Lessons and speaking clearly

In our book, We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, I love Annie Knott’s account of Mrs. Eddy’s separating the sheep from the goats – in regard to Miscellaneous Writings and the stopping of Class Instruction for one year - see pp 184/5.  I must remember where this is for future reference, for I am sure I will want to look it up again.

The lessons we learn from what these dear people have written!  For example, Alfred Farlow says about working for and with Mrs. Eddy: “Her strict rules compelled her assistants to instantly heal themselves of any lack of ability or go home and work it out there” (p. 207) and “…our experience with the Leader of the Christian Science movement demonstrated the fact that one can approximate perfection far beyond the ordinary belief as to human possibility if he realizes the importance of it and makes the necessary effort” (p. 209).

So, it is Sue Harper Mims who recorded what Mrs. Eddy said about speaking distinctly: “Now I want you to speak distinctly.  When you speak distinctly, it shows your mental quality.  Speak as if you had something that you wanted the world to hear.  Speak loud and strong and distinctly” (p. 301).   The “loud” surprises me a little.

Emma C. Shipman also records: Two of the class have answered questions in tones that are inaudible.  Our teacher says, as I recall: “Speak up!  When you speak so you cannot be heard, you virtually say, ‘I have nothing worthy of saying.’”

Joyce Voysey

Lift the heart

What a lot of good things we find written by Mary Baker Eddy to the congregation meeting at Christian Science Hall Concord.  Miscellany 149:31 to 25 is especially dear to me.  My. 150:11-25 has always been part of my prayerful preparation immediately before going to the desk as First Reader.  The beautiful full moon at this Easter time gives a small idea of the beauty of Soul as it shines on the lake as we look to the east in the early evening.  It certainly “stirs the heart.”

I have been doing some research into Christian Science Hall at Concord New Hampshire.  Mrs. Eddy purchased the property and oversaw all the remodelling.  It served the Christian Scientists in Concord from 1897 to 1903.  Here are a couple of Christian Science Sentinel notices which I find interesting:

http://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1903/4/5-34

Easter at Christian Science Hall, Concord, N. H.

From the April 25, 1903 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel

Concord (N. H.) Monitor

Services appropriate to the day were held yesterday by First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Christian Science Hall. The attendance was large and the floral decorations beautiful. From Pleasant View, through the kindness of the Reverend Mary Baker Eddy, came a very large and handsome scarlet azalea, around which were grouped Easter lilies, cut flowers, ferns, and palms.

The subject of the sermon was "Doctrine of Atonement," and the Golden Text: "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation."

The musical programme was beautifully rendered and consisted of Easter carols of the sixteenth century, "Angels Roll the Rock Away," and singing by the congregation.

http://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1903/6/5-41

The Final Meeting

From the June 13, 1903 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel

Concord Evening Monitor

Concord (N. H.) Monitor.

The final meeting in Christian Science Hall last night [June 3] was full of interest. A large number were in attendance not only from Concord but visitors were present from Littleton, Lancaster, Boston, and elsewhere.

The deep sense of appreciation, manifest by reason of the active preparations for the handsome new church presented by Mrs. Eddy, was accompanied by a natural regret at the thought of parting from a place so dear to all.

It was in the fall of 1897 that Mrs. Eddy purchased, and after remodelling presented, Christian Science Hall to the Concord Church. Here she preached March 4, 1898, and in November of the same year she taught a class of seventy. At various other times she has addressed her students here.

For more than five years, therefore, his beautiful hall has not only been the church home of the local congregation, but here have been the reading rooms and the headquarters of Scientists from this and all lands.

The announcement of the manifestations of fraternal good will from sister churches in Concord brought forth many expressions of gratitude. St. Paul's Episcopal Church expressed their willingness to have their Memorial Hall used as a temporary place of worship. The Unitarian Church has extended the privileges of their beautiful edifice so long as it shall be needed. This permission has been accepted, and until further notice the services of First Church of Christ, Scientist, will be held on Sunday at three o'clock and on Wednesday evening at half past seven in the Unitarian Church.—Concord Evening Monitor.

Mrs. Eddy then gifted a fine granite building to the Concord congregation and community.

It is also of interest that the Christian Scientists of Oconto, Wisconsin, built the first dedicated Christian Science church in 1889.

Joyce Voysey

Hymns 201 and 202 back stories

Hymnal Note for Hymn 201 (O do not bar your mind) gives an lovely story about its composer, Henry Gauntlett.  “His father, Vicar at Olney, promised the boy a farthing for every Psalm tune he would copy out; and within ten days he brought in a thousand!”

