THE ‘CANNY’ CRUMB

 Question 2:  When and why did Mary Baker Eddy decide to collect her “miscellaneous writings” into a single volume?

 

An early page of Miscellaneous Writings indicates an original copyright date of 1896 (renewed 1924).  Eddy explains that she had had “oft-repeated requests” to republish her writings so that they could be “accessible as reference” – see page x, which also explains that “the opportunity [had] at length offered itself”.

In reviewing the Preface’s opening idea about charity, it occurred to me that by giving her students these priceless writings, Mrs. Eddy was providing the means for her students to support themselves as metaphysicians. 

I notice also that the writings are “an offering” to God of her “fervent heart and willing hand” (page xi).  Going back over words written over a period of thirteen years, during which momentous and often turbulent changes occurred in her world, must have been a most interesting experience and she must have felt that the lessons she had learned could certainly help future Christian Scientists.  Indeed, she expresses the desire that the Christian Scientist will find a “canny” crumb in these writings.  www.Dictionary.com gives some lovely meanings of the Scottish term “canny” -   

1. careful; cautious; prudent: a canny reply.

2. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious: a canny negotiator.
3. skilled; expert.
4. frugal; thrifty: a canny housewife.
5. Scot.
a. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative).
b. gentle; careful; steady.
c. snug; cosy; comfortable.
d. pleasing; attractive.

How lovely that we are now having the opportunity to find a “canny” crumb as we review the pages of this momentous collection of writings during the month of January this year.  And I like what Eddy has written in her article “The Cry of Christmas-Tide” (see p. 369):

“Meekly we kneel at our Master’s feet, for even a crumb that falleth from his table.  We are hungry for Love, for the white-winged charity that heals and saves; we are tired of theoretic husks, – as tired as was the prodigal son of the carobs which he shared with the swine, to whom he fed that wholesome but unattractive food.  Like him, we would find our Father’s house again – the perfect and eternal Principle of man. We thirst for inspiring wine from the vine which our Father tends.”

Julie Swannell