Betrayal and going forward

It was 1907. Mrs. Eddy's credibility was under attack in a lawsuit brought by her "next friends", including her son George Glover. 

William Chandler, no friend of Christian Science and a "former senator from New Hampshire and owner of one Concord's two newspapers" (p. 177, A World More Bright: the life of Mary Baker Eddy by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick) was the prosecutor.

"One of the central issues of the lawsuit was financial mismanagement" (ibid. p. 182), the claim being that her secretary, Calvin Frye, was cheating his employer and that she was no longer competent to manage her affairs. 

"The entire nation was following the developments of the case with interest" (p. 185) and so Mrs. Eddy granted several interviews, including by "two psychiatrists" and "four prominent reporters" (p. 186). The reports were in her favour. One commented that "Mrs. Eddy talked fluently, incisively [and] showed no signs of fatigue" (p. 188). 

Finally, the suit was dismissed. 

"She was free to go forward" (p. 192).

How beautifully the sentiment in hymn 278 from the Christian Science Hymnal sums up this chapter in Mrs. Eddy's experience:

Truthful and steadfast though trials betide thee,

Ever one thing do thou ask of thy Lord,

Grace to go forward, wherever He guide thee,

Gladly obeying the call of His word.

(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 278:2)

Julie Swannell

Faith, resolve, obedience achieve the impossible

I have finished reading A World More Bright: The Life of Mary Baker Eddy by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick now. The thing that stayed with me was Irving Tomlinson’s record of Mrs. Eddy’s prayer which he overheard in her last days.

During these latter days, Tomlinson reports that, “...there were still times when Mrs. Eddy answered letters, shot off telegrams, and issued orders as briskly as she once had, but on the whole her life grew more contemplative” (p. 211).

Of Eddy’s prayer, Tomlinson said, “She would voice her inmost desire for a realization of God’s presence and power and follow it with a declaration that that presence and power was an eternal manifestation and fully realized by His children. She would petition that no temptation could assail; and follow (it) by the declaration that the real man was free from temptation. She affirmed that there was no lack in God’s provisions for His offspring and asserted that this truth was realized by all” (pp. 211 - 212).

What a wonderful example of scientific prayer. “Yearning” is the attitude that comes to me as I read it. And the realisation that that yearning is already met.

Important points to me are:

1.     That the prayers were not for herself but for all of mankind.

2.     Her prayer was spoken out loud.

As I was flipping through the latter pages of the book, I came across a Source Note that spoke of Mrs. Eddy’s son George (page 246). It tells me that I may find a wealth of information about George Glover II’s early years, his service in the Union Army, and his life on the frontier in Jewel Spangler Smaus’s eight-part series Family: from New England to the Black Hills. This series appeared in the Longyear Museum Quarterly News (Spring 1983, Autumn 1983, Summer 1984, Autumn 1984).

Now it seems I need to re-read the book without neglecting those Source Notes.

First, however, I need to go back to Caroline and Edward Bates. A reader may recall that I mentioned them in my previous blog and spoke at some length of Caroline’s contribution to the building of The Mother Church. I must have finished reading at page 140, because when I went back to the story, I found Edward’s mighty contribution.

Caroline had received a message from Mrs. Eddy which read: “Finish the tower and plaster the church” (p. 139). Well, she had seen to the tower*, now it was Edward’s turn. The couple prayed all night for guidance as to how to carry out the plastering part of Mrs. Eddy’s instruction.

I hope readers will have the opportunity of reading about this demonstration**. It seemed to be quite miraculous. The work which the contractor had figured would take 12 days—applying two coats of plaster—was completed in 12 hours, overnight. Edward could see no miracle here. He saw that it was clearly Mrs. Eddy’s vision that opened the way. He knew that “she would not have issued that order if she had not known what could be accomplished; we did not comprehend it until it was finished” (p. 143).

The great lesson for the Bates's was to be obedient and do what seemed to be impossible.

