When I came to the entry for Sarah
Crosby in Appendix B of our book, Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer (p.
432) and read that Mary Patterson (as she was then) had healed her in 1864, it
hit me that this occurred 2 years before Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Christian
Science.
It was what may be
called a significant healing -- see pages 54 and 55. Mrs. Crosby had
spilt vitriolic acid on her face. Mary prayed and Mrs. Crosby
slept. In two hours the “face showed no sign of the accident” (p. 54). Later
there was some discomfort with one of the eyes from light. It was soon healed
after Mary was informed of the problem by letter.
The healing mentioned before this one -- pp. 53-54 -- is also recorded in Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures. The case concerned consumption and
suffering brought on by “east winds.” (See SH pages 184-185.)
It seems that Mary
Patterson had lived and worked with what would later be named "Christian
Science" with remarkable results before her discovery of its full
explanation. It is interesting to me that the healing of consumption
is included in the textbook of Christian Science as an illustration of its healing
effects.
Alfred Farlow, the
first Christian Science "Committee on Publication", wrote this about Mrs. Eddy’s own healing in
1866 - see pp. 440-441 of Christian Healer:
At
that time it was not clear to Mrs. Eddy by what process she had been
instantaneously healed, but she knew that her thought had turned away from
all else in contemplation of God, His omnipotence and everpresence, His
infinite love and power. It eventually dawned upon her that this
overwhelming consciousness of the divine presence had destroyed her fear
and consciousness of disease exactly as the light dispels the darkness.
She
afterwards “noticed that when she had entertained similar thoughts in
connection with the ills
of her neighbors, they too were benefited, and it was in this manner that
she discovered how to give a mental treatment."
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