The Year 1900

The year 1900

1900 - A grateful testimony from New Mexico

(a reader of from Science and health with Key to the scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy)

AN EVER-PRESENT HELP FOUND

    On the 23rd of March, 1900, I received from one of my daughters a copy of Science and Health on my seventy-first birthday. Although a constant reader of all kinds of papers and books, I had never heard anything of Christian Science, except a short notice that spring in a San Francisco newspaper, from an orthodox clergyman, referring to the Christian Science people in not very complimentary style.

674    In Mrs. Eddy’s book I came across a great deal of thought that was not readily understood at the first reading, but by continued and careful study, and a good deal of help from my knowledge of chemistry and natural philosophy, I soon shook off the belief of sensation in matter, — the so-called elementary substance. One afternoon I put the belt on my circular saw to cut blocks of firewood…

1900: News of a Liberty Bell

304:1Columbian Liberty Bell Committee, 1505 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 3To the Daughters of the American Revolution: — 

    It has been determined to create a Columbian Liberty Bell, to be placed by the lovers of liberty and peace in 6the most appropriate place in the coming World’s Exposition at Chicago. After the close of the Exhibition this bell will pass from place to place throughout the world 9as a missionary of freedom, coming first to the capital of the nation under the care of our society.

    Then it will go to Bunker Hill or Liberty Island, to 12the battle-field of New Orleans (1812), to San Francisco, to the place where any great patriotic celebration is being held, until 1900, when it will be sent to the next World’s 15Exhibition, which takes place at Paris, France. There it will continue until that Exhibition closes.

   …
Very cordially yours,
Mary Desha,
ex-Vice-President General, D.A.R.

From Miscellany

·      My. 8:29

    “Since the last report, in 1900, one hundred and five new churches or congregations have been added, and those previously established have had large accessions to their membership.

·      My. 154:14

First Annual Meeting, January 11, 1900

·      My. 256:16

Christmas, 1900

·      My. 264:1

[Boston Herald, May 5, 1900]

·      My. 264:7

[Boston Globe, November 29, 1900]

·      My. 266:1

[New York World, December, 1900]

Where is that passage? Some loved gems

Reading Message to The Mother Church for 1900 has helped me locate some special (to me) gems in Mrs. Eddy’s writings e.g.

·         “Work – work – watch and pray” (p. 2)

·         There are three types of human nature – the right thinker and worker, the idler, and the intermediate (pp. 2, 3).

·         Divine Science is the “Science of perfectibility” (p. 7).

·         “We lose a percentage due to our activity when doing the work that belongs to another” (p. 8).

·         When a student is not ready to obey: “You may do it if you desire” (pp. 8, 9).

·         “Sincerity is more successful than genius or talent” (p. 9).

·         About music (p. 11)

·         About the 7 messages of John to the churches (pp. 11-14)

Joyce Voysey

Practice makes perfect

So, Mrs. Eddy has classified divine Science as the only perfect religion on page 4.  I found I needed to check how Science and Health defines Science.  Here it is on page 127:

The terms Divine Science, Spiritual Science, Christ Science or Christian Science, or Science alone, she employs interchangeably, according to the requirements of the context.  These synonymous terms stand for everything relating to God, the infinite, supreme, eternal Mind.

Then comes the question: What of all the other religions?  Page 4 speaks of leaving “the beaten path of human doctrines.”  And, “The question as to religion is: Does it demonstrate its doctrines?”  Perhaps they do not “coincide with the First Commandment” and “leaves opportunity for idolatry”, believing that evil has an origin and is real.

We are promised that “it will become the head of the corner, the foundation of all systems of religion.”

Yes.  Christian Science is the perfect religion, but Christian Scientists are very much only students of the Science.  However we can all, at this time, agree with Paul when he says, “I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3: 13

We must be about the business of improving our understanding of the Science.  Practice is necessary, as it is in improving our understanding of Geometry...or anything. 