This chapter concludes with the completion of the building of the church. It was noted that the workers “all finished and went to the stairways to place their tools in the lower vestry at the same moment” (p. 145). The church was ready for the service which Mrs. Eddy had given instruction was to be held on that date.

The last word—Noted Edward: “Mrs. Eddy’s demonstration was complete to the minute” (p. 145).

It is worthwhile to go back and see what Mrs. Eddy wrote in the December 1893 Christian Science Journal, recorded in our book on page 137:

Our church edifice must be built in 1894…. No doubt must intervene between the promise and event; faith and resolve are friends to Truth, seize them, trust the Divine providence, push upward our prayer in stone and God will give the benediction (p. 137).

The corner stone was laid on 21^st May 1894. The church was ready for occupation on 30^th December 1894!!!!!

Joyce Voysey

*Ed.: The tower was 120 feet high!

**Ed.: I love what the contractor said: “I have never seen nor heard anything like it. It is wonderful” (p. 143).

A brilliant conversationalist

As we follow the story of Mary Baker, who became Mary Glover and then Mary Patterson, it seems that she is more and more alone. With whom could she confide her deepest thoughts and share her inmost dreams?

1866

The year 1866 was a landmark year for Mary Patterson (later, Mary Baker Eddy). Her husband, Daniel, had been unfaithful too many times and now the “marriage was over” (p. 62, A World More Bright: The Life of Mary Baker Eddy by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick). But her unexpected recovery from unconsciousness following a fall on the icy pavement in Lynn, Massachusetts—a fall which had been deemed to be fatal—marked a turning point in her life.

At work

Subsequently, her “days were spent absorbed in the Scriptures as she searched and pondered” (ibid. p. 75) the substance and meaning of her recovery. In this work, she was alone with God, conversing with her heavenly Father-Mother. Meanwhile, she found lodging wherever she could and participated in family life with gusto.

The Wentworth family

At one point, Mary boarded with the Wentworth family—parents Alanson and Sally, daughters Celia and 13-year-old Lucy, whom “Mary [often] went to meet … on her way home from school” (p. 74), and 17-year-old son Charles. They welcomed her warmly and she left quite an impression.

“Charles later described Mary as cheerful and sprightly, ‘a woman of culture and refinement’ who was a brilliant conversationalist. He looked back on the 18 months she spent with his family as ‘one of the brightest spots in my life” (ibid, emphasis added).

Conversation and friendship

In his book Conversation: A history of a declining art, Stephen Miller writes that: “The art of conversation is the art of pleasing others.” (The Christian Science Monitor 21^st March 2006—“A Conversation Starter about how we converse”. Here Monitor contributor Tom D’Eveyln writes that “The art of conversation is a branch of an even bigger topic: friendship. Above all, friends listen to one another.”

D’Eveyln also quotes Virginia Woolf:

It may be that the art of pleasing has some connection to the art of writing. To be polite, considerate, controlled, to sink one's egotism, to conceal rather than to obtrude one's personality may profit the writer even as they profit the man of fashion.

We have fine examples of conversations that uplift and heal, in both Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy, who would later write: “…a tender sentiment felt, or a kind word spoken, at the right moment, is never wasted” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 127).

Norma Palmer Adler writes (Christian Science Sentinel, Sept. 23, 1961)*:

The authorized biographies of Mrs. Eddy repeatedly bring out that her words were always a blessing to those with whom she spoke. She enjoyed interesting and constructive conversations as well as a sense of humor. Irving C. Tomlinson says in his book "Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy" (pp. 170, 171): "Whether conversing in her study with a single student, or entertaining hundreds of her followers on the lawn at Pleasant View, she radiated a love that made her guests feel free from all restraint and at ease in her company. Mrs. Eddy was a rare conversationalist, and an hour spent in her company was a blessing never to be forgotten."

