CONCORD, N. H., May 23, 1890
[Page 139.]
N. B. I recommend this honorable body to adjourn, [1]
if it does not disorganize, to three years from this date; or, if it does disorganize, to meet again in three years.
Then bring your t.i.thes into the storehouse, and G.o.d will pour you out a blessing such as you even yet have not [5]
received.
M. B. G. E.
To The First Church Of Christ, Scientist, Boston.
(_For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty_ [10]
_through G.o.d to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down_ _imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the_ _knowledge of G.o.d, and bringing into captivity every thought to the_ _obedience of Christ._-2 COR. X. 4, 5.
In April, 1883, I started the _Journal_ of Christian [15]
Science, with a portion of the above Scripture for its motto.
On December 10, 1889, I gave a lot of land-in Boston, situated near the beautiful Back Bay Park, now valued at $20,000 and rising in value-for the purpose [20]
of having erected thereon a church edifice to be called The Church of Christ, Scientist.
I had this desirable site transferred in a circuitous, novel way, at the wisdom whereof a few persons have since scrupled; but to my spiritual perception, like all [25]
true wisdom, this transaction will in future be regarded as greatly wise, and it will be found that this act was in advance of the erring mind"s apprehension.
As with all former efforts in the interest of Christian Science, I took care that the provisions for the land and [30]
[Page 140.]
building were such as error could not control. I knew [1]
that to G.o.d"s gift, foundation and superstructure, no one could hold a wholly material t.i.tle. The land, and the church standing on it, must be conveyed through a type representing the true nature of the gift; a type morally [5]
and spiritually inalienable, but materially questionable -even after the manner that all spiritual good comes to Christian Scientists, to the end of taxing their faith in G.o.d, and their adherence to the superiority of the claims of Spirit over matter or merely legal t.i.tles. [10]
No one could buy, sell, or mortgage my gift as I had it conveyed. Thus the case rested, and I supposed the trustee-deed was legal; but this was G.o.d"s business, not mine. Our church was prospered by the right hand of His righteousness, and contributions to the