“No
one is educated today who has not read and pondered the writings of Mary Baker
Eddy”. This is a statement by an
American clergyman who had been hostile to Christian Science, especially to the
work of healing, but who later changed his view completely, and was recorded by
Daisette McKenzie on pages 249-250 of We
Knew Mary Baker Eddy.
I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to
re-read this life-changing book. This is
the first time I’ve read it in its Expanded Version and I’m grateful for the
new material. But one day, I asked
myself why I always feel inspired, uplifted, even exhilarated when reading
about the life of this woman, Mary Baker Eddy.
Yes, I am inspired when I read about all sorts of people who have made or
are making a difference in the world – who wouldn’t be? But Eddy’s example offers something more, and
I wondered why.
I
think the answer is that through her example, we witness the “human
exemplification of Christian Science” (John Lathrop p. 259). Her legacy to the world remains a shining ray
of light.
She
let’s see why this woman’s story has such an impact on me.
1. She is relatable. We can see a bit
of our best self in her example of daily living. Not that we aspire to be someone else, but
most of us would aspire to be the best we can be and Mary Baker Eddy’s example
is such that we can say: I might be able to do that too. I like, for instance, that she wrote so
tenderly to her student Julia Bartlett: “Write soon and often” (p. 64). She excelled in so many areas and yet was
invariably meek and self-effacing.
2. She loved. Miss Bartlett offered
this insight, that “She was always mindful of the little things” (p. 90). And
she especially loved little children.
Hear her words on this – “...the most beautiful thing is a little
child.” Emma Newman tells us that “she
loved [children]” because “theirs was the white, unwritten page” p. 243. And I think each record recounts her generosity.
3. For all her immense spirituality, she was supremely practical. Bartlett again: “One, in speaking of the good
life of a certain man...said, “That is old-fashioned Christianity.” She corrected him by saying, “That is Christianity” (p. 91). I love Alfred Farlow’s astute observation
that “she was never given to redundancy in her writings, in her mode of living,
or in her habits in general. Her table was furnished with plenty of good,
wholesome food, but it was always prepared economically. Although her income was comparatively large,
she saved every dollar above a sensible living for her Church...” And,
importantly “Many besides the writer have noted with interest and profit her
remarkable example in punctuality.” (p. 205).
Emma Newman writes about the “cheer, daintiness, and order” of her home.
4. She knew who she was and what she had to do. She was a true servant of God. Thus, when she requested that selected
students come to a special meeting in April 1887, she countered their
reluctance and un-readiness with insistence that they comply! p. 167. And I love the tender class episode recounted
by Sue Harper Mims on p. 299/300 regarding Mrs. Eddy’s place as “revelator for
this age”.
5. Her ability to accomplish much was truly outstanding and was in no
small part due to strict self discipline but mostly I think great love for her
fellow man - her life’s work. I was
impressed with John Lathrop’s comments (p. 260-261), that Eddy’s “demonstration
of energy and activity was highly consistent” and that she was “very
methodical, very orderly about everything” and “never procrastinated. She never put off till tomorrow the work she
could do today.” Sue Harper Mims relates
her saying that “Christian Scientists should be the most methodical people on
earth” p. 290.
6. She laboured unwaveringly for the establishment of her church. Annie Knott observed that Eddy “early
discovered that humanity not only needed to know God but needed a church.” In the early days those healed were inclined
to remain in their old churches until it was “more and more clearly seen that
Christian Science churches alone could establish and maintain the
Christ-healing” and Knott noted that “this...called for very earnest work not
only in Boston but throughout the entire Field” p. 171.
7. She stood firm in the face of extraordinary opposition. See p. 172. I enjoyed John Salchow's comment that "She did not hesitate to apply whatever remedy was necessary to put error out of business" p. 399!!
8. Her ability to reason logically, and to make herself
understood on metaphysical topics was practically illustrated by her own healing
work and her ability to guide and teach others to heal. Annie Knott writes “She endeavoured to lift
thought above mortal sense and used the following terms to present the
unfoldment of the spiritual idea along mental and spiritual lines – namely, perception, reception, conception” (p.
173). (I’ve just finished a 4 week
on-line Bible study course on Galatians through Principia College with Madelon
Maupin, and found it interesting that Knott cites a passage from Galatians in
regard to this unfoldment: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth
again until Christ be formed in you” Gal 4:19.
9. She was a “minute woman” - always ready to move in a new direction as God
demanded and always promptly on time.