Today, we too can experience “a blessing never to be forgotten” as we spend time with the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. And we too can work on the art of conversation, the art of friendship, in our relations with our fellow man.

Julie Swannell

*For those with a subscription to JSH-online.com, see Tenderly, Divinely Talk. Those without a subscription are invited to call their local Christian Science Reading Room to ask for a copy of this article.

 

A faithful couple

Caroline and Edward Bates are two of my favourite characters in the annuls of Christian Science. They were so practical, efficient, and expectant of solving problems. We hear about them in Joseph Armstrong’s book, The Building of The Mother Church, where we are given a rather sketchy story of their work. In Chapter 17, 'A “Prayer in Stone”', of A World More Bright: the Life of Mary Baker Eddy, their stories are presented in much fuller and exciting detail.

Caroline donated the beautiful “rose” window for The Mother Church building (see page 138).

Edward was a businessman who contracted for the heating and ventilation systems of the new church. Responding to a “feeling that his church needed him” (ibid), he further offered his services as on-site manager, “setting his own business concerns aside” (ibid).

The metaphysical work of these two fine students of Christian Science wrought the working out of various problems in the build. For instance, it was found that a chandelier obstructed the view of the platform from the balcony. Caroline designed a sunburst skylight for the ceiling to bring the light from the right angle.

At a crucial moment, Caroline received a message from Mrs. Eddy: “Finish the tower and plaster the church” (page 139). These tasks were the two most daunting at the time. 

The stonemasons, bricklayers, and steel men couldn’t agree on how to finish the church’s tower. Caroline volunteered to climb up the 120 feet high tower on long ladders. The ladders swayed in the icy wind with every step, but she was under orders to “[f]inish the tower.” She came up with a solution to the problem as she saw it and the workmen followed her instructions on how to do it.

Caroline was healed by reading the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and both her father (a physician) and mother took up the study of Christian Science. During class instruction in Christian Science they were both healed of a need for eyeglasses.

Joyce Voysey

PS In case anyone has been waiting with bated breath to hear the dimensions of my Bribie Island schoolhouse, (see my previous post), I have now been provided with the original 1924 drawings. It was 21 feet square, and the desks and stools were 7 feet 6 inches long.

A book and a wedding

I have just finished Chapter 10, “Writing Her Book”, and Chapter 11 “A Wedding” of A World More Bright: The Life of Mary Baker Eddy by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick. 

I made quite a few notes, so here they are.

Wycliffe Bible

It was good to see a reproduction of Wycliffe’s Bible* showing the words “science and health” from Luke 1: 77 (page 82). Mrs. Eddy was unaware of Wycliffe's phrase until well after having named her major work Science and Health.

My interest is in one of the notes on page 82 which speaks about that Bible. It shows a portrait of John Wycliffe, who was dubbed the “Morning Star of the Reformation” and who was persecuted by the Roman Catholic church for translating the Latin Vulgate Bible into English. One is reminded of how Mrs. Eddy was persecuted by the church at large for presuming to give the world the Key to the Scriptures and Christian Science.

The attic room

Page 84 gives us a photo of the attic room where Mrs. Eddy worked on the writing of her textbook. I love that her only natural light in the room is from above. One can compare her working conditions to those of to-day. That room had no heating or cooling; she wrote every word with nib pen and ink. Other writers of her era were working under similar conditions – the Bronte sisters come to mind. I have read that they read by the light of the fire.

Science and Health

Science and Health went through more than 400 printings in Mary Baker Eddy’s lifetime. See page 86.

One of Mrs. Eddy’s pupils was in charge of the advertising for the sale of the book. A side note on page 87 gives the graphic wording, including “It is a mine of wisdom” and “It enables you to do good to all”.

Asa Gilbert Eddy

Mary became Mrs. Eddy when she married Asa Gilbert Eddy one of her students. Mrs. Eddy called her husband Gilbert. Page 88 reproduces a copy of the wedding notice where Gilbert is recorded as Gilbert A. Eddy.

