Chapter 4 — Messages to the Mother Church
From Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy
Click here to play the audio as you read:
Table of Contents
- Communion, January 2, 1898
- Communion, June 4, 1899
- Address at Annual Meeting, June 6, 1800
- A Question Answered
- Letter of the Pastor Emeritus, June, 1903
- A Letter from Mrs. Eddy
- Letter to the Mother Church
- Card
- Mrs. Eddy’s Affidavit
- Nota Bene
- A Word to the Wise
- Abolishing the Communion
- Communion Season Is Abolished
- Mrs. Eddy’s Reply
- The Christian Science Board of Directors
- Mrs. Eddy’s Statements
Page 121
COMMUNION, JANUARY 2, 1898
MY BELOVED BRETHREN: — I have suggested a
3 change in the time for holding our semi-annual
church meetings, in order to separate these sessions
from the excitement and commotion of the season’s
6 holidays.
In metaphysics we learn that the strength of peace
and of suffering is sublime, a true, tried mental convic-
9 tion that is neither tremulous nor relapsing. This
strength is like the ocean, able to carry navies, yet
yielding to the touch of a finger. This peace is spiritual;
12 never selfish, stony, nor stormy, but generous, reliable,
helpful, and always at hand.
Peace, like plain dealing, is somewhat out of fashion.
15 Yet peace is desirable, and plain dealing is a jewel as beau-
tiful as the gems that adorn the Christmas ring presented
to me by my students in 1897. Few blemishes can be
18 found in a true character, for it is always a diamond of the
first water; but external gentility and good humor may
be used to disguise internal vulgarity and villainy. No
21 deformity exists in honesty, and no vulgarity in kindness.
Christian Science, however, adds to these graces, and
reflects the divine likeness.
24 Self-denial is practical, and is not only polite to all
but is pleasant to those who practise it. If one would
Page 122
1 follow the advice that one gratuitously bestows on
others, this would create for one’s self and for the world
3 a destiny more grand than can issue from the brain of
a dreamer.
That glory only is imperishable which is fixed in one’s
6 own moral make-up.
Sin is like a dock root. To cut off the top of a plant
does no good; the roots must be eradicated or the plant
9 will continue to grow. Now I am done with homilies
and, you may add, with tedious prosaics.
On the fifth of July last, my church tempted me ten-
12 derly to be proud! The deportment of its dear members
was such as to command respect everywhere. It called
forth flattering comment and created surprise in our good
15 city of Concord.
Beloved brethren, another Christmas has come and gone.
Has it enabled us to know more of the healing Christ that
18 saves from sickness and sin? Are we still searching dili-
gently to find where the young child lies, and are we sat-
isfied to know that our sense of Truth is not demoralized,
21 finitized, cribbed, or cradled, but has risen to grasp the
spiritual idea unenvironed by materiality? Can we say
with the angels to-day: “He is risen; he is not here:
24 behold the place where they laid him”? Yes, the real
Christian Scientist can say his Christ is risen and is not
the material Christ of creeds, but is Truth, even as Jesus
27 declared; and the sense of Truth of the real Christian
Scientist is spiritualized to behold this Christ, Truth,
again healing the sick and saving sinners. The mission
30 of our Master was to all mankind, and included the very
hearts that rejected it — that refused to see the power
of Truth in healing.
Page 123
1 Our unity and progress are proverbial, and this church’s
gifts to me are beyond comparison — they have become
3 a wonder! To me, however, love is the greater marvel,
so I must continue to prize love even more than the gifts
which would express it. The great guerdon of divine
6 Love, which moves the hearts of men to goodness and
greatness, will reward these givers, and this encourages
me to continue to urge the perfect model for your accept-
9 ance as the ultimate of Christian Science.
To-day in Concord, N. H., we have a modest hall in one
of the finest localities in the city, — a reading-room and
12 nine other rooms in the same building. “Tell it not in
Gath”! I had the property bought by the courtesy of
another person to be rid of the care and responsibility of
15 purchasing it, and furnished him the money to pay for it.