 

Joyce Voysey

Q&A

What questions are asked and answered in Eddy’s Message for 1900? There are just seven, and as we look at them, we might challenge ourselves to find our own answers before we read Eddy’s –

 

a)     P. 2 Here is a question to “the intermediate worker” who “works at times”: But what of the fruits of your labors?  The answer hits home: “I am not so successful as I could wish, but I work hard enough to be so.”

b)     P. 3 “Now, what saith Christian Science?” “When a man is right, his thoughts are right, active, and they are fruitful; he loses self in love, and cannot hear himself, unless he loses the chord.  The right thinker and worker does his best, and does the thinking for the ages….He improves moments; to him time is money, and he hoards this capital to distribute gain.”

c)      P. 3 “…the animus of heathen religion was not the incentive of the devout Jew—but has it not tainted the religious sects?”  [Animus - (i) strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity (ii) purpose; intention; animating spirit (iii) in the psychology of Jung, the masculine principle, especially as present in women – contrasted with anima]  Eddy’s discussion here is about the sanctioning of idolatry (other gods) by the Israelites in Babylon during the period of captivity.

d)     P. 4 “The question as to religion is: Does it demonstrate its doctrines?”

e)     P. 4 continues the discussion of the previous question with this next query: “Do religionists believe that God is One and All?”

f)      P. 7 “Is there more than one Christ, and hath Christ a second appearing?  There is but one Christ.  And from everlasting to everlasting this Christ is never absent.”

g)     p. 9 Here the query is from Scripture “Why art thou come hither to torment me before the time?” and illustrates the response of many to the open secret of Christian Science i.e. right thinking and acting.  Who can be bothered right now….

 

Are we ready to think and act rightly, to accept that we have “the mind of Christ” right now?

 

Julie Swannell

Hope and sincerity

At present I am reading The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka by Clare Wright.  The book chronicles the influence of women in the formative years in the history of the Australian state of Victoria, especially at the time of the gold rushes at Ballarat. 

The writer uses the phrase “hope deferred.”  Aha!  I thought!   This must be a quote from the Bible, for surely the writer is not quoting Mrs. Eddy’s poem O Gentle Presence.  The quote is given in italics and indicates something written in 1854 (page 435). 

Of course, one finds the original idea in Proverbs 13.12, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”  What a wide influence the Bible is on writers of every age!

But I digress. 

My son sends out a daily message on email.  Here is to-day’s:

 “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
― Calvin Coolidge

 Does some of that quote sound familiar?  On page 9 of this month’s text Message to The Mother Church 1900, we read: “Sincerity is more successful than genius or talent.”  Coolidge’s dates are 1872-1933, so my question is: Who inspired whom about this matter?  I seem to be familiar with the phrase, “Genius will not,” but cannot find it in Mrs. Eddy’s writings.  Can anyone enlighten me?

Joyce Voysey

Answered Prayer

Friends
A lovely poem for you...
shared by Joyce Voysey

Answered Prayer

CAROL NORTON.

From the July 23, 1904 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel

Top of Form

I am nestling, Father, nestling,
Safe within Thy loving care.
As a little child I'm clinging,
And Thy love heals my despair.

I am singing, Father, singing,
For Thou my prayer hast heard.
And my joyous song is ringing
Like the free notes of a bird.

I am thankful, Father, thankful,
For Thy Mother-love divine,
And my heart is ever grateful
For its harmony sublime.

The right thinker earns his money

I remember the books “Message to The Mother Church for 1900” and “Message to The Mother Church for 1901” because they give me a definite date for the last year of the 19^th Century and the first of the 20^th Century.  This reminds me of the discussion regarding whether the year 2000 or the year 2001 marked the first year of the 21^st Century: 2000 won that discussion.  I wonder what will happen when the 22^nd century dawns?

There are some very impressive truths given to us by Mary Baker Eddy in our March book – the 1900 Message.

Page 2.  How could one forget “The Song of Christian Science is, “Work – work – work – watch and pray.””?  And the strong sentiments which follow about the three types of human nature.  Where do we classify ourselves amongst the three types: The right thinker; the idler; the intermediate?  Do we fall into different classes at different times, something I feel is exemplified in Jesus parable of the sower and the  seed (Luke 8:5-15)?  I feel I have fitted each of the descriptions at different times, although certainly one has fallen far short of the standard of the “right thinker.”   The thought that takes my attention this time is that “he earns his money and gives it wisely to the world.”  Wow!