There is also a copy of Gilbert Eddy’s business card. He was the first person to advertise as a Christian Scientist. The card says, “No Medicine, Mediumship, or Mesmerism.” It is interesting to see what was important in the public’s perception of healing in that era.

There is a portrait of Gilbert. Oh, that hairdo! It seems that in normal life his hair was more natural, “with bangs that fell over his left eyebrow” – page 90.

A gentle man, he did well in the practising of healing in Christian Science. He told the mother of a child he healed: “Why, your child was all right all the time, only you could not see it. Truth never changes, it is only ourselves that change, only the human, mortal consciousness, and when we stop being afraid, God’s law is manifested” (page 91).

Mary Baker Eddy in the pulpit

A quote from page 94: “…Clara Choate described her teacher’s presence in the pulpit as ‘one of restful serenity,’ her faith ‘forcible in her every word.’”

I wonder if, when I was a First Reader in a Christian Science church, I could have endeavoured to better emulate those qualities.

 Joyce Voysey

 *Ed. “Olde Englyshe Byblys” is the name of an article by Edward P. Bates in the September 1901 issue of The Christian Science Journal, which offers some information about the Wycliffe Bible.

Bates writes: “It is not definitely known when the first partial translation into Anglo-Saxon was made, but its date is conceded to be as early as the seventh century. …. The best records available show that different students translated certain books of the bible or chapters therefrom, and that the Scriptures as a whole were not produced in the English tongue until about 1383, when John Wycliffe, the parish priest of Lutterworth, issued his Bible in manuscript form.”

This manuscript preceded the invention of the printing press. Bates notes that “It is worthy of note that the Bible was the first book to be issued from the printing press.”

School and schoolhouses

One-Room Schoolhouses - see page 11 side bar in A World More Bright – the Life of Mary Baker Eddy, by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick.

I know about one-room schools. I attended one at Bribie Island from the age of 6 to 12. I hold the experience very dear and consider that I received a good primary education there.

Mind you, we learned nothing about music – our music consisted of singing and we were required to actually sing as a group at some functions: probably Dance and Euchre evenings. 

Our exercise activity was marching and pulling up bracken fern from the black sand.

And, there was no sewing or other domestic-type work for the girls, nor manual work for the boys. The teacher’s wife was not interested in teaching, I guess. I am sure others in the community could have been given the opportunity – my guardian, for one, with sewing. There was a teacher’s house, so families in the community were not required to board “Sir” (the teacher), as, we are told, was the case in Bow, New Hampshire.

In my youth, schools in Queensland were built on “stilts,” so there was space under the building for playing when it was raining, and shelter from the sun. This allowed for the playing of “beam”. This game had nothing to do with beams of light. Rather it was a tennis ball game of two players throwing a ball against one of the beams under the building, the point being for the ball not to miss the beam over or below it.

This was a time (the 1930s/40s) when Queensland homes were very prone to white ant infestation, so the high wooden stumps were capped with metal plates, and there was wonderful space underneath the house for laundry, for men’s workshops, for children’s play, and for storage.

Anyhow. The writers of A World More Bright have given us delightful side-information columns. One (page 11) tells us that there were seven of these one-teacher schools in Bow. Now, I had thought of Bow as being a village, so how do seven schools relate to that? In fact it is, and was, a town.

The Bow schoolhouse was likely to have been 22 feet square. I will try to figure out the measurements of our building. There was a verandah the length of the southern side, and lots of windows on the northern side which warmed us in the winter; there was no other warming or heating of course. Maybe our building was of a similar size or a little smaller than School #3 which was “a mile from” the Baker home.

The furniture in our school consisted of the teacher’s table/desk, the blackboard, long desks and backless stools. The desks were equipped with ink wells, probably five to a desk, one for each pupil. Memory doesn’t quite give me an accurate number of desks. Perhaps there were five.

