Observations

Joyce sent in these observations on our book Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer (von Fettweis and Warneck)

About birds and animals

Pages 334 and 335 give incidences of healing of birds and animals, notably Mrs. Eddy’s little bird called May which had a broken foot and the commotion made in response by her loving companion-bird Benny, and a goldfish which she had found dead. Three days later May was “perfectly well, hopping about her cage and singing joyously” while the fish was soon restored.

 

Misconception

Page 339 reminds us that we must not think of Christian Science as merely a method of curing people without medicine. This is a misconception which must be addressed.

 

Hints for Readers in Christian Science churches and other addressors

When I read this: “When Mrs. Eddy entered the room where the class was assembled, it seemed as if she always surveyed the class, and it seemed as if she was looking into each face and seemed as if she was mentally greeting each one and seeing only the real man of God’s creating” (p. 352), the thought came that this would be an excellent practice for Readers in Christian Science churches. Then, “And why not everyone who is in the position of addressing an audience?” [Ed. And maybe every musician, dancer, chorister or actor performing for an audience?]

 

Absent from the workplace

Page 362 tells of a workman who was “suffering from a trouble that his mother had had for a long time. The man was not a Christian Scientist, so Mrs. Eddy met him on the plane of his own thought.”

“She said, ‘No doubt your mother was a very estimable lady, but if she had been a drunkard, would you feel that you had to be a drunkard because she had been?’”

“The man was healed...”

 

“He was not dead”

There are a few reports of Calvin Frye having been in what seemed to be a state of death being recalled by Mrs. Eddy. One account says, “Miss Still heard one of the workers say to Mrs Eddy a few days after this incident, “Can I say that you brought Calvin back from death?” and Mrs. Eddy said, “No; he was not dead” (p. 368).

 

Gender and a benediction

We sometimes wonder about speaking of God as He or She. Doesn’t that make the thought more material? The thought came that Genesis 1 speaks of man being made male and female. Here, surely, is the same thought. What we have to do is get a correct understanding of that male and female of God’s creating.

Mrs Eddy wrote to a student (p. 372): “My prayer is that our one Father-Mother Love hallow your life with His everpresence; and your way be the path of pleasantness…”. So, we have "Father-Mother….His everpresence". I love it when I have to pay attention to what Mrs. Eddy is implying for us to gain from.

Would not that full quote would be an excellent benediction:

“My prayer is that our one Father-Mother Love hallow your life with His everpresence; and your way be the path of pleasantness—pure, holy, a beacon light to save the wrecks upon earth’s siren shoals; to lure the wanderer, help the weak, and comfort the weary.”

Joyce Voysey