Were they to save the sinner, and to spare his exposure
[Page 130.]
so long as a hope remained of thereby benefiting him? [1]
Has her life exemplified long-suffering, meekness, charity, purity?
She readily leaves the answer to those who know her. [5]
Do we yet understand how much better it is to be wronged, than to commit wrong? What do we find in the Bible, and in the Christian Science textbook, on this subject? Does not the latter instruct you that looking continually for a fault in somebody else, talking about it, [10]
thinking it over, and how to meet it,-"rolling sin as a sweet morsel under your tongue,"-has the same power to make you a sinner that acting thus regarding disease has to make a man sick? Note the Scripture on this subject: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the [15]
Lord."
The Christian Science Board of Directors has borne the burden in the heat of the day, and it ought not to be expected that they could have accomplished, without one single mistake, such Herculean tasks as they have [20]
accomplished. He who judges others should know well whereof he speaks. Where the motive to do right exists, and the majority of one"s acts are right, we should avoid referring to past mistakes. The greatest sin that one can commit against himself is to wrong one of G.o.d"s "little [25]
ones."
Know ye not that he who exercises the largest charity, and waits on G.o.d, renews his strength, and is exalted?
Love is not puffed up; and the meek and loving, G.o.d anoints and appoints to lead the line of mankind"s tri- [30]
umphal march out of the wilderness, out of darkness into light.
[Page 131.]
Whoever challenges the errors of others and cherishes [1]
his own, can neither help himself nor others; he will be called a moral nuisance, a fungus, a microbe, a mouse gnawing at the vitals of humanity. The darkness in one"s self must first be cast out, in order rightly to discern [5]
darkness or to reflect light.
If the man of more than average avoirdupois kneels on a stool in church, let the leaner sort console this brother"s necessity by doing likewise. Christian Scientists preserve unity, and so shadow forth the substance of our sublime [10]
faith, and the evidence of its being built upon the rock of divine oneness,-one faith, one G.o.d, one baptism.
If our Board of Directors is prepared to itemize a report of the first financial year since the erection of the edifice of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, let it do so; other- [15]
wise, I recommend that you waive the church By-law relating to finances this year of your firstfruits. This Board did not act under that By-law; it was not in ex- istence all of the year. It is but just to consider the great struggles with perplexities and difficulties which the [20]
Directors encountered in Anno Domini 1894, and which they have overcome. May G.o.d give unto us all that loving sense of grat.i.tude which delights in the opportunity to cancel accounts. I, for one, would be pleased to have the Christian Science Board of Directors itemize a bill of this [25]
church"s gifts to Mother; and then to have them let her state the value thereof, if, indeed, it could be estimated.
After this financial year, when you call on the members of the Christian Science Board of Directors to itemize or audit their accounts, these will be found already itemized, [30]
and last year"s records immortalized, with perils past and victories won.
[Page 132.]
A motion was made, and a vote pa.s.sed, at your last [1]
meeting, on a subject the substance whereof you had al- ready accepted as a By-law. But, I shall take this as a favorable omen, a fair token that heavy lids are opening, even wider than before, to the light of Love-and By-laws. [5]
Affectionately yours, MARY BAKER EDDY
To --, On Prayer.
Ma.s.sACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL COLLEGE, 571 COLUMBUS AVENUE, [10]
BOSTON, March 21, 1885
_Dear Sir_:-In your communication to _Zion"s Herald_, March 18, under the heading, "Prayer and Healing; sup- plemental," you state that you would "like to hear from Dr. Cullis; and, by the way, from Mrs. Eddy, also." [15]
Because of the great demand upon my time, consisting in part of dictating answers through my secretary, or an- swering personally manifold letters and inquiries from all quarters,-having charge of a church, editing a maga- zine, teaching Christian Science, receiving calls, etc.,-I [20]
find it inconvenient to accept your invitation to answer you through the medium of a newspaper; but, for infor- mation as to what I believe and teach, would refer you to the Holy Scriptures, to my various publications, and to my Christian students. [25]
It was with a thrill of pleasure that I read in your arti- cle these words: "If we have in any way misrepresented either Dr. Cullis or Mrs. Eddy, we are sorry." Even the desire to be just is a vital spark of Christianity. And those words inspire me with the hope that you wish to be just. [30]
[Page 133.]
If this is so, you will not delay corrections of the statement [1]
you make at the close of your article, when referring to me, "the pantheistic and prayerless Mrs. Eddy, of Boston."
It would be difficult to build a sentence of so few words conveying ideas more opposite to the fact. [5]
In refutation of your statement that I am a pantheist, I request you to read my sermons and publications.
As to being "prayerless," I call your attention and deep consideration to the following Scripture, that voices my impressions of prayer:- [10]
"When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men....
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father [15]
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
I hope I am not wrong in literally following the dictum of Jesus; and, were it not because of my desire to set you right on this question, I should feel a delicacy in mak- [20]
ing the following statement:-
Three times a day, I retire to seek the divine blessing on the sick and sorrowing, with my face toward the Jeru- salem of Love and Truth, in silent prayer to the Father which "seeth in secret," and with childlike confidence that [25]
He will reward "openly." In the midst of depressing care and labor I turn constantly to divine Love for guidance, and find rest. It affords me great joy to be able to attest to the truth of Jesus" words. Love makes all burdens light, it giveth a peace that pa.s.seth understanding, and with [30]
"signs following." As to the peace, it is unutterable; as to "signs," behold the sick who are healed, the sorrowful
[Page 134.]
who are made hopeful, and the sinful and ignorant who [1]
have become "wise unto salvation"!
And now, dear sir, as you have expressed contrition for an act which you have immediately repeated, you are placed in this dilemma: To reiterate such words of [5]
apology as characterize justice and Christianity.
Very truly, MARY BAKER G. EDDY
To The National Christian Scientist a.s.sociation.