Of course, all ages were catered for by the teacher.

Joyce Voysey

Sweet-tempered family companion

Co-authors Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick mention that, when Mary Baker was a child, the family owned a Newfoundland dog called Hunt. See page 8 of "a world more bright: The Life of Mary Baker Eddy".

It is said that Newfoundland dogs are working dogs, "sweet-tempered, gentle and trainable". They can be trained to rescue people from the sea - they are strong, have webbed feet and they excel at kindness! They can be black, brown, grey, or black and white.

I found a fascinating video about the Newfoundland dog at The Newfoundland Dog - the world's most powerful. 

 One of the notable characteristics of this dog is its empathy for humans. It is therefore possible to surmise that these qualities would have been a present example for the Baker family, and in particular for Mary Baker, who would later write:

"Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power." Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 192: 30.

Julie Swannell

Was Moses a loving man?

Was Moses a loving man? 

If one were to take Leviticus' early chapters as a guide, maybe we might doubt that love even entered into the list of duties that governed the Hebrew people under Moses' leadership. That is, until we get to chapter 19. 

Prior to this chapter, we've read about burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, trespass offerings, the consecration of Aaron and his sons and the ram of consecration, laws prohibiting certain foods, the purification of women - and later, of men, tests for discerning leprosy and rites for cleansing a leper, the concept of the scapegoat, and rules for human relations. With chapter 19, there is a new element. 

Here, Moses' instructions now require generosity, honesty, fairness and respect. 

• Generosity - Leave some of your crop "for the poor and stranger" to gather (verse 10).
• Honesty - Don't "deal falsely, neither lie one to another" (verse 11).
• Fairness and respect - Don't "defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him"  and don't delay to pay what you owe (verse 13).

This culminates in the famous instruction to "...love thy neighbour as thyself" (verse 18), which of course was later reiterated by Christ Jesus.

The whole verse reads: "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."

So, those instructions were about neighbours, presumably fellow Hebrews. But what about foreigners? 

With the world awash with asylum seekers and migrants today, Moses' instructions in 33-34 are worth a thought: "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

A quick search for Biblical instances of the phrase "love thy neighbour" (I searched in the brilliant program Concord) reveals just one instance in the Old Testament and seven in the New. So, we can be grateful that Leviticus contains this precious instruction and that Jesus, as a well-versed student of the Torah, was keenly aware of it. 

In fact, Jesus amplifies Moses command. In his sermon on the mount, he tells his disciples that they have to love their enemies! (see Matthew 5:43-47).

 Mary Baker Eddy's famous article Love Your Enemies (see Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, pp. 8-13) begins: "Who is thine enemy that thou shouldst love him? Is it a creature or a thing outside thine own creation? ... 'Love thine enemies' is identical with 'Thou hast no enemies.'"

I do think Moses was a loving man. He must surely have felt God's loving counsel and direction in all his labours. I am grateful.

Julie Swannell

Old systems… and new

Boy oh boy! 

I am trying to get a hold on just what I might find in Leviticus.

This from Britannica gave some satisfaction:

           Leviticus, (Latin: “of the Levites”) third book of the Latin Vulgate Bible, the name of which designates its contents as a book (or manual) primarily concerned with priests (members of the priestly tribe of Levi) and their duties.

So, it is a manual!

Students of Christian Science know the value of a manual! The slim volume Church Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts by Mary Baker Eddy, is the students’ “go-to” book for starting a church, for the working of church services, holding lectures, Christly conduct, teaching Christian Science, the duties of the Christian Science Board of Directors, conditions for membership, the Christian Science nurse, Sunday School, and more.

I wonder if these activities can be related to the duties of the Levites as put down in Leviticus.

The Harper Collins Study Bible tells me that the construction methods of Israeli cultic implements, the sacred religious objects used in ritual – the tabernacle, its contents, and the priestly vestments – are described in the book of Exodus, while Leviticus describes how those objects were used in worship, by offering scenes from “the living cult”.