And Hymn 202 – same words as 412 (O Dreamer, leave thy dreams).  As a First Reader one finds that these words can be appropriate for most subjects.  Wonderful!  They are by Charles Parsons, and were printed in The Christian Science Journal for November, 1888, and in the first Christian Science Hymnal of 1892.

Joyce Voysey

Influence on young student

C. Lulu Blackman’s contribution (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy Expanded Edition volume 1, p.129 - 145 "The Star in My Crown of Rejoicing - The Class of 1885") is one which I re-read and realised that this is something which had a big influence on my thinking when I first read it as a young student.  Big lessons there. 

 

Joyce Voysey

 

Spiritual Sense and Conscious Worth

I was pondering the comment on Beethoven which appeared a few days ago (25/3/13) and which pointed out that he knew his music would live forever, and that his place in history was inevitable.  Mary Baker Eddy knew the tremendous value of her work and her place as God’s messenger to this age, and as the bringer of the Key to the Scriptures, the Comforter promised by Jesus.

Mrs. Eddy recognised Beethoven’s worth (see S&H p. 213).  I wonder if he would have recognised her worth.

All of which, during a little break for a swim in Tallebudgera Creek, had me to wonder if we all recognise our own worth as children of God, having the Mind which was also in Christ Jesus, (See Phil. 2:5 and S&H 243:10 and 276:8 & 9) and therefore having that spiritual sense which is the conscious, constant capacity to understand God.  (See S&H 209: 31-32.)

Joyce Voysey

Dear Church the daughter of Zion, and Easter joy

Hymn Note for hymn 200 (O daughter of Zion) tells of Mrs. Eddy’s love of the words of this hymn and connects it with the building of Christian Science Hall in Concord.  It points out that a whole chapter (V - pages 145 - 156) of Miscellany is devoted to Christian Science Hall. 

 

Also that in Miscellaneous Writings Mrs. Eddy writes “God hath indeed smiled on my church, – this daughter of Zion.”  Having never pondered what the phrase means, I am delighted to have this truth pointed out.

Now I need to re- read that chapter in Miscellany.

 

Joyce Voysey

 

Ed. It is so interesting that when one person mentions a phrase or point of interest, our interest is consequently aroused.  And so I have gone to Chapter V in Miscellany and read so many  interesting bits from Mary Baker Eddy's pen including a beautiful Easter Message 1902 on p. 155, which begins "Beloved Brethren: - May this glad Easter morn find the members of this dear church having a pure peace, a fresh joy, a clear vision of heaven here, - heaven within us, - and an awakened sense of the risen Christ."

 

Happy Easter everyone!  He is risen.

Sunshine in the house

“A good laugh is sunshine in the house.”

—William Makepeace Thackeray

Beethoven and angels

The Hymnal Note for Hymn 181 "Loving Father, we Thy children" speaks with wonder about Beethoven. That he knew his worth is illustrated by this story: Goethe and Beethoven were walking one day in Vienna, and "noting the approach of the imperial family, also afoot, Goethe at once stood off the walk, hat in hand, bowing from the waist in Continental fashion. Beethoven walked steadily onward to exchange greetings with royalty, eye to eye."

 The note points out that to-day Beethoven is a universally known figure, his music much lauded and loved, whereas the Hapsburg royals are hardly known at all. Just think. Beethoven knew that his music would live forever. An angel told him!

 

Joyce Voysey

 

[Ed. Violinists will recognize this tune as Beethoven's Romance in F for violin.]

 

 

Evil is not power

Evil is not Power.  We read about this leaflet, printed in 1907, on pages 113/4 and 489 of our Book Club book for March, We Knew Mary Baker Eddy.  I wonder if any copies of the leaflet still exist.

 

[Ed. The Mary Baker Eddy Library would probably provide an answer to this question.] 

 

Joyce Voysey

 

 

Realisation

Remember the music is not in the piano.

~Clement Mok

Lessons learned

I have been neglecting the End Notes of our book.  The note (#30 – see page 487) relating to Laura Sargent’s entry dated June 1, 1894 (page 96) has information about Richard Kennedy (Mrs. Eddy’s second student) that I do not recall having seen printed elsewhere.  It seems his actions uncovered the workings of mental malpractice to Mrs. Eddy’s thought.

It is surprising to me that Mrs. Eddy said, “When you teach, be careful to teach your students that I am the Way-shower.  I am not the Way.  The Life, Truth, and Love that I teach is the Way.  Teach them that I am the Way-shower, and then teach them right through that thought to the Principle” (paragraph headed Sept. 5 1895, page 96).  Science & Health (S&H) tells us, “The Christ-element in the Messiah made him the Way-shower, Truth and Life.” (p.288:29)

Some pondering needed on that one.

