servant,
(Signed) GEORGE S. BAKER
15 SANBORNTON BRIDGE, N. H.,
August 12, 1844
The paper containing this card is now in the Young
18 Men’s Christian Association at Wilmington.
The facts regarding Major Glover’s membership in
St. Andrew’s Lodge, No. 10, were brought to light in a
21 most interesting way. A Christian Scientist in Charles-
ton was requested to look up the records of this lodge,
as we had full confidence that it would corroborate Mrs.
24 Eddy’s claims. After frequent searchings and much in-
terviewing with Masonic authorities, it was learned that
the lodge was no longer in existence, and that during the
27 Civil War many Masonic records were transferred to
Columbia, where they were burned; but on repeated
search a roll of papers recording the death of George
30 Washington Glover in 1844 and giving best praises to
his honorable record and Christian character was found;
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1 and said record, with the seal of the Grand Secretary,
is now in the possession of the chairman of the Christian
3 Science publication committee.
In the records of St. John’s Lodge, Wilmington, as
found by one of your own citizens, a Mason, it is shown
6 that on the twenty-eighth day of June, 1844, a special
meeting was convened for the purpose of paying the last
tribute of respect to Brother George W. Glover, who
9 died on the night of the twenty-seventh. The minutes
record this further proceeding: —
“A procession was formed, which moved to the resi-
12 dence of the deceased, and from thence to the Episcopal
burying-ground, where the body was interred with the
usual ceremonies. The procession then returned to the
15 lodge, which was closed in due form.”
It has never been claimed by Mrs. Eddy nor by any
Christian Scientists that Major Glover’s remains were
18 carried North.
The Wilmington Chronicle of July 3, 1844, records that
this good man, then known as Major George W. Glover,
21 died on Thursday night, the twenty-seventh of June. The
Chronicle states: “His end was calm and peaceful, and to
those friends who attended him during his illness he gave
24 the repeated assurance of his willingness to die, and of his
full reliance for salvation on the merits of a crucified Re-
deemer. His remains were interred with Masonic honors.
27 He has left an amiable wife, to whom he had been united
but the brief space of six months, to lament this
irreparable loss.”
30 From the Chronicle, dated September 25, 1844, we copy
the following: “We are assured that reports of unusual
sickness in Wilmington are in circulation.” This periodi-
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1 cal then forthwith strives to give the impression that the
rumor is not true. It is reasonable to infer from news-
3 paper reports of that date that some insidious disease
was raging at that time.
The allegation that copies of Mrs. Eddy’s book, “Retro-
6 spection and Introspection,” are few, and that efforts are
being made to buy them up because she has contradicted
herself, is without foundation. They are advertised in
9 every weekly issue of the Christian Science Sentinel, and
still contain the original account of her husband’s demise
at Wilmington.
12 May it not be, since this critic places certain circum-
stances in 1843, which records show really existed in 1844,
that the woman whom he had in mind is some other one?
15 We can state Mrs. Eddy’s teaching on the unreality of
evil in no better terms than to quote her own words.
Nothing could be further from her meaning than that evil
18 could be indulged in while being called unreal. She
declares in her Message to The Mother Church [1901]:
“To assume there is no reality in sin, and yet commit
21 sin, is sin itself, that clings fast to iniquity. The Pub-
lican’s wail won his humble desire, while the Pharisee’s
self-righteousness crucified Jesus.”
24 MARY HATCH HARRISON
MAJOR GLOVER’S RECORD AS A MASON
Of further interest in this matter is the following ex-
27 tract from an editorial obituary which appeared in 1845 in
the Freemason’s Monthly Magazine, published by the
late Charles W. Moore, Grand Secretary of the Grand
30 Lodge of Massachusetts: —
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1 Died at Wilmington, N. C., on the 27th June last,
Major George W. Glover, formerly of Concord, N. H.
3 Brother Glover resided in Charleston, S. C., and was
made a Mason in “St. Andrew’s Lodge, No. 10.” He was
soon exalted to the degree of a Royal Arch Mason in
6 “Union Chapter, No. 3,” and retained his membership
in both till his decease. He was devotedly attached
to Masonry, faithful as a member and officer of the
9 Lodge and Chapter, and beloved by his brothers and
companions, who mourn his early death.
Additional facts regarding Major Glover, his illness and
12 death, are that he was for a number of years a resident of
Charleston, S. C., where he erected a fine dwelling-house,
the drawings and specifications of which were kept by his
15 widow for many years after his death. While at Wilming-
ton, N. C., in June, 1844, Mr. Glover was attacked with
yellow fever of the worst type, and at the end of nine days
18 he passed away. This was the second case of the dread
disease in that city, and in the hope of allaying the excite-
ment which was fast arising, the authorities gave the cause
21 of death as bilious fever, but they refused permission to
take the remains to Charleston.
On the third day of her husband’s illness, Mrs. Glover
24 (now Mrs. Eddy) sent for the distinguished physician who
attended cases of this terrible disease as an expert (Dr.
McRee we think it was), and was told by him that he could
27 not conceal the fact that the case was one of yellow fever
in its worst form, and nothing could save the life of
her husband. In these nine days and nights of agony
30 the young wife prayed incessantly for her husband’s
recovery, and was told by the expert physician that
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1 but for her prayers the patient would have died on
the seventh day.
3 The disease spread so rapidly that Mrs. Glover (Mrs.
Eddy) was afraid to have her brother, George S. Baker,
come to her after her husband’s death, to take her back to
6 the North. Although he desired to go to her assistance,
she declined on this ground, and entrusted herself to the
care of her husband’s Masonic brethren, who faithfully
9 performed their obligation to her. She makes grateful
acknowledgment of this in her book, “Retrospection and
Introspection.” In this book (p. 20) she also states,
12 “After returning to the paternal roof I lost all my hus-
band’s property, except what money I had brought
with me; and remained with my parents until after
15 my mother’s decease.” Mr. Glover had made no will
previous to his last illness, and then the seizure of dis-
ease was so sudden and so violent that he was unable
18 to make a will.
These letters and extracts are of absorbing interest to
Christian Scientists as amplification of the facts given by
21 Mrs. Eddy in “Retrospection and Introspection.”