Joyce Voysey

Forward steps in religion

As we read Mary Baker Eddy's Message for 1900, it is helpful to know the back story.  Here is a link to a wonderful article by Ingrid Peschke in the Newburyport Daily News -

http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x1387872398/Christian-Science-founder-Mary-Baker-Eddy-featured-in-library-display

Ingrid tells us that Eddy’s ideas as an author, pastor, teacher and healer charted the path for current thought on consciousness and health today. And in more ways than one, they still lead the way.

Back in 1900, Eddy herself wrote about forward steps (p. 4:11 - 19):  Today people are surprised at the new and forward steps in religion, which indicate a renaissance greater than in the mediaeval period; but ought not this to be an agreeable surprise, inasmuch as these are progressive signs of the times?

It should seem rational that the only perfect religion is divine Science, Christianity as taught by our great Master; that which leaves the beaten path of human doctrines and is the truth of God, and of man and the universe.

And on page 5: 10, she logically builds her case, always referring the reader back to the Bible as her reference point: Applied to Deity, Father and Mother are synonymous terms; they signify one God.  Father, Son, and Holy Ghost mean God, man, and divine Science.  God is self-existent, the essence and source of the two latter...This being the divine Science of divine Love, it would enable man to escape from idolatry of every kind, to obey the First Commandment of the Decalogue: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me;" and the command of Christ: "Love thy neighbor as thyself."  On this rock Christian Science is built.  It may be the rock which the builders reject for a season; but it is the Science of God and His universe, and it will become the head of the corner, the foundation of all systems of religion.

J. Swannell

on the rock

This is a fun message as many of us start our final day of preparation for the Northern Australia Church Alive Summit here in Brisbane:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me;" and the command of Christ: "Love thy neighbor as thyself."  On this rock Christian Science is built.  

p. 5 Message to The Mother Church for 1900 (Mary Baker Eddy)

On the rock.  Secure.  Safe.  Stable.  Law.

Message to The Mother Church for 1900 - 6 questions

Hi Fellow-readers,

This month we will read Mary Baker Eddy's Message to The Mother Church for 1900 and let's find out:

1. What questions are asked?
2. What questions are answered?
3. Who was Mary Baker Eddy writing this address for and what is the historical context?
4. What was the main thrust of her message?
5. What Bible passages does the author mention and why?
6. How does the author encourage students today?
7. What else was happening in the world at the turn of that century?

Happy exploring!
Julie

"Round up everyone in the country" - thrilling reading!

With this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson on Christ Jesus referencing the work of the prophets, I have opened The Message (by Eugene H. Peterson) to page 1194 entitled IntroductionProphets. 

Peterson tells us that the Hebrew people produced "an extraordinary number" of men and women who "presented the reality of God" to their countrymen over a period of several hundred years.  It was their aim to re-direct thought back to God as the centre and circumference of all.

There are sixteen "writing" prophets.  These can be found in your Bible from Isaiah to Malachi.  These sixteen, says Peterson, remind us that the "ways of the world--its assumptions, its values, its methods of going about its work--are never on the side of God".  Furthermore, he tells us that prophets "train us in discerning the difference between the ways of the world and the ways of the gospel, keeping us present to the Presence of God".

Peterson then infers that if you want to be popular in the everyday sense of the word, then it may be best not to aspire to be a prophet, for they speak plainly and directly, purposefully shaking their listeners awake, while providing hope in God's benevolent working of events, and reminding us that God's hand is with us every day, every place.

Well, look what Joel 1: 14 says in The Message:

Nothing's going on in the place of worship,
no offerings, no prayers--nothing.
Declare a holy fast, call a special meeting,
get the leaders together,
Round up everyone in the country.
Get them into God's Sanctuary for serious prayer to God.
 
That might be some direction to us regarding our forthcoming Church Alive Summit!

And later in Joel 2: 15 - 17
Call a public meeting.
Get everyone there.  Consecrate the congregation.
Make sure the elders come,
but bring in the children, too, even the nursing babies,
Even men and women on their honeymoon--
interrupt them and get them there.
.......
Don't let the pagans take over and rule them
and sneer, "And so where is this God of theirs?"

And Joel 2: 22 and 25 (approx.)

There trees are bearing fruit again:
a bumper crop of fig trees and vines!
Children of Zion, celebrate!
Be glad in your God.
He's giving you a teacher
to train you how to live right...

"I'll make up for the years of the locust,
the great locust devastation..."

It's all so thrilling to read!

Julie Swannell