The original cost of the estate was fourteen thousand
dollars. With the repairs and other necessary expenses
18 the amount is now about twenty thousand dollars. Ere
long I will see you in this hall, Deo volente; but my out-
door accommodations at Pleasant View are bigger than
21 the indoor. My little hall, which holds a trifle over two
hundred people, is less sufficient to receive a church of ten
thousand members than were the “five loaves and two
24 fishes” to feed the multitude; but the true Christian
Scientist is not frightened at miracles, and ofttimes small
beginnings have large endings.
27 Seeing that we have to attain to the ministry of right-
eousness in all things, we must not overlook small things
in goodness or in badness, for “trifles make perfection,”
30 and “the little foxes . . . spoil the vines.”
As a peculiar people whose God is All-in-all, let us say
with St. Paul: “We faint not; but have renounced the
Page 124
1 hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by mani-
3 festation of the truth commending ourselves to every
man’s conscience.”
COMMUNION, JUNE 4, 1899
6 My Beloved Brethren: — Looking on this annual assem-
blage of human consciousness, — health, harmony, growth,
grandeur, and achievement, garlanded with glad faces,
9 willing hands, and warm hearts, — who would say to-day,
“What a fond fool is hope”? The fruition of friendship,
the world’s arms outstretched to us, heart meeting heart
12 across continents and oceans, bloodless sieges and tear-
less triumphs, the “well done” already yours, and the
undone waiting only your swift hands, — these are
15 enough to make this hour glad. What more abounds
and abides in the hearts of these hearers and speakers,
pen may not tell.
18 Nature reflects man and art pencils him, but it remains
for Science to reveal man to man; and between these lines
of thought is written in luminous letters, O man, what
21 art thou? Where art thou? Whence and whither? And
what shall the answer be? Expressive silence, or with
finger pointing upward, — Thither! Then produce thy
24 records, time-table, log, traveller’s companion, et cetera,
and prove fairly the facts relating to the thitherward, —
the rate of speed, the means of travel, and the number
27 en route. Now what have you learned? The mystery
of godliness — God made “manifest in the flesh,” seen
of men, and spiritually understood; and the mystery of
30 iniquity — how to separate the tares from the wheat,
that they consume in their own fires and no longer
Page 125
1 kindle altars for human sacrifice. Have you learned to
conquer sin, false affections, motives, and aims, — to be
3 not only sayers but doers of the law?
Brethren, our annual meeting is a grave guardian. It
requires you to report progress, to refresh memory, to
6 rejuvenate the branches and to vivify the buds, to bend
upward the tendrils and to incline the vine towards the
parent trunk. You come from feeding your flocks, big
9 with promise; and you come with the sling of Israel’s
chosen one to meet the Goliaths.
I have only to dip my pen in my heart to say, All honor
12 to the members of our Board of Lectureship connected
with The Mother Church. Loyal to the divine Principle
they so ably vindicate, they earn their laurels. History
15 will record their words, and their works will follow
them. When reading their lectures, I have felt the touch
of the spirit of the Mars’ Hill orator, which always
18 thrills the soul.
The members of the Board of Education, under the
auspices of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, have
21 acquitted themselves nobly. The students in my last
class in 1898 are stars in my crown of rejoicing.
We are deeply grateful that the church militant is
24 looking into the subject of Christian Science, for Zion
must put on her beautiful garments — her bridal robes.
The hour is come; the bride (Word) is adorned, and lo,
27 the bridegroom cometh! Are our lamps trimmed and
burning?
