My copy of this month's book - Mary Baker Eddy: Her
Mission and Triumph is copyright 1946 by The Christian Science Publishing
Society.
A
brief sketch of its author, Julia Michael Johnston, appears in Appendix B of a
much more recent biography, Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer. Here, on
page 463, we learn that Ms. Johnston's mother was a student of Mrs. Eddy and
that three years after launching her full-time practice of Christian Science, Julia
took Normal Class (in 1916) with Clifford Smith. She herself taught the Normal
Class in 1940.
Some readers might recall her endearing series of articles
which were later gathered into a booklet titled Elizabeth and Andy. It
is now available in the Collections
on jsh-online.com.
I’ve found the book absorbing and have raced through to
chapter XIV at this mid-way point in the month. Leafing through the chapters, I
am drawn to chapter VIII which briefly traces the young Mary Baker’s
literary attempts. I like this passage:
“At the age of ten years she was
wholly familiar with Lindley Murray’s Grammar. The text of this book is not
accompanied with illustrations, nor does it seem that this compilation of poetry,
philosophy, and essays is chosen with intent to appeal to youngsters. The
quotations are profound and many deductions are more suitable for the advanced
scholar than for a young child.
“There was formed at this time the ability to study assiduously, and to persist in thinking along religious and ethical lines. Later Mary chose her reading from the best that literature offered, developing intuitive perception and original expression in her writing” (pp. 54-55).
We too can choose our reading from the best that literature offers.
Julie Swannell
Ed. Watching Netflix’s Anne with an “E” recently, I feel
right at home in the 1800s of north America.
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