Of course, the name starts with Levi, one of Jacob’s sons by Leah. It is said that the Levi tribe was chosen by God to be priests who would serve Him.

There is a definition of Levi in the Glossary of Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 590: 11):

Levi (Jacob’s son). A corporeal and sensual belief; mortal man; denial of the fulness of God’s creation; ecclesiastical despotism.

Well! Isn’t that surprising? Well, it is to me. Can the present priesthood be traced back to Levi?

Science and Health speaks of despotism in the chapter Animal Magnetism Unmasked. We find there a quote from the Boston Herald:

“Mesmerism is a problem not lending itself to an easy explanation and development. It implies the exercise of despotic control, and is much more likely to be abused by its possessor, than otherwise employed, for the individual or society.”  (p. 102:25)

The next paragraph begins:

Mankind must learn that evil is not power. Its so-called despotism is but a phase of nothingness. (p. 102: 30)

I now quote from page 141 of Science and Health (chapter Science, Theology, Medicine):

All revelation (such is the popular thought!) must come from the schools and along the line of scholarly and ecclesiastical descent, as kings are crowned from a royal dynasty. In healing the sick and sinning, Jesus elaborated the fact that the healing effect followed the understanding of the divine Principle and of the Christ-spirit which governed the corporeal Jesus. For this Principle there is no dynasty, no ecclesiastical monopoly. Its only crowned head is immortal sovereignty. Its only priest is the spiritualized man. The Bible declares that all believers are made “kings and priests unto God.” (p. 141: 10-21)

Let our pulpits do justice to Christian Science. Let it have fair representation by the press. Give to it the place in our institutions of learning now occupied by scholastic theology and physiology, and it will eradicate sickness and sin in less time than the old systems devised for subduing them, have required for self-establishment and propagation. (p. 141: 28)

Joyce Voysey

Finding the inspired meaning of Scripture

This morning, I was wondering why the third book of the Bible is called Leviticus. As it turns out, it simply refers to the priestly tribe of the Levites. So the book is concerned with the duties of those people. All good.

Then I was thinking about an article by Mary Trammell in the November 2013 issue of The Christian Science Journal. It's called "The 'eternal version' of the Bible". The article discusses Mary Baker Eddy's own journey with the Bible. 

Trammell writes: It was "misinterpretation of the Word" that had cost her decades of invalidism. But with her discovery of Christian Science came the "right interpretation" of the Bible, restoring her health and awakening her to a whole new life as a religious leader. What lay at the root of the misinterpretation that had so buried the inspired meaning of Scripture? Basically, it was a matter-based, literal reading of the Bible..." 

I recommend the article and will be happy to send a copy to anyone who may not have access to it via JSH-Online.com. 

In the meantime, A.J. Kiser's article A lesson on sacrifice (Christian Science Sentinel July 18, 2013) gives a wonderfully helpful view of the book of Leviticus! The writer shares his own journey of Bible study, about being at first daunted by the literal demands described in Leviticus, and of finding the spiritual substance of those demands e.g. "Imbibing the spirit of the message in Leviticus, I've been practicing my own sacrifices to God by letting go of things that seem to hold a great human value..." 

This brings to mind a passage from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 55: 22): 

The time for the reappearing of the divine healing is throughout all time; and whosoever layeth his earthly all on the altar of divine Science, drinketh of Christ's cup now, and is endued with the spirit and power of Christian healing.

I'm sure this will lead us all to a rewarding study of Leviticus.

Julie Swannell

Working for the common good: beauty and transformation

Today, we hear sad accounts of service personnel being afflicted with mental problems once they are discharged. One of the most thrilling parts of John H. Wyndham's story is his "changed mental outlook" with his return to civilian life (The Ultimate Freedom, p. 74). This change was a positive one as he pondered the options that lay ahead.

He "waited for some new idea to come to [him]" (ibid). And ideas came! 