The doom of the Babylonish woman, referred to in Reve-
30 lation, is being fulfilled. This woman, “drunken with the
blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs
of Jesus,” “drunk with the wine of her fornication,”
Page 126
1 would enter even the church, — the body of Christ, Truth;
and, retaining the heart of the harlot and the purpose
3 of the destroying angel, would pour wormwood into the
waters — the disturbed human mind — to drown the
strong swimmer struggling for the shore, — aiming for
6 Truth, — and if possible, to poison such as drink of the
living water. But the recording angel, standing with
“right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,”
9 has in his hand a book open (ready to be read), which un-
covers and kills this mystery of iniquity and interprets the
mystery of godliness, — how the first is finished and the
12 second is no longer a mystery or a miracle, but a marvel,
casting out evil and healing the sick. And a voice was
heard, saying, “Come out of her, my people” (hearken
15 not to her lies), “that ye receive not of her plagues. For
her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remem-
bered her iniquities . . . double unto her double accord-
18 ing to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill
to her double . . . for she saith in her heart, I . . . am
no widow, . . . Therefore shall her plagues come in one
21 day, death, and mourning, and famine; . . . for strong is
the Lord God who judgeth her.” That which the Rev-
elator saw in spiritual vision will be accomplished. The
24 Babylonish woman is fallen, and who should mourn
over the widowhood of lust, of her that “is become the
habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit,
27 and a cage of every unclean . . . bird”?
One thing is eternally here; it reigns supreme to-day,
to-morrow, forever. We need it in our homes, at our fire-
30 sides, on our altars, for with it win we the race of the
centuries. We have it only as we live it. This is that
needful one thing — divine Science, whereby thought is
Page 127
1 spiritualized, reaching outward and upward to Science in
Christianity, Science in medicine, in physics, and in
3 metaphysics.
Happy are the people whose God is All-in-all, who ask
only to be judged according to their works, who live to
6 love. We thank the Giver of all good for the marvellous
speed of the chariot-wheels of Truth and for the steadfast,
calm coherence in the ranks of Christian Science.
9 On comparison, it will be found that Christian Science
possesses more of Christ’s teachings and example than
all other religions since the first century. Comparing
12 our scientific system of metaphysical therapeutics with
materia medica, we find that divine metaphysics com-
pletely overshadows and overwhelms materia medica, even
15 as Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians
of Egypt. I deliberately declare that when I was in prac-
tice, out of one hundred cases I healed ninety-nine to
18 the ten of materia medica.
We should thank God for persecution and for prosecu-
tion, if from these ensue a purer Protestantism and mono-
21 theism for the latter days of the nineteenth century. A
siege of the combined centuries, culminating in fierce attack,
cannot demolish our strongholds. The forts of Christian
24 Science, garrisoned by God’s chosen ones, can never sur-
render. Unlike Russia’s armament, ours is not costly as
men count cost, but it is rich beyond price, staunch and
27 indestructible on land or sea; it is not curtailed in peace,
surrendered in conquest, nor laid down at the feet of
progress through the hands of omnipotence. And why?
30 Because it is “on earth peace, good will toward men,” —
a cover and a defence adapted to all men, all nations,
all times, climes, and races. I cannot quench my
Page 128
1 desire to say this; and words are not vain when the
depth of desire can find no other outlet to liberty.
3 “Therefore . . . let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works.”
(Hebrews 6: 1.)
6 A coroner’s inquest, a board of health, or class legisla-
tion is less than the Constitution of the United States, and
infinitely less than God’s benign government, which is
9 “no respecter of persons.” Truth crushed to earth springs
spontaneously upward, and whispers to the breeze man’s
inalienable birthright — Liberty. “Where the Spirit of
12 the Lord is, there is liberty.” God is everywhere. No
crown nor sceptre nor rulers rampant can quench the vital
heritage of freedom — man’s right to adopt a religion,
15 to employ a physician, to live or to die according to the
dictates of his own rational conscience and enlightened
understanding. Men cannot punish a man for suicide;
18 God does that.
Christian Scientists abide by the laws of God and the
laws of the land; and, following the command of the
21 Master, they go into all the world, preaching the gospel
and healing the sick. Therefore be wise and harmless, for
without the former the latter were impracticable. A lack
24 of wisdom betrays Truth into the hands of evil as effec-
tually as does a subtle conspirator; the motive is not as
wicked, but the result is as injurious. Return not evil for
27 evil, but “overcome evil with good.” Then, whatever
the shaft aimed at you or your practice may be, it will
fall powerless, and God will reward your enemies accord-
30 ing to their works. Watch, and pray daily that evil
suggestions, in whatever guise, take no root in your
thought nor bear fruit. Ofttimes examine yourselves, and
Page 129
1 see if there be found anywhere a deterrent of Truth and
Love, and “hold fast that which is good.”
