Before we leave our January book, I wanted to capture some of the marvellous ideas shared by business man William Howlett. His chapter in Living Christian Science - Fourteen Lives by Marcy Babbitt is entitled 'The Scientific Man in Business'.
It seems often that business gets a bad wrap, but there are millions of honest, hard-working, responsible business people worldwide whose businesses or business practices benefit others. William Howlett was one of these.
As a teenager, full of ideas, he was told that he could have 'room and board [at home] but that [his father] expected [him] to earn [his] own money for everything else, including higher education' (p. 150). And so that's just what he did. (Interestingly, the famous musician Leonard Bernstein paid for his own piano lessons by teaching children younger than himself.) How wonderful is that.
After being 'jilted' by his fiancee, he looked up a girl he had met some time earlier. He writes: 'After dating almost every night for two weeks, we were married. It was the best fast decision I ever made' (p. 152). Ruth was a Christian Scientist and she recognised William's desire was not only for companionship, but also for things of the Spirit. A couple of years after their marriage, the pregnant Ruth started to suffer a miscarriage. She insisted they call a Christian Science practitioner (William wanted to call a doctor). Soon 'the healing came' and a healthy baby boy was born. At this point, William started attending church with Ruth and pretty soon he started a study of CS and began using it to sort out difficulties at work. One idea that sustained him was that 'man really loves to do what is right' (p. 154). Over the years, Ruth was instrumental in started a number of CS churches.
Realising that he was always 'about [His] Father's business' (p. 157), William knew that impeccable honesty would promote effectiveness and respect. He quotes Mary Baker Eddy: 'Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help' (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 453). He writes 'when you tell an associate that you never want him to do anything that he wouldn't be proud to tell his family, that you never want a dollar that isn't honestly gained, you bring into a business a tremendous moral strength. That strength enables you to ride out difficulties with the courage that is often needed in business. Fidelity to Truth eliminates the fear of the job--the fear of failure' (p. 157).
At one point, Howlett had to decide whether or not to accept a new position. He shares this - 'I had made it a rule to accept at any given time the highest demand made on my services, even though acceptance might be uncomfortable for me' (p. 159). He took the less comfortable but higher demanding job and rich rewards followed for service to his fellow man. As a business leader he would explain to his people that he would adhere to the highest possible standards. His rationale was that 'any idea serving people honestly and constructively will grow if it is handled carefully and thoughtfully... All one needed to do was to take the things of value in the business and enlarge them' (p. 162). On profit, he writes: 'It is as important for a business to enjoy financial health as for an individual to enjoy bodily health... And profit is not only earnings before taxes, it is also the profitable benefits that come to all who participate--employees, suppliers, customers, and shareholders' (p. 163).
William shares a healing of impaired hearing. When healing was not immediately apparent, he used a hearing aid as a temporary measure but it soon became clear that he had been feeling burdened by aspects of his work. He learned that he had to be more grateful for 'this opportunity to be of service' (p. 166). Later, when the hearing aid was ruined by going through the washing machine, he began to 'think more firmly about the problem and its scientific solution. [He] knew that nothing can obstruct the scientific man who is about his Father's business...' (ibid). He was healed.
I believe I must have read this story many years ago when my husband and I were in business. All of the ideas here resonate with me because we endeavoured to operate on the same principles. I am so grateful that William Howlett shared his story with the world.
Julie Swannell
If anyone wants a copy of this book for their library, there is a donated second-hand copy at the Redcliffe Reading Room.
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