Monday 4th June, Joyce Voysey wrote:
I am delighted that we will be reading Tomlinson's Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy.  For many years it was my favourite book about the author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.  Interestingly, it was a biography of Mary Baker Eddy which introduced me to Christian Science: Lyman Powell's Mary Baker Eddy: A Life in Protest.  I had gone to a public library in Brisbane in search of something about Eastern religions. 

You see I had been touched by God
and sought more knowledge of Him in the church I had been attending (spasmodically, though my children were in the Sunday School).  My contact with the minister gave me no confidence that I would find what I was seeking in Christianity; hence my search for something in the Eastern tradition.

Well there were books there, though I can't remember what they were, but right next to them was a copy of Powell's book.  I wrote in my published testimony (see CS Journal June 1973 page 336): "This book told of a wonderful religion, Christian Science."  That was some 51 years ago and I have been a student of Christian Science ever since.  Also in the testimony, I see I have written, "...my study answered all my questions - and still does.  Although sometimes I may have to wait patiently for the answers, they are alway forthcoming."
 
I have looked up something in Robert Peel's book Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority, something that had been nagging me about Powell's book, something that was not quite complimentary.  I found it.  Speaking of the genesis of the book and Powell's developing thought about Christian Science, Peel wrote: "The final result showed more goodwill than insight."
I must say though that his book led me to Truth and my gratitude is deep and sincere.

I will now start our new assignment.