In Living Christian Science - Fourteen Lives by Marcy Babbitt, British diplomat Paul Gore-Booth tells of becoming ill during 'an outbreak of mumps' when he was studying at Eton. He requested help from a Christian Science practitioner and, after experiencing 'a great convulsion [followed by] sleep' (p. 62-3) on the third morning, at the doctor's visit the following morning, the doctor 'explained that [he] had had symptoms akin to those of mumps, but they had been coincidental' (p. 63). Gore-Booth mentions that his uncle Ralph Scholfield had arranged for Christian Science Sunday School classes to be held at Eton at that time, so the young Gore-Booth had not lost touch with Christian Science during those formative years.
Gore-Booth comments on the statement of Mary Baker Eddy, Founder of Christian Science: "The true theory of the universe, including man, is not in material history but in spiritual development" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 547 - see p. 63 of 14 Lives), remarking that there is a strong 'interaction between strength and weakness of societies and their ethical and religious standards' (p. 63).
On page 70 the author refers to 'that great enterprise, the Marshall Plan of June 1947'. I was very interested to read this, as I've recently read a wonderful biography of George Marshall: George Marshall - Defender of the Republic by David Roll, that I discovered at our local library.
An interesting assignment came in 1953 to become Ambassador to Burma, where the family lived for three years. While in that country, he 'had an illness...which put [him] out of action for several weeks' (p. 73). Through Christian Science, his 'health was completely restored, and for the remaining fifteen years of [his] diplomatic career [he] never lost a day's work through illness' (ibid). He explains that 'Christian Science equips one with the mental wherewithal to be more active and effective than simply waiting for what comes next' (ibid). On the contrary, daily study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's works 'steadies and clears the thought and adds inspiration to it, and ... this action shows itself in its effect on health of body as well as of mind' (ibid).
I have found one article by Paul Gore-Booth in the Christian Science periodicals - Sentinel December 20 1947: 'Some Proper Sense of the Infinite'. Writing about infinity and the inadvisability of procrastination when dealing with difficulties he reasons that
Not only are procrastination and failure to dispute and remove error mistaken, but in terms of infinity they make no sense. If God is here and everywhere, there is no place where any manifestation of error or evil can be pigeonholed for future reference or later rejection.
I am glad to have re-read his valuable story.
Julie Swannell
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