Finding answers, finding healing

Those who are new to Christian Science, and others who are more familiar with its teachings, sometimes have reservations and almost always have questions. This is natural. Questions (though not debates) are welcome. Answers can be found in many ways. Reading Rooms offer the sincere seeker avenues for discussion, prayer, research and study.  The weekly Bible Lesson and the Christian Science periodicals supply a rich reservoir of instruction and learning, and Primary Class instruction by an authorised teacher* of Christian Science offers systematic and deep learning.

Seaman Joseph Eastaman, whose Christian Science teacher was Mary Baker Eddy, tells about his class experience in We Knew Mary Baker Eddy (Vol. 2, Expanded Edition), beginning on page 62:

    "The class included many highly cultured people, all more or less conversant with the rudiments of Christian Science, while I, a sailor, with only a seaman's knowledge of the world, and no faintest inkling of the field to be opened up before me, felt very much out of place indeed." 

I love the "however" which follows:

    "However, God had called me there, and I had long since been schooled to say, "Thy will be done." To that first and last and most important question, "What is God?" the students replied variously according to their own thought or to the technicalities of Science and Health, which I had not yet procured. When the question came to me, I stammered out, "God is all, with all and in all; everything that is good and pure--I don't know, but it is the very breath I draw."  The teacher smiled encouragingly as my answers followed one after another, and I was strengthened to go on."

Eastaman speaks of the questions and answers that characterised the class teaching:

    "The simpler my questions, the more pains she took to explain clearly..." (p. 63).

Soon, Joseph's wife Mary began to have better health; and so his healing practice was launched. In this regard, Eastaman writes of needed qualities such as obedience, generosity, faithfulness, energy, diligence and minding one's own business - see page 66. He also mentions that his "former habitual despondency and forebodings ... entirely passed away" (ibid).

Mary Eastaman, meanwhile, was at first not satisfied, when the practitioner she called on "could give no light on the Scriptures as to the truth of Christian Science " (p. 74-75). There was "no foundation or hope on which to build" (p. 75). A change occurred when Mary "found that glorious hymn [that begins] "Saw ye my Saviour,"** written by ... Mary Baker Eddy. A great peace and sense of joy came to me. I said, 'This must be of God because they believe in Jesus" (ibid).

There is a testimony in the final chapter of Eddy's book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (pp. 667-669) which speaks of a "wonderful transformation" which occurred through reading that book. The testifier writes, "I was renewed; born again." "There have been mighty struggles with error, and I have learned that we cannot reach heaven with one long stride or easily drift inside the gate, but that the "asking" and the "seeking" and the "knocking" must be earnest and persistent" (p. 668). 

The Eastamans certainly offer an example of earnestness and persistence and deep renewal.

Julie Swannell

*Christian Science teachers are listed in every month's copy of The Christian Science Journal.

**Saw ye my Saviour? Heard ye the glad sound? / Felt ye the power of the Word? / 'Twas the Truth that made us free, / And was found by you and me / In the life and the love of our Lord.

Mourner, it calls you,—“Come to my bosom, / Love wipes your tears all away, / And will lift the shade of gloom, / And for you make radiant room / Midst the glories of one endless day.”

Sinner, it calls you,—“Come to this fountain, / Cleanse the foul senses within; / 'Tis the Spirit that makes pure, / That exalts thee, and will cure / All thy sorrow and sickness and sin.”

Strongest deliverer, friend of the friendless, / Life of all being divine: / Thou the Christ, and not the creed; / Thou the Truth in thought and deed; / Thou the water, the bread, and the wine.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 298:1–4)