On page
81 Peel writes about Mrs. Eddy's desire to have Christian Science "made more respectable in the eyes of society". She had read a book called The
History of Medicine for the Last 4000 Years, by Rufus King Noyes, M.D. of
Lynn.
Peel writes:
“The history of medicine, Noyes
held, was one of imposture – 'a practice of fundamentally fallacious
principles, impotent of good, morally wrong, and bodily hurtful.'”
This
thinking heartened Mrs. Eddy, and it reminds one of pages 162-164 of Science
and Health with Key to the Scriptures
(S&H) which quote famous medical professors on the dangers
of medical practice.
I have
long loved this quote from Voltaire, 18th
century French Enlightenment philosopher, historian, and writer, “The art of
medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease” (quoted
in The People’s Idea of God, p. 6:11
by Eddy). I first came across Voltaire's quote in Tolstoy's great work, “War and
Peace.”
It is
nice to become reacquainted with William Dana Orcott's book “Mary Baker Eddy
and Her Writings”, mentioned on page 83 of Peel’s book. Orcutt’s
book is a wonderful account of the history of the printing of S&H. What a history!
The
culmination of this history, for me, is the printing of the Subscription Edition of that book.
There is a Subscription Edition of S&H
in the foyer at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Perth – I admire it every
year at my Christian Science Association meeting.
The 30th edition of S&H included, for the first time, the 'scientific statement of
being.' Now found on page 468, this statement is practically the Christian
Scientist's rock of salvation. Peel comments that Mrs. Eddy did not use the
pronouns He or She to indicate God, except in this edition. He classifies these
as being too disconcerting to the ear. She does, however, quite freely use the
term Father-Mother.
It comes
as a surprise, perhaps shock, to hear that the 3rd edition names names in regard to demonology, while the
impersonality of evil is so prominent a part of her later teaching.
For
about ten years, Mrs. Eddy's work was centred in Lynn, a seaside town about 10
miles from Boston. Lynn has historic monument to Mary Baker Eddy and the town's
website has a long history of her connection with that city.
Peel
champions the women who actually helped Mrs. Eddy at this period; most of the
men couldn't take it. Peel says (p. 108), “Mrs. Eddy did not ask for women half the world that men had made; instead, she demanded an entirely new world
for both of them.” Isn't that great?
This
book has a valuable reference to the Quimby-Dresser controversy (pp. 125-136).
Possibly the definitive authority because of his meticulous research, and
demand for the truth.
Joyce Voysey
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