1901 and the public thought

There is so much wisdom in Mrs. Eddy’s A Word to the Wise (The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany p. 223)! How relevant it is to our times, and, of course, all times. The patience theme is reiterated.  

I was curious as to the circumstances of this message. Why?  When?

The “when” was easy to find by looking up the article in jsh-online.com. It was first published in the Christian Science Sentinel of April 25, 1901 (http://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1901/4/3-34/a-word-to-the-wise). The “why” was more difficult. My trusty source Robert Peel’s Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority seemed to fail me on this occasion, as I could only find reference to Mark Twain and his dealings with Christian Science; however, I finally found Chronology pp. 371-375 (it had been hiding) which lists important events during the years 1892-1910.

The year 1901 tables the following:

Jan 4              Crucial legal conference at Pleasant View

Jan                 Puts Kimball in charge of Woodbury case

May 1              New York Herald interview

June 5            Woodbury case lost by plaintiff

Aug 1              Peabody lecture, “A complete Exposure of Eddyism,” in Tremont Temple

Aug 28            Second visit to Concord State Fair

Nov-Dec         Work on major revision of Science and Health 

There is much to read about the Woodbury case in Peel’s book; the Next Friends horror was yet to come – in 1907 – and is also recorded by Peel.

Always Mrs. Eddy was praying for wisdom, for herself and for her students.  And we have her marvellous poem/hymn Shepherd ("Feed my Sheep") to help us in calling on God to give us guidance. How often do we try to accomplish something in our daily lives without saying, “Shepherd, show me”; but when we remember to call on Him we are given immediate direction. It is truly wonderful.

Joyce Voysey