Beautiful ideas. After the desolation of the war years, he found he "just could not stop beautifying" (p. 75). He writes that it "appears to be a law that if we improve what we have to the utmost, we inevitably rise to higher achievements" (ibid). 

In his next roles, we discern his burning desire to learn, to develop and expand his talents, and to be a blessing as he, and later his colleagues, strove for the common good. It was proved that "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy).

Here is another discovery Mr. Wyndham shares with his readers: "there is a law of God which supports every normal human footstep for improvement and progress" (p. 87).

Can you imagine the transformation of his workplace's drab, old-fashioned reception room into one which "was a glory of colour and beauty, with new desks, built in seats for clients, and a large coloured illuminated mural of an orchard in blossom" (p. 89)? 

I've just googled "orchard in blossom" and found the most glorious painting by Vincent van Gogh. Maybe the mural looked as spectacular as this painting! (Sorry, copyright does not allow me to reproduce it here.😢)

Ah, this precious little book is such an inspiration every time I open it! 

Julie Swannell

No hate. No fear.

In Australia, Anzac Day is celebrated on April 25 each year. 

For the prisoners-of-war held captive with John H. Wyndham during World War II, one minute of one April 25 would turn out to be like "legions of angels" ministering to them. 

"The spirit of Christ had surely defeated the powers of evil" writes Wyndham (p. 59). 

At Wyndham's request, the camp commandant had agreed to allow the bugler to sound the "Last Post" at 11am and every man (prisoners and guards) on that campus stood to attention in a moment of respect and dignity sorely needed by all.

Julie Swannell

Norman's old-world courtesy

 Don't you love the story of Norman in John H. Wyndham's book "The Ultimate Freedom"?

Wyndham's careful and kind description of his friend shows a gentle respect and camaraderie between the two men, even as they bore the deprivations of life as prisoners-of-war.

Norman "was a cultured man with several degrees, who, in private life, held a high position in government ... [and] ... was well versed in Oriental and European philosophy" (p. 38).

The lowly garb afforded the prisoners could not diminish the glow of "his old-world courtesy [which] shone like a precious stone among the prisoners and even the Japanese, whose processes of thought he seemed to understand thoroughly" (p. 39).

How precious were moments of levity to the prisoners-- and how beautifully drawn is the way Wyndham relates Norman's reluctance to come clean with a delicate issue.

Julie Swannell

All men truly under God's direction

 After telling his readers about the extraordinary experience of a week of fasting - only a gulp of water was given during that week - and how through focussed prayer and controlled thinking he came through the ordeal in perfect health, John H. Wyndham speaks about learning how to practice Christianity.

He writes (The Ultimate Freedom pp. 34-35):

"During my three-month period of solitary confinement I became convinced that all men are truly under God's direction. And this conviction finally gained for me the respect and trust of both the guards and the farm commandant. The prisoners, too, evidenced this respect and trust, for incidents of misunderstanding or disobedience were few.

However, one such incident did occur, a lesson as I see it now in Christlike behavior. For this was what my prisoner-of-war experience, like any other trial, was about -- learning to practice Christianity. One morning while I was walking around the farm, my attention was suddenly drawn to screams coming from the direction of a road which led along the barbed wire fence..."

Mr. Wyndham then describes an ugly incident in which he was led to fearlessly stand up for his fellow man in the face of a violent outburst. He writes: "The overcoming of fear truly does go hand-in-hand with spiritual growth..." (p. 37). 

His "trust in good had grown stronger" (ibid).

Perhaps we are reminded of hymn 216: All good for you His wisdom planned; / O trust in God and understand.

Julie Swannell

RAAF

I have found a photo of a young John H. Wyndham (author of The Ultimate Freedom) in RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) uniform. And some more information about him and his daughter who formed Mountaintop Publishing for the express purpose of publishing her father's prisoner-of-war and post-war story.   

