Resident physician

At a recent testimony meeting, a friend shared Mary Baker Eddy’s raising of Calvin Frye from death.

I subsequently decided to look up all the references to Mr. Frye in our book Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer by von Fettweis and Warneck. After resisting the work for a while, I found the task was actually easy – there is an alphabetical index at the back of the book and Calvin Frye’s entries appear on page 607.

In the book, Mr. Frye (1845-1917) is generally referred to as Eddy’s “personal secretary” (e.g. p. 52) a position demanding discipline, diligence, energy, attention to detail, trustworthiness, and a deep love of the cause of Christian Science. He served in this role from 1882 to 1910 (p. 446).

But, of special interest to me was Mrs. Eddy’s reference (in a 1903 letter to the Christian Science Board of Directors) to Mr. Frye as “resident physician at our College on Columbus Avenue, Boston”, one who had “stood by [her] side to help [the Cause of Christian Science] 21 years” and “one of its oldest actors and faithful laborers in the vineyard of our Lord” (p. 447).

The term “resident physician” I had not heard before.

The book also shares several distinct healings of Calvin Frye during his time with Mrs. Eddy. I’ll try to gather them up here.

1891

An occurrence was witnessed and recounted by Eddy’s student Captain Eastaman to Arthur Maxfield. Maxfield related that after ushering Eastaman into Eddy’s house, Frye lost his footing and “suddenly pitched head first to the foot of the stairs, apparently with a broken neck caused by the fall” (p. 168).

Aroused by the noise, Mrs. Eddy appeared at the “head of the stairs and said what is the matter?” She thrice instructed him to “get up”. He did. “Calvin Frye’s diaries show that his daily work for Mrs. Eddy went on completely uninterrupted and unhampered by this incident” (ibid).

1903

John Salchow writes: “It was my privilege to witness a healing at Pleasant View in 1903 which was the result of Mrs. Eddy’s own understanding of the truth” (p. 365). Salchow’s sister (Mrs. Eddy’s maid at the time) had found Mr. Frye dead. Salchow checked and saw Frye “crumpled up at his desk”. Shortly, Mrs. Eddy came to Frye’s room and asked “over and over again, ‘Calvin, do you hear me?’” Finally, after about five minutes (according to Salchow’s recollection) Calvin replied faintly, “Yes, Mother, I hear you.”

1905

One evening, “George Kinter, a worker in Mrs. Eddy’s home”* was instructed by Eddy to see why Frye had not responded to her call. “George found [Frye] slumped in a chair…. he had no pulse, he was stone cold—and rigid.” When Mrs. Eddy was “informed of this, [she] came immediately to the bedroom and began at once to treat him, … [She] continually denied the error and declared the Truth with such vehemence and eloquence for a full hour, as I never had heard on any other occasion…” (p. 256).

The report continues: “After an hour, Calvin moved a little and then spoke in very low tones: ‘Don’t call me back. Let me go, I am so tired.’ To which Mrs. Eddy replied, ‘Oh, Yes, -- We shall persist in calling you back, for you have not been away. You have only been dreaming…’” (p. 257).

Date not identified

Clara Shannon recorded a different incident involving Calvin Frye. When Ms. Shannon went to his room, she “saw him lying on his back on the carpet, apparently lifeless” (p. 363). Mrs. Eddy came as soon as she was told about it. Shannon recalled the “tenderness” and “expressions of love” uttered by Eddy, as well as her “severe” rebuke of “the error that seemed to be attacking him” in her rousing metaphysical treatment.

 Shannon recounts that to her plea “Oh, Mother! Couldn’t you let him sit down a few minutes?” Mrs. Eddy replied: “No, if he sits down he may not waken again—he must be aroused—we mustn’t let him die—he is not quite awake yet!” (pp. 363-4). Soon, Mrs. Eddy made him laugh heartily, before telling him to “go back to his room and his ‘watch’” (ibid).

The postludes to this experience seem especially important:

1.     “[Mrs. Eddy] explained to me [Clara Shannon] that when you speak the truth to anyone, if the truth you speak causes him to laugh, cry, or get angry, you have reached the thought that needed correction” (ibid).

2.     Miss Shannon later asked Calvin what he was doing when they thought he was dead. “He replied at once, ‘I was in the pantry, eating custard pie’” (p. 364).

Nov. 9, 1908

Irving Tomlinson related an incident when three students “strove to restore” Calvin Frye, who was “unconscious and apparently in a death stupor” (p. 366). Mrs. Eddy had her students bring him to her, sensing the urgency. She “commanded [him], with the voice of authority, to awaken from his false dream. At first she met with no response, but this did not discourage her. She redoubled her efforts and fairly shouted to him her command that he awake. In a few moments he gave evidence of life, partly opened his eyes, and slightly moved his head. Seeking to rouse him, Mrs. Eddy said, ‘Calvin, don’t commit self-murder.’ He replied ‘I don’t want to live.’

“‘Disappoint your enemies and live,’ she commanded. ‘Say that you do want to stay and help me.’

“Then he took his first stand and answered, ‘Yes, I will stay.’”

The account relates his full restoration.

Our book identifies this account as appearing in Irving Tomlinson’s Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy: Amplified Edition, pp. 64-66; corroborated in Adam Dickey, Memoirs, pp. 107-112. (See p. 367.)

I love how the patient – Mr. Frye – was empowered to make the choice to live.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
(Deut. 30:19)

Julie Swannell

 

*George Kinter was employed by Mrs. Eddy to “assist Mr. Frye” who, she told him “had too much to do”!! (p. 466).