See page 209. Also p. 275 (Annie
Louise Robertson) “While our Leader always waited patiently for the right time
in which to adopt some new and more spiritual method, when it was once decided,
she brooked no delay...”
10. I love that Farlow has
reminded us that we can all “interview” her as we turn to her writings!
11. She is described as “refinement itself”, “poised and
dignified” with “gentleness, humbleness, ...meekness” (Walter Gale on p. 216). Lathrop tells us she once said: “Humility is
the door, honesty the way, and spirituality the summit” p 264. He added “She was versatile and always knew
just how to approach a person never forcing the thought with Christian Science
but would present the truth at the right time or not mention it at all.” George Wendell Adams writes that she was
“vigorous and vivid” and refers to her “heavenly expression” on p. 283. Mims tells us that “she walks very quickly and
smoothly” p. 291. And Calvin Hill recalls her "sweet motherliness" p. 328.
12. She was a superb teacher who never deserted her students. On page 226, Bliss Knapp mentions her having
sent him “a little book on elocution” and writing “a comforting and helpful
letter” to help him “meet public criticism” in his early work as a lecturer. She also knew the worth of her students. On p. 235 Emma Easton Newman recalls Eddy’s
words (recorded in Miscellaneous Writings p. 279): “We, to-day, in this
class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the
whole world will feel the influence of this Mind...”
Her teaching
technique involved questions and answers, plus story-telling and jokes! George Wendell Adams tells us that she said
“....when the deep things of Christian Science were being considered, the
mesmeric sense of too continuous seriousness must be broken” p. 284. I love the way she illustrated the topic of
“watching” with the story of the Union soldier who sang a hymn “because [he]
was conscious of danger which [he]
could not see or hear”, thus prompting the Confederate soldier to lower his
rifle and depart. Summing up, Eddy explained:
“Christian Scientists read their literature, go to church, to church meetings,
and still may be tumbled over; that is not watching...”
p. 262-3.
13. She was a marvellous Bible scholar, and expected her students
to be so too. Emma Newman observes that
“instead of forsaking the Bible, she searched it more diligently” as a result
of dissatisfaction with scholastic theology - p. 243. She was a close disciple of Christ Jesus, an
astute reader of Paul’s writings and of the entire Bible. She spoke of “the absurdity of the literal
translation of the Bible” – p. 297.
And
what of her sincere and loyal students - what do we learn from them?
My
goodness: they WORKED and they HEALED.
Julia Bartlett’s experience is noteworthy (p. 73 - 75): “I was seeing
and treating seventy patients a day, my work taking me far into the night, and
although I could give each one but a few minutes of my time, most of them were
healed quickly...One an extreme case of double curvature of the spine, heart
disease, and other troubles, whom the doctors had given but a short time to
live, was instantaneously healed and soon had class instruction...”
And
they learned their lessons. Annie Knott
tells us that Mrs. Eddy once said: “Declare positively, mortal minds cannot
harm me or my patients. One Mind governs
all harmoniously.” Then she relates
being called to treat a violently insane man and found that “Mrs. Eddy’s
wonderful teaching in the recent class became so clear to me that I felt I
could raise the dead...” The case was
cured. pp. 164-166. To Calvin Hill she said: "Get your heart right with the heart of God. That is what heals the sick. Get right yourself. Now, you get a practice and know that it is not you that heals, but that it is getting right yourself" p. 356.
Don’t
you appreciate Mrs Knott’s observation that “The Mother Church..of course
includes all of its branches” p. 171?
I
really loved reading about the arrival of two children in cases of previous
barrenness – pp 176-177. We learn from
Science and Health p. 494: “Divine Love
always has met and always will meet every human need.”
As
we read along, we can see the emerging church.
Today we may take for granted that there is no personal preaching in
Christian Science churches, but in 1895, when Mrs. Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures the “only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout
our land and in other lands” it was soon clear that “The responsibility no
longer rested upon individuals but on each branch church to elect and support
the Readers who were to serve...” p. 183-4.
I enjoyed John Salchow's description of the "little group of sincere people...and the informal meetings they held at each other's homes" (p. 370).
Another
innovation in the early days was the appointment of female lecturers and again
we hear from Annie Knott, who learned to courageously follow her Leader in this
work. Eddy told her that she “must rise
to the altitude of true womanhood” p. 191-2.
Mrs.
Eddy quizzed (or rather perhaps grilled) her students. Frank Gale brings out some helpful teaching
regarding how to heal quickly. See p.
216.
Annie
Robertson comments that “it remains for her followers to consecrate and
dedicate their lives to carrying on the great work...” p. 279.
Julie Swannell
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