And on page 100 of our book, We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, under the entry dated Oct. 8, 1901 is this: “Mother said, If there was not any error, there would not be any prayer.  It continues: We live outside of it all, for God is our Life.”

On page 106: “Mother said she had as much to discover as she did 40 years ago in Science”!!  How much then have we to discover?

Page 107: Sickness is healed through handling fear; sin is healed by handling the belief of hate – over and over again.

The May 7, 1907  entry reminds me of a happening very early in my experience in CS.  A dear adopted uncle was dying in hospital. He was a good church-going man, who everyone agreed “didn’t deserve to die of this dread disease.”  When we visited I wished I could do something to prevent this dire outcome.  As I remember it, he was not at peace, somewhat agitated.  At home I got out my newly acquired Concordance to S&H (that brought my CS library up to 4 books, apart from Journals and Sentinels – Bible, S&H, Prose Works, Concordance to S&H) and looked up citations on Life.  I found my peace.  The next time I saw this dear man I felt that he had also found his peace – there was a different atmosphere in the room.  As I look back I am grateful that God, not person, told me that that was the way to carry out this my first in-depth study in Science.  He passed soon after that visit.

Joyce Voysey

Laura Sargent - essential references

We Knew Mary Baker Eddy.   Last time I read Laura Sargent’s record of notes taken from Mrs. Eddy’s talks, I didn’t look up the Bible and S&H references. This time I started out the same way, but having read about half of the entries and come to the one for April 23, 1909, I found that it is essential for me to read with those precious books in hand. Perhaps Prose Works will be required too. 

Joyce Voysey

Beautiful hymns to love

Have I said before how I love Lead Kindly Light (Hymn 169)?  I have played it a lot on a keyboard in my one-handed way, and my fingers almost know the way to go.  We are given, in the Christian Science Hymnal Notes on John Henry Newman (p. 248), the famous story about his state of mind when he wrote the words. (Ed. It's an nteresting story about being becalmed onboard an "orange boat" in the Mediterranean). The notes state that EV Lucas said of the music and words that they make this "the most beautiful hymn in the language."

The hymnal note (p. 249) on Hymn 170 Let every creature hail the morn (words by John Greenleaf Whittier, adapted) speaks reverently of Franz Joseph Haydn and his Creation.  It says that Haydn headed his manuscript: "In the name of Lord.”  It also states that he said, “I prayed God every day to strengthen me for my work.”

Joyce Voysey

A child transformed

Emilie Zavadil gives us a delightful story in her article

"OUR MODEL, CHRIST"

EMILIE ZAVADIL

From the February 1945 issue of The Christian Science Journal

http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1945/2/63-2/our-model-christ

“A lovely and graceful statue stood in the park of a large city. It was the likeness of a beautiful young woman. It represented her as being tidy and well dressed. A ragged and uncombed little street urchin coming across the statue in her play, stopped and gazed at it long and lovingly. Moved by a sudden impulse, she went home and washed her face and combed her hair. Another day she stopped again before the statue and admired it, and she received a new idea. Next day her tattered clothes were washed and mended. Each time she looked at the statue she found something in its beauties which she could adopt until she was a transformed child.”

Emelie goes on to say, “If a little child gazing at an inanimate statue could be so transformed and refashioned, think of the transformation of life and character which is possible through a daily consideration of the words and works of the great Exemplar and Model, Christ Jesus.”

How true that is. 

As I continue with my reading of our book We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, I am impressed that these wonderful people have given us another example for living a Christly existence in the person of Mary Baker Eddy.  Also their own lives and their obedience to their Leader and their love for her is a fine example for us.  We find that little by little, as with the little girl, erroneous concepts are being eliminated from our consciousness.

 

Joyce Voysey

Mothers and their special children

Dear, wonderful Julia Bartlett.  How grateful we are for her memoirs.  Her devotion to her Leader was absolute.  She saw for herself what an inspired thought Mrs. Eddy had; how far above all her students was her consciousness of the wholeness, the only-ness of God, good.

Miss Bartlett’s recording of the child Mary’s having unusual powers, such as the ability to find hidden objects with no effort, and how her mother recognised that her child was extraordinary, has me wondering about Jesus, and Mary his mother.  Were they as close as Mary and Abigail?  What wonderful things did his mother see Jesus do?  One thinks of Mary’s saying to Jesus at the wedding feast, “They have no wine” (John 2:3).  Her sureness of Jesus ability to do something special must have been founded on some previous experiences.  I figure that nothing would surprise Mary; not even water being turned into wine.  The definition of “wine” in Science and Health (p.598) is instructive: Wine.  Inspiration; understanding.  Error; fornication; temptation; passion.  Could Mary of old have perceived that the wedding party was going the way of the latter part of the definition, and expected Jesus to bring a more spiritual atmosphere to the proceedings?

