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 being aware only of the personality of
Mrs. Eddy for so many years, without coming close to the Science she was living.
No doubt Mrs. Eddy found lessons to be learned from observing such states of
thought. Hasn’t she spoken strongly against the dangers of “clinging to
personality”? (Retrospection and Introspection 73:19)
By the way, I am surprised at the
number of citations listed under “personality” in Mrs. Eddy’s Prose
Works. Perhaps it is something I could do well to become better
acquainted with. ><
Hymnal Note for Hymn 154, In
Thee, O Spirit true and tender, tells us that the tune for this poem (which
appeared in The Christian Science Journal for October, 1888, and was written
by Frances A Fox) was composed for the 1892 Hymnal by its music editor, Lyman
Brackett.
An interesting fact: In that hymnal “The hymns had
three tunes each, one set above the words, two on the opposite page. The
third tune was specially written to fit the words and make them easily
singable. The good congregational singing found in Christian Science
churches may in part be due to the use of these easy and vocal tunes.”
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