3 I reluctantly foresee great danger threatening our na-
tion, — imperialism, monopoly, and a lax system of relig-
ion. But the spirit of humanity, ethics, and Christianity
6 sown broadcast — all concomitants of Christian Science
— is taking strong hold of the public thought through-
out our beloved country and in foreign lands, and is
9 tending to counteract the trend of mad ambition.
There is no night but in God’s frown; there is no day
but in His smile. The oracular skies, the verdant earth
12 — bird, brook, blossom, breeze, and balm — are richly
fraught with divine reflection. They come at Love’s call.
The nod of Spirit is nature’s natal.
15 And how is man, seen through the lens of Spirit,
enlarged, and how counterpoised his origin from dust,
and how he presses to his original, never severed
18 from Spirit! O ye who leap disdainfully from this rock
of ages, return and plant thy steps in Christ, Truth,
“the stone which the builders rejected”! Then will
21 angels administer grace, do thy errands, and be thy
dearest allies. The divine law gives to man health
and life everlasting — gives a soul to Soul, a present
24 harmony wherein the good man’s heart takes hold on
heaven, and whose feet can never be moved. These
are His green pastures beside still waters, where faith
27 mounts upward, expatiates, strengthens, and exults.
Lean not too much on your Leader. Trust God to
direct your steps. Accept my counsel and teachings only
30 as they include the spirit and the letter of the Ten Com-
mandments, the Beatitudes, and the teachings and
example of Christ Jesus. Refrain from public contro-
Page 130
1 versy; correct the false with the true — then leave the
latter to propagate. Watch and guard your own thoughts
3 against evil suggestions and against malicious mental
malpractice, wholly disloyal to the teachings of Christian
Science. This hidden method of committing crime —
6 socially, physically, and morally — will ere long be un-
earthed and punished as it deserves. The effort of
disloyal students to blacken me and to keep my works
9 from public recognition — students seeking only public
notoriety, whom I have assisted pecuniarily and striven to
uplift morally — has been made too many times and has
12 failed too often for me to fear it. The spirit of Truth is
the lever which elevates mankind. I have neither the
time nor the inclination to be continually pursuing a lie
15 — the one evil or the evil one. Therefore I ask the help
of others in this matter, and I ask that according to
the Scriptures my students reprove, rebuke, and exhort.
18 A lie left to itself is not so soon destroyed as it is with
the help of truth-telling. Truth never falters nor fails;
it is our faith that fails.
21 All published quotations from my works must have
the author’s name added to them. Quotation-marks are
not sufficient. Borrowing from my copyrighted works,
24 without credit, is inadmissible. But I need not say this
to the loyal Christian Scientist— to him who keeps
the commandments. “Science and Health with Key to
27 the Scriptures” has an enormous strain put upon it,
being used as a companion to the Bible in all your
public ministrations, as teacher and as the embodiment
30 and substance of the truth that is taught; hence
my request, that you borrow little else from it, should
seem reasonable.
Page 131
1 Beloved, that which purifies the affections also strength-
ens them, removes fear, subdues sin, and endues with
3 divine power; that which refines character at the same
time humbles, exalts, and commands a man, and obedience
gives him courage, devotion, and attainment. For this
6 hour, for this period, for spiritual sacrament, sacrifice,
and ascension, we unite in giving thanks. For the body
of Christ, for the life that we commemorate and would
9 emulate, for the bread of heaven whereof if a man eat
“he shall live forever,” for the cup red with loving resti-
tution, redemption, and inspiration, we give thanks. The
12 signet of the great heart, given to me in a little symbol,
seals the covenant of everlasting love. May apostate
praise return to its first love, above the symbol seize the
15 spirit, speak the “new tongue” — and may thought soar
and Soul be.
