Asa Gilbert Eddy

The first contribution in this month's book - We Knew Mary Baker Eddy – Expanded Edition, Volume I - is from Mary Godfrey Parker.  Mrs. Parker knew Mrs. Eddy* as a child when her mother (Christiana Godfrey) was a great friend of hers, and had been healed by her.  And she knew Asa Gilbert Eddy before Mrs. Eddy did; her mother actually suggested that Asa Gilbert go to Mrs.  Glover, as she was then known, for healing.

Mrs. Parker has given us the closest report on Mr. Eddy that we have.  There is even a mention of his physical appearance: “I remember so well how he looked; his long black hair, instead of being combed high in a stiff pompadour as shown in his photographs, was brushed back and fell over his left eyebrow in loose curls.  There was always a sweet smile on his face, and his eyes were so gentle you could not image him hurting anything in the world” (page 8).

Mrs. Parker quotes her mother as saying "that Asa Eddy was such a spiritually minded man” (page 9).

Mrs. Godfrey resisted becoming a student of Mrs. Glover’s.  Mrs. Glover felt "she was a natural Christian Scientist" (p. 15) and would be of great help to her work.  Even though she never took Class Instruction Mrs. Godfrey was indeed a great help to Mrs. Glover in sending people to be healed, and lending copies of Science and Health which Mrs. Glover gave her as the new editions came out.  And above all, she was a great help in having sent Asa Eddy to her.  He was the one who became of great help.

To quote from Mrs. Godfrey: “Sometime after Mrs. Glover married Asa Eddy, she wrote to Mother saying that she could never repay the debt she owed her for sending Mr. Eddy to her, because he had proved such a blessing and help” (page 16).

A further note about Asa Eddy – to go forward to the experience of the next writer, Julia Bartlett -- we find that Julia went to Mrs. Eddy for advice on finding a practitioner in her desperate need of healing. Mrs. Eddy put her in "the care of her husband, Dr. Asa G. Eddy" (page 45), and she "began to improve immediately and [started to get her] freedom" (ibid).  Julia again mentions him at the time of her appointment with Mrs. Eddy in applying for class instruction. She recalls: “This home in Lynn was very simple in all its arrangements but immaculately neat. They kept no servant at that time, but Dr. Eddy did much to help in every way for the Cause that would otherwise take her time, and attended to business outside. He was always the kind husband and friend and ready helper in all things pertaining to the Cause of Christian Science and our beloved Leader” (pages 45-47).  

Joyce Voysey

Ed. Eddy was at that time known as Mrs. Glover.