I found it by searching for Auriel Wyndham Livezey.

Joyce Voysey

How was it possible that God would help?

Early in his book, The Ultimate Freedom, John H. Wyndham speaks of himself thus: "How was it possible that God would help me for I considered myself such a sinner" (p. 17).

Ah! Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy says the communication is always from God to man. (Actually, the sentence reads (S&H p. 284: 31-32): “The intercommunication is always from God to His idea, man.”) Thoughts on how to manage his captivity came directly from Mind, God. John knew that of his own self he could do nothing; as he heard, he spoke and acted.

He was obviously a student of Christian Science when this experience came upon him, and he still considered himself to be a sinner.  

As I read the Bible Lesson this morning, I begin to see John’s progress and the proof of what he says. It seems to illustrate how the truths of the Lesson can be applied in the most dire circumstances, with Biblical certainty and results.

John Wyndham’s captors seemed not to be able to resist his goodness.

Joyce Voysey, 4 Jan. 2024

An excellent spirit

As I read the Bible Lesson (subject: GOD) this morning, I came to the part about Daniel’s experience when the rulers and presidents were jealous of him.

“Then Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6: 3). [Although this particular passage is not included in the Lesson's citations this week, it is close by.]

The thought came that, like Daniel, John Wyndham, the author of our book The Ultimate Freedom, seems to have been an extraordinary presence, which his Japanese captors recognised. Like Joseph in captivity too.

How about Psalm 27:1 in the second section (citation 9) of the lesson! It could easily have been one of the Bible truths which came to our hero. Paraphrase: “The Lord was/is the light of (his) salvation; whom shall (he) fear?”.

I am reminded of John Bunyan’s allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress (published in two parts in 1678 and 1684). Not that I really know the book, but it did come to mind. There were excerpts from the book in my School Reader, the study of which was, I feel, the foundation of my love of reading and of good books – back in the 1940s.

In that imprisoned situation, John Wyndham lived the truth of the Bible and Science and Health, even though those “companion books” were not available to him.

Joyce Voysey, Jan. 4, 2024

A ripple effect

John H. Wyndham's daughter, Auriel Wyndham Livezey (pretty name!), provides a splendid Preface to The Ultimate Freedom. 

She remarks on the "ripple effect that one life can produce", pointing to the ever-widening nature of her father's story:

1. He "deals with his own experience".
2. Then he enlarges the circle to "others around him".
3. Finally "he speaks on a national and international level". 

Auriel then explains that this account is not about "his life, but rather of the possibilities of life."

It is an inspiring spiritual journey.

Julie Swannell

Note: I have two copies for sale if anyone (in Australia) is interested.

A prisoner-of-war

The Ultimate Freedom by John H. Wyndham may be regarded as the most inspiring prisoner of war story ever told.

I recall my introduction to this book. A man came to my church at Burleigh Heads, Australia. He was championing the book. I do not recall if he was actually selling copies. I remember being wary of it because it wasn’t printed by or for The Christian Science Publishing Society. How grateful I am that eventually I was persuaded to get a copy and read this precious volume.

The book was privately printed by the author’s daughter Auriel Wyndham Livezey. I think the publisher Mountaintop Publishing was/is her own company.

I met the author when I introduced his lecture at my then church in Brisbane. I particularly recall part of my introduction (my first ever): “A wise man has said, Strangers are only the friends you haven’t yet met. Please welcome your new friend, John Wyndham.” Or along that line.

I see that Wyndham’s lecture titles were:

• Do we think or just think we think.
• What are your dimensions for living.
• The Divine Adventure.

Perhaps my lecture experience was The Divine Adventure. I am not sure.

It seems that one can obtain a recording of at least one of John’s lectures in his own accented-by-Dutch-heritage voice.

I find that a Google search brings up many, many entries for this book and some for his lectures. There are also several entries on our Redcliffe Reading Room Blog for July 2018! Good reading there!

Joyce Voysey