Last evening I didn't think I could put anything
together. Look what happened in the light of morning.
Book
club – Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation
I have finished reading the book, and made notes of points that stood out to me. I
will now go back and consult the notes in the hope that I will regain
some of the interest they aroused on first reading.
some of the interest they aroused on first reading.
Julia M. Johnston: “The human cannot prevent the divine appearing, but is
embraced in its imperative tenderness until finally yielding to Truth forever" (p. 3). Oh! How this woman loved her fellow man!
On page
6, at the end of the first paragraph, we have an echo of one Mary Baker Eddy's
beloved poems (Satisfied): “The centuries are breaking. Mankind is waking.”
What a lovely prophecy!
It seems
to me that in the last two paragraphs of Robert Peel's article, that he speaks
from experience
when he
speaks of"the student of Christian Science mov(ing) forward along the way
Christ Jesus walked, [and] find[ing[ the path illumined for him by the divine Science
that Mrs. Eddy labored so valiantly and devotedly to share with the world” (p. 15). He
continues, “Each advancing step will help him to understand a little better the
Christ-example that led her, the Christ-spirit that inspired her, the
Christ-power that sustained her. Each deepening experience will show him a
little more clearly the meaning of her words, 'Bear with me the burden of
discovery and share with me the bliss of seeing the risen Christ, God's
spiritual idea that takes away all sin, disease, and death, and gives to soul
its native freedom'*” (p. 15). Surely
he here describes his experience in writing the trilogy on Mary Baker Eddy's life,
with its discovery, trial, and authority.
** Robert Peel's works: Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Discovery; Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Trial; Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority. Available in Christian Science Reading Rooms.
How
about this thought from Floyd C. Shank, that in giving her church the Church Manual, Mary Baker
Eddy provided the resources to continue the 'watering and weeding and cultivating' (p. 24) of
God's vineyard, a field planted and watered by her as founder of Christian
Science?
On
looking through my very rough notes about the book, I find that really what I
should do is read the whole book again. For instance, DeWitt John's piece
about Mrs. Eddy as teacher and educator is so good. Mr. John points out that
the educational method of Christian Science “goes far deeper than the activity
of human intellect. The inspired teachings reach to the very foundations of
one's consciousness. They awaken and purify. They work a transformation in
one's whole being, filling consciousness with light. (p. 73).
John M. Tutt writes: “Christian Science is mentalizing the whole world of matter; and
chemicalization, or change from the materially mental to the divinely mental,
is bringing forth a new conception of the healing art” (p. 100). This is from Mr. Tutt's piece titled Mary Baker Eddy: Her influence on medicine. Tutt provides interesting information about the word “medicine”. He writes “It is
interesting that the Greek word for 'medicine' (pharmakon), from which is
derived the word 'pharmacy,' has a spread of meanings from witchcraft, sorcery,
magic, philters, to poisons, drugs, etc." (p. 101).
The last
offering is from L. Ivimy Gwalter on Mrs. Eddy's prophecies. Students of
Christian Science are indebted to Ivy Gwalter for all the illuminating articles
she contributed to the periodicals, the first, when she was 10 years
old! Here it is:
Christian Science in Dentistry
By Ivy Gwalter
From the August 16, 1900 issue of the Christian
Science Sentinel
I am a little girl ten years old, and have had many
demonstrations. I am very much interested in reading the children's
demonstrations. I thought some of the children might like to hear one of mine.
I had to go to the dentist to have some teeth filled,
and as I always had been very much afraid of going before, I thought I ought to
overcome fear, so I read Science and Health, and treated myself several days
before going, knowing that "perfect love casteth out fear," and God
did not send fear or pain. I did not have any fear or pain. I had to go to the
dentist twice and he said I was very good. Then I knew I had really made the
demonstration, but I knew it was God that made it, and not myself. I go to
Sunday School every Sunday, and to Church too. We are all Scientists, and love
Christian Science very much.
Ivy Gwalter, New York, N. Y.
Miss Gwalter's article “Reflection” (Dec 7, 1940 Christian Science Sentinel) is possibly still in
print (see p. 93 Anthology of Classic Articles, vol. 1) because of its lasting value, but in my searching I also found there is at least one other about reflection, namely, Supply as Spiritual Reflection (Aug 15, 1936 Christian Science Sentinel -- which seekers can find in the bound volumes of most Christian Science Reading Rooms. My goodness, there is so much good to
be found on JSH-Online, even if you don't yet have a subscription.
Perhaps the paragraph beginning on page 113 of the book, where Miss Gwalter speaks of Mrs. Eddy's prophecies, could sort of sum up the whole of the
purpose of the book. Miss Gwalter writes:
"Her prophecies foretell the blessings that will flow
from the spiritualization of human thought as Christian Science is more
generally understood and demonstrated. Electricity in whatever form will be
shown harmless. Changes in the physical universe will progressively dissolve
material limitations. War will cease. Marriage will undergo purification, and
divine Love will be found wedded to its own immaculate idea. Human law will
become more penetrating and human justice more divine. Education will develop
along spiritual lines. Christian healing by spiritual means alone will
supersede material remedies and will be scientifically practiced by Christendom
as a whole. The brotherhood of man will follow mankind's acceptance of the
fatherhood and motherhood of God; and all nations, peoples, and races will find
their place and their inalienable rights in His kingdom."
What an important book! Thank you to our Editor
for bringing it to our attention.
Joyce Voysey
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