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Wednesday, 6 February 2013

THE LETTER-WRITING LEADER

It’s hot and sticky in my study, but over the past two nights, I have read all the letters in Chapter Five of Miscellaneous Writings and find the over-riding sentiment to be Mrs. Eddy’s desire for unity and brotherly love among Christian Scientists. 

 

She comes across to me as a tender, firm and fearless leader, always ahead of her students

and always turning to God alone for her direction, as she steers the ship forward.  With branch churches springing up around the world, Eddy was kept busy with letter-writing – and no email for her!  How wonderful that we now have these letters, with their encouragement, wisdom, and joy.

 

In the paperback copy I am using for this study, I have underlined some passages that stood out to me in this Chapter.  Here are some that many of you will be familiar with:

1.      “...we should avoid referring to past mistakes” (p. 130: 23)

2.      “Christian Scientists preserve unity...” (p. 131: 9)

3.      “May God give unto us all that loving sense of gratitude which delights in the opportunity to cancel accounts” (p. 131:22)

4.      “...the sweet sense of journeying on together...” (p. 135: 9)

5.      “...the unity of good ...so cement the bonds of Love” (p.135: 19)

6.      “...you must give much time to self-examination and correction; you must control appetite, passion, pride, envy, evil-speaking, resentment, and each one of the innumerable errors that worketh or maketh a lie” (p. 137: 23)

7.      “I once thought that in unity was human strength; but have grown to know that human strength is weakness, – that unity is divine might, giving to human power, peace” (p. 138: 19)

8.      “Unity prevailed...” (p. 140: 16)

9.      “...I admonish you: Delay not longer to commence building...” (p. 141: 25)

10.   “found you all ‘with one accord in one place’” (p 143: 26)

11.   “The Church, more than any other institution, at present is the cement of society...” (p. 144: 32)

12.   “When the hearts of Christian Scientists are woven together...” (p. 145: 26)

13.   “...I would gather every reformed mortal that desired to come, into its fold, and counsel and help him to walk in the footsteps of His flock”  (p. 146: 21)

14.   “Do you meet in unity, preferring one another, and demonstrating...” (p. 147: 6)

15.   “The man of integrity....is indeed what he appears to be... We shall never find one part of his character at variance with another.” (p. 147: 14, 27 and 148: 2)

16.   “Invite all cordially and freely to this banquet of Christian Science...” (p. 149: 4)

17.   “God is universal; confined to no spot, defined by no dogma, appropriated by no sect.” (p. 150: 25)

18.   “...the oneness of God includes also His presence with those whose hearts unite in the purposes of goodness” (p. 152: 5)

19.   “I, as a corporeal person, am not in your midst; I, as a dictator, arbiter, or ruler, am not present; but I, as a mother whose heart pulsates with every throb of theirs for the welfare of her children, am present...” (p. 152: 11)

20.   “Abide in His work, and it shall abide in you...” (p. 154: 19)

21.   “Sacrifice self to bless one another...” (p. 155: 6)

22.   “Let the reign of peace and harmony be supreme and forever yours.” (p. 156: 11)

23.   “Every true Christian Scientist will feel ‘as bound with you,’ but as free in Truth and Love, safe under the shadow of His wing.” (p. 157: 12)

24.   “All God’s servants are minute men and women.” (p.158: 19) I really love this!!

25.   “...may our lives flow on in the same sweet rhythm of head and heart...” (p. 160: 8)

 Julie Swannell

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