While others slept, she watched

In Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy, author Irving Tomlinson writes with appealing freshness and clarity. Furthermore, he offers the reader deep insights into what lay underneath the surface of events.

For instance, he mentions how Mrs. Eddy "advanced under God's guidance, in the founding of the Christian Science movement" and how "while others slept", she "faithfully watched as a mother watches over her babe" (p. 118) -- painting a tender picture of mother and infant.

He then observes her motivation in founding the Christian Science periodicals, "including The Christian Science Monitor", explaining that "it was not merely a journalistic or literary venture; it was a spiritual, life-dispensing message, designed to bring salvation to humanity, to serve as an entering wedge of release from mortality, from its terrors, agonies, despairs, and failures. It was designed to bring life to all; to enter into the history of each individual, to rehabilitate his experience, and to shape his destiny. As Mrs. Eddy prayed to be shown how best to bring this truth to humanity, the answer came to her" (pp. 118-119).

As an on-hand observer in her household, Tomlinson writes with authority that: "It was an inspiring experience for those associated with the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science to see that no extremity daunted her. When unlooked-for opposition endeavored to upset the tiny craft of the newborn Cause, Mrs. Eddy, wise, forbearing, alert, guided it safely through stormy waters."

This analogy makes me think about Jesus and the sea. This story from John's Gospel was no doubt a beacon to Mrs. Eddy.

16  And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
17  And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
18  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
19  So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
20  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
21  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
(John 6:16–21)

Julie Swannell

Some gems from Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy

In Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy, Irving Tomlinson shares many quotes from Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

 

Here is a quote (page 87) that I have not found anywhere else:

“One time she told us not to say there is too much or too little of anything. She said: God governs. He knows best. He will do all things right.”

 

And page 95 tells us that, “She once contrasted sympathy and compassion by referring to the feeding of the multitude by Jesus, by saying that Jesus had compassion and fed them; he sympathized with them, he would have suffered because of their hunger.”

 

Same page: “When we are talking to one who is not a Christian Scientist, in speaking of a disease, she continued, we are not to say that So-and-so has a belief. Say plainly that he is sick. And she quoted Paul’s admonition, ‘I had rather speak five words with my understanding. . .than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.’”

 

Page 98: “Error comes to you for life, and you give it all the life it has.”

 

Page 106, 1^st para.: “Each day there should drop from your lips some manna to heal and bless others.”

 

And “Desire is prayer. Words without desire are not prayer.”

 

Page 109: “I have striven earnestly to have my students speak in a language which would be understood,” Mrs. Eddy said. “It is not right for one to say to a poor sufferer, wracked with pain, ‘Nothing ails you. You have no pain. You are not suffering.’ I have said to students making this mistake, ‘The next time you visit a patient tie a string to your tongue.’”

 

Page 156: “At supper one evening she commented, ‘I do not believe in too much organization in church. The churches are over-organized. Were I to have charge of a church today, I should have it founded on the Bible. I should talk to them from the Bible. I should direct their thought to the Bible, and I should expect them to be obedient to the Bible.’”

Joyce Voysey

Mrs. Eddy and the clergy

The Longyear Museum website has a helpful biography of the author of our book Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy. Here is a portion: 

IRVING C. TOMLINSON ...earned his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Akron University in Akron, Ohio, in 1884, and his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Tufts University in Boston in 1888. After an earnest study of Christian Science, which included Primary class with Mrs. Eddy’s student Flavia Knapp, Irving gave up the pulpit, joined The Mother Church in 1897, and became a Journal-listed practitioner. 

In 1898, he was invited by Mrs. Eddy to attend her last class, and he served intermittently on the Bible Lesson Committee until 1927. 

...From 1899 until 1910, Rev. Tomlinson served Mrs. Eddy in various ways, including as an associate secretary and a member of her Chestnut Hill household.

In his book  Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy, the former clergyman, Tomlinson, writes that

Mrs. Eddy taught a number of clergymen who had become interested in her teachings. She was always happy to have ministers of the Gospel as her students. Nor as a rule would she accept any tuition fee from them for instruction in the Massachusetts Metaphysical College; and if two persons made application with one of them a minister, and only one could be admitted, the clergyman was usually the one favored. 

There were however some clergymen during those years who were bitterly denouncing Christian Science and its Discoverer." See p. 82. 

Tomlinson offers a lovely story about “Mrs. Eddy’s friendly attitude toward the clergy" on page 83.

Julie Swannell