Rouse ye

October Book Club  

Book: MARY BAKER EDDY: Christian Healer 

by Yvonne Cache von Fettweis & Robert Townsend Warneck.

Page 42 (readers of the earlier edition will find this on page 20) has my first pencil mark at the paragraph beginning “Six decades later…”. Here the authors recount Mrs. Eddy's conversation with Irving Tomlinson where she pointed out the difference between homeopathy and her discovery of Christian Science. While in homeopathy she had eliminated the drug altogether in healing a woman of dropsy (she referred to this experience as “the falling apple” and “the enlightenment of the human understanding”, the discovery of Christian Science she described as “the revelation from the divine Mind.” 

I am left wondering if, in my practice of Christian Science, I am sometimes merely endeavouring to enlighten the human understanding instead of seeking Truth directly from the divine Mind.

On page 91 (expanded edition) we find the healing of a mute girl. There is also a footnote - “1”.  At the footnote (page 557) we find some more healing of deafness and dumbness.  In each case it seems that stubbornness was handled.  

I like the word “rouse.”  Mrs Eddy roused the patients with extraordinary declarations like “It is well you have never heard or spoken to give voice to your wicked thoughts.”  The child’s anger was roused and she spoke.

I am reminded of the great hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal, “Rouse ye.”

Hymn 296

Maria Louise Baum - Based on hymn by M. H. Tipton

AMSTERDAM - James Nares

Rouse ye, soldiers of the cross,

And lift your banner high;

Servants of a mighty cause,

Put sloth and slumber by.

Rouse ye, rouse ye, face the foe,

Rise to conquer death and sin;

On with Christ to victory go,

O side with God, and win!

Waken, hear your Captain’s call,

And follow where he trod;

Rout the cringing host of fear

By faith that walks with God.

Rouse ye, rouse ye, face the foe,

Rise to conquer death and sin;

On with Christ to victory go,

O side with God, and win!

Rouse ye: long the conquest waits

For valor’s act supreme;

Rouse ye, rest not, do the deeds

That break the earthly dream.

Rouse ye, rouse ye, face the foe,

Rise to conquer death and sin;

On with Christ to victory go,

O side with God, and win!

Joyce Voysey