ADDRESS AT ANNUAL MEETING, JUNE 6, 1899
18 My Beloved Brethren: — I hope I shall not be found
disorderly, but I wish to say briefly that this meeting is
very joyous to me. Where God is we can meet, and where
21 God is we can never part. There is something suggestive
to me in this hour of the latter days of the nineteenth
century, fulfilling much of the divine law and the gospel.
24 The divine law has said to us: “Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I
27 will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it.”
30 There is with us at this hour this great, great blessing;
and may I say with the consciousness of Mind that the
Page 132
1 fulfilment of divine Love in our lives is the demand of
this hour — the special demand. We begin with the law
3 as just announced, “Prove me now herewith, . . . if I will
not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing,” and we go to the Gospels, and there we hear:
6 “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.”
The Christian Scientist knows that spiritual faith and
9 understanding pass through the waters of Meribah here —
bitter waters; but he also knows they embark for infinity
and anchor in omnipotence.
12 Oh, may this hour be prolific, and at this time and in
every heart may there come this benediction: Thou hast
no longer to appeal to human strength, to strive with
15 agony; I am thy deliverer. “Of His own will begat He us
with the word of truth.” Divine Love has strengthened
the hand and encouraged the heart of every member of this
18 large church. Oh, may these rich blessings continue and
be increased! Divine Love hath opened the gate Beau-
tiful to us, where we may see God and live, see good in
21 good, — God all, one, — one Mind and that divine; where
we may love our neighbor as ourselves, and bless our
enemies.
24 Divine Love will also rebuke and destroy disease, and
destroy the belief of life in matter. It will waken the
dreamer — the sinner, dreaming of pleasure in sin; the sick,
27 dreaming of suffering matter; the slothful, satisfied to
sleep and dream. Divine Love is our only physician,
and never loses a case. It binds up the broken-hearted;
30 heals the poor body, whose whole head is sick and whose
whole heart is faint; comforts such as mourn, wipes away
the unavailing, tired tear, brings back the wanderer to
Page 133
1 the Father’s house in which are many mansions, many
welcomes, many pardons for the penitent.
3 Ofttimes I think of this in the great light of the present,
the might and light of the present fulfilment. So shall
all earth’s children at last come to acknowledge God, and
6 be one; inhabit His holy hill, the God-crowned summit
of divine Science; the church militant rise to the church
triumphant, and Zion be glorified.
A QUESTION ANSWERED
My beloved church will not receive a Message from
me this summer, for my annual Message is swallowed
12 up in sundries already given out. These crumbs and
monads will feed the hungry, and the fragments gathered
therefrom should waken the sleeper, — “dead in tres-
15 passes and sins,” — set the captive sense free from self’s
sordid sequela; and one more round of old Sol give birth
to the sowing of Solomon.
18 MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
May 11, 1903
LETTER OF THE PASTOR EMERITUS, JUNE, 1903
My Beloved Brethren: — I have a secret to tell you and
a question to ask. Do you know how much I love you
24 and the nature of this love? No: then my sacred secret
is incommunicable, and we live apart. But, yes: and
this inmost something becomes articulate, and my book
27 is not all you know of me. But your knowledge with
its magnitude of meaning uncovers my life, even as
your heart has discovered it. The spiritual bespeaks
Page 134
1 our temporal history. Difficulty, abnegation, constant
battle against the world, the flesh, and evil, tell my long-
3 kept secret — evidence a heart wholly in protest and
unutterable in love.
The unprecedented progress of Christian Science is pro-
6 verbial, and we cannot be too grateful nor too humble for
this, inasmuch as our daily lives serve to enhance or to
stay its glory. To triumph in truth, to keep the faith
9 individually and collectively, conflicting elements must
be mastered. Defeat need not follow victory. Joy over
good achievements and work well done should not
12 be eclipsed by some lost opportunity, some imperative
demand not yet met.
Truth, Life, and Love will never lose their claim on us.
15 And here let me add: —
Truth happifies life in the hamlet or town;
Life lessens all pride — its pomp and its frown —
18 Love comes to our tears like a soft summer shower,
To beautify, bless, and inspire man’s power.