It occurs to me that a person who indulges in “social drinking” may reason that having a glass of wine with dinner is a harmless thing to do.  However, when that definition of wine is consulted, perhaps there would be a change of heart.

Joyce Voysey

Satisfied

A small note about hymns 160-162.  Mrs Eddy’s poem Satisfied now has a newer, delightful setting in the Hymnal Supplement - 447.  Some of us heard it before the Supplement was published.  We were in a car in Hawaii (a family wedding took us there) and a young man played a CD copy of the new hymns for us as we drove around.  He was particularly keen on Satisfied .  We were able to sing along right away.

{Editor: This hymn 447 always wants to make me sway as I sing...and often I do!  Why do we think we have to stand stock still when singing in church I wonder?]

Joyce Voysey

Blesses all and injures none

How about this hymnal note: Hymn 157, Jesus’ prayer for all his brethren:…. “The words of this hymn, by Violet Hay, were written with special recognition of the mission of The Christian Science Monitor.  Note 2^nd verse: “One the Love whose ever-presence/Blesses all and injures none.”

Joyce Voysey

Mary Godfrey Parker + Good Congregational Singing

Joyce Voysey

I find I have appreciated Mary Godfrey Parker’s contribution more than on previous readings.  But, here we have what I think is the best insight into the character of Asa Gilbert Eddy to be found in the CS literature; a child’s eye view.  The report gives us a little idea of how Mrs. Eddy needed friends in the very early stages of putting her discovery to use for mankind.  What a friend she was; as was Mrs. Parker.  How grateful we are for all those who befriended Mrs. Eddy in those difficult years.  And especially grateful to Asa Gilbert Eddy for his staunch standing for the truth that she was declaring for the benefit of the whole human race.

It’s interesting that Mrs. Parker’s mother just sent all people needing help to Mrs. Eddy, expecting that they would be healed – and they were.

The other aspect that stays with me is the way Mrs. Parker speaks about

Glad

Joyce Voysey

I have found that Ivimy Gwalter’s Foreword of our book also appeared in the 1979 edition of We Knew Mary Baker Eddy.

On first reading of our book, I was enormously impressed by the new additions of Hermann Hering’s and John Salchow’s reminiscences, enjoyed meeting the man who whipped Mrs. Eddy into his arms to get her away from the news people when she arrived at her new Chestnut Hill home, and meeting the man who was the second First Reader of The Mother Church and who showed us the way to go in many aspects of that grand opportunity of serving the church. Now I am wondering what new insights are coming my way through this re-reading.  (I am referring to and will be reading the latest edition We Knew Mary Baker Eddy – Expanded Edition Volume 1, published in 2011.)

 We had readings on “Happiness” last night

Dancing Quavers hymn 146

Another delightful note for Hymn 146: In God I find a precious gift…: This is a traditional melody, with the traditional English cheerfulness in the dancing “quavers,” as the English call the arithmetical “eighth notes” of America.  Can a musician elaborate on that statement for me?

What a lovely message from the words to set me up for my day!  Gratitude!

Joyce Voysey

Valuable contributions to the Christian Science movement

from Joyce Voysey

How about this comment in the note for Hymn 141 If the Lord build not the house…,

‘The English words were written by Maria Louise Baum to fit the tune, and to meet the need of a “building song.”’!!  Surely this is another delightful example of the dedication of the compilers of the Hymnal in endeavouring to meet the needs of the congregations for hymns to cover all aspects of the challenges of the human experience.

So.  For March we are reading We Knew Mary Baker Eddy.  I am so grateful for the latest edition of this publication/s.  When I was first familiar with the Series, there were three slim volumes.  Then in 1972 we had the Fourth Series.  What a precious volume that is!  So many lessons to be learned from Martha Wilcox’s account

Hymns we don’t sing!

by Joyce Voysey

I’ve just come to Hymn 140 -

If on our daily course, our mind

Be set to hallow all we find... 

What beautiful words.  As a First Reader I have never included this one in our services because I couldn't cope with the music.  My music Hymnal has crosses on the pages which I couldn't sing to myself with inadequate one-hand playing on the keyboard.  This is one of them.  And I notice that I have a note that it is not included in the list of hymns we play on our church’s CDs.

  

I feel rather bereft about having missed