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.