A LETTER FROM MRS. EDDY
21 At the Wednesday evening meeting of April 3, 1907,
in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, the
First Reader, Mr. William D. McCrackan, read the fol-
24 lowing letter from Mrs. Eddy. In announcing this letter,
he said: —
“Permission has been secured from our beloved Leader
27 to read you a letter from her to me. This letter is in
Mrs. Eddy’s own handwriting, with which I have been
familiar for several years, and it shows her usual mental
30 and physical vigor.”
Page 135
1 Mrs. Eddy’s Letter
Beloved Student: — The wise man has said, “When I
3 was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put
away childish things.” That this passage of Scripture
6 and its concluding declaration may be applied to old age,
is a solace.
Perhaps you already know that I have heretofore per-
9 sonally attended to my secular affairs, — to my income,
investments, deposits, expenditures, and to my employ-
ees. But the increasing demands upon my time and
12 labor, and my yearning for more peace in my advancing
years, have caused me to select a Board of Trustees to
take the charge of my property; namely, the Hon. Henry
15 M. Baker, Mr. Archibald McLellan, and Mr. Josiah E.
Fernald.
As you are the First Reader of my church in Boston,
18 of about forty thousand members, I inform you of this,
the aforesaid transaction.
Lovingly yours in Christ,
21 MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
March 22, 1907
LETTER TO THE MOTHER CHURCH
THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, BOSTON, MASS.
My Beloved Church: — Your love and fidelity cheer my
27 advancing years. As Christian Scientists you under-
stand the Scripture, “Fret not thyself because of evil-
doers;” also you spiritually and scientifically understand
30 that God is divine Love, omnipotent, omnipresent, in-
Page 136
1 finite; hence it is enough for you and me to know that
our “Redeemer liveth” and intercedeth for us.
3 At this period my demonstration of Christian Science
cannot be fully understood, theoretically; therefore
it is best explained by its fruits, and by the life of
6 our Lord as depicted in the chapter Atonement and
Eucharist, in “Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures.”
MARY BAKER EDDY
9 PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
April 2, 1907
CARD
I am pleased to say that the following members con-
stitute the Board of Trustees who own my property: —
15 1. The Hon. Henry M. Baker, who won a suit at
law in Washington, D. C., for which it is alleged he
was paid the highest fee ever received by a native of
18 New Hampshire.
2. Archibald McLellan, editor-in-chief of the Christian
Science periodicals, circulating in the five grand divisions
21 of our globe; also in Canada, Australia, etc.
3. Josiah E. Fernald, justice of the peace and president
of the National State Capital Bank, Concord, N. H.
24 To my aforesaid Trustees I have committed the hard
earnings of my pen, — the fruits of honest toil, the labor
that is known by its fruits, — benefiting the human race;
27 and I have so done that I may have more peace, and time
for spiritual thought and the higher criticism.
MARY BAKER EDDY
30 PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
April 3, 1907
Page 137
MRS. EDDY’S AFFIDAVIT
The following affidavit, in the form of a letter from
3 Mrs. Eddy to Judge Robert N. Chamberlin of the Superior
Court, was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court,
Saturday, May 18. The Boston Globe, referring to this
6 document, speaks of it as, “in the main, an example of
crisp, clear, plain-speaking English.” The entire letter is
in Mrs. Eddy’s own handwriting and is characteristic in
9 both substance and penmanship: —
HON. JUDGE CHAMBERLIN, CONCORD, N. H.
Respected Sir: — It is over forty years that I have
12 attended personally to my secular affairs, to my in-
come, investments, deposits, expenditures, and to my
employees. I have personally selected all my invest-
15 ments, except in one or two instances, and have paid for
the same.
The increasing demands upon my time, labors, and
18 thought, and yearning for more peace and to have my
property and affairs carefully taken care of for the
persons and purposes I have designated by my last will,
21 influenced me to select a Board of Trustees to take charge
of my property; namely, the Hon. Henry M. Baker,
Mr. Archibald McLellan, Mr. Josiah E. Fernald. I
24 had contemplated doing this before the present proceed-
ings were brought or I knew aught about them, and I
had consulted Lawyer Streeter about the method.
27 I selected said Trustees because I had implicit con-
fidence in each one of them as to honesty and business
capacity. No person influenced me to make this selec-
30 tion. I find myself able to select the Trustees I need
Page 138
1 without the help of others. I gave them my property to
take care of because I wanted it protected and myself
3 relieved of the burden of doing this. They have agreed
with me to take care of my property and I consider this
agreement a great benefit to me already.
6 This suit was brought without my knowledge and is
being carried on contrary to my wishes. I feel that it
is not for my benefit in any way, but for my injury,
9 and I know it was not needed to protect my person or
property. The present proceedings test my trust in
divine Love. My personal reputation is assailed and
12 some of my students and trusted personal friends are
cruelly, unjustly, and wrongfully accused.
Mr. Calvin A. Frye and other students often ask me
15 to receive persons whom I desire to see but decline to
receive solely because I find that I cannot “serve two
masters.” I cannot be a Christian Scientist except I
18 leave all for Christ.
Trusting that I have not exceeded the bounds of pro-
priety in the statements herein made by me,
21 I remain most respectfully yours,
MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
24 May 16, 1907
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, Merrimack, ss.
On this sixteenth day of May, 1907, personally appeared
27 Mary Baker Eddy and made oath that the statements
contained in the annexed letter directed to Honorable
Judge Chamberlin and dated May 16, 1907, are true.
30 Before me: ALLEN HOLLIS,
Justice of the Peace
Page 139
NOTA BENE
Beloved Students: — Rest assured that your Leader is
3 living, loving, acting, enjoying. She is neither dead nor
plucked up by the roots, but she is keenly alive to the
reality of living, and safely, soulfully founded upon
6 the rock, Christ Jesus, even the spiritual idea of Life,
with its abounding, increasing, advancing footsteps of
progress, primeval faith, hope, love.
9 Like the verdure and evergreen that flourish when
trampled upon, the Christian Scientist thrives in adver-
sity; his is a life-lease of hope, home, heaven; his idea
12 is nearing the Way, the Truth, and the Life, when mis-
represented, belied, and trodden upon. Justice, honesty,
cannot be abjured; their vitality involves Life, — calm,
15 irresistible, eternal.
A WORD TO THE WISE
My Beloved Brethren: — When I asked you to dispense
18 with the Executive Members’ meeting, the purpose of my
request was sacred. It was to turn your sense of worship
from the material to the spiritual, the personal to the
21 impersonal, the denominational to the doctrinal, yea,
from the human to the divine.
Already you have advanced from the audible to the
24 inaudible prayer; from the material to the spiritual
communion; from drugs to Deity; and you have been
greatly recompensed. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad,
27 for so doth the divine Love redeem your body from dis-
ease; your being from sensuality; your soul from sense;
your life from death.
Page 140
1 Of this abounding and abiding spiritual understand-
ing the prophet Isaiah said, “And I will bring the blind
3 by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in
paths that they have not known: I will make dark-
ness light before them, and crooked things straight.
6 These things will I do unto them, and not forsake
them.”
MARY BAKER EDDY
9 CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.
[Boston Globe]
ABOLISHING THE COMMUNION
12 In a letter addressed to Christian Scientists the Rev.
Mary Baker Eddy explains that dropping the annual com-
munion service of The First Church of Christ, Scientist,
15 in Boston, need not debar distant members from attend-
ing occasionally The Mother Church. The following is
Mrs. Eddy’s letter: —
18 Beloved Christian Scientists: — Take courage. God is
leading you onward and upward. Relinquishing a ma-
terial form of communion advances it spiritually.
21 The material form is a “Suffer it to be so now,” and
is abandoned so soon as God’s Way-shower, Christ,
points the advanced step. This instructs us how to
24 be abased and how to abound.
Dropping the communion of The Mother Church
does not prevent its distant members from occasionally
27 attending this church.
MARY BAKER EDDY
CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.,
30 June 21, 1908
Page 141
1 [Boston Globe]
COMMUNION SEASON IS ABOLISHED
3 The general communion service of the Christian Science
denomination, held annually in The First Church of
Christ, Scientist, in this city, has been abolished by
6 order of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy. The services attended
last Sunday [June 14] by ten thousand persons were thus
the last to be held. Of late years members of the church
9 outside of Boston have not been encouraged to attend the
communion seasons except on the triennial gatherings,
the next of which would have been held next year.
12 The announcement in regard to the services was made
last night [June 21] by Alfred Farlow of the publication
committee as follows: —
15 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, has
taken steps to abolish its famous communion seasons.
In former years, the annual communion season of the
18 Boston church has offered an occasion for the gathering
of vast multitudes of Christian Scientists from all parts
of the world . According to the following statement, which
21 Mrs. Eddy has just given out to the press, these gather-
ings will be discontinued: —
“The house of The Mother Church seats only five thou-
24 sand people, and its membership includes forty-eight
thousand communicants, hence the following: —
“The branch churches continue their communion sea-
27 sons, but there shall be no more communion season in
The Mother Church that has blossomed into spiritual
beauty, communion universal and divine. ‘For who
Page 142
1 hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct
him? But we have the mind of Christ.’ (1 Corinthians,
3 2:16.) “
[Mrs. Eddy has only abolished the disappointment of
communicants who come long distances and then find no
6 seats in The Mother Church. — EDITOR Sentinel.]
MRS EDDY’S REPLY
JUDGE CLIFFORD P. SMITH, LL.B., C.S.B.,
9 First Reader, The Mother Church, Boston, Mass.
Beloved Christian Scientist: — Accept my thanks for
your approval of abolishing the communion season of
12 The Mother Church. I sought God’s guidance in doing
it, but the most important events are criticized.
The Mother Church communion season was liter-
15 ally a communion of branch church communicants
which might in time lose its sacredness and merge into
a meeting for greetings. My beloved brethren may
18 some time learn this and rejoice with me, as they so
often have done, over a step higher in their passage
from sense to Soul.
21 Most truly yours,
MARY BAKER EDDY
BOX G, BROOKLINE, MASS.
24 June 24, 1908
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Beloved Students: — I thank you for your kind invi-
27 tation to be present at the annual meeting of The
Mother Church on June 7, 1909. I will attend the
Page 143
1 meeting, but not in propria persona. Watch and pray
that God directs your meetings and your lives, and your
3 Leader will then be sure that they are blessed in their
results.
Lovingly yours,
MARY BAKER EDDY
6 BROOKLINE, MASS.,
June 5, 1909
MRS. EDDY’S STATEMENTS
9 To Whom It May Concern: — I have the pleasure to
report to one and all of my beloved friends and followers
that I exist in the flesh, and am seen daily by the mem-
12 bers of my household and by those with whom I have
appointments.
Above all this fustian of either denying or asserting the
15 personality and presence of Mary Baker Eddy, stands
the eternal fact of Christian Science and the honest history
of its Discoverer and Founder. It is self-evident that
18 the discoverer of an eternal truth cannot be a temporal
fraud.
The Cause of Christian Science is prospering through-
21 out the world and stands forever as an eternal and de-
monstrable Science, and I do not regard this attack upon
me as a trial, for when these things cease to bless they
24 will cease to occur.
“And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called
27 according to His purpose . . . . What shall we then say
to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us?”
30 MARY BAKER EDDY
CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.
June 7, 1909
Page 144
1 Mrs. Eddy also sent the following letter to the mem-
bers of her church in Concord, N. H.: —
3 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, CONCORD, N. H.
My Beloved Brethren: — Give yourselves no fear and
spare not a moment’s thought to lies afloat that I am sick,
6 helpless, or an invalid. The public report that I am in
either of the aforesaid conditions is utterly false.
With love, ever yours,
9 MARY BAKER EDDY
BOX G, BROOKLINE, MASS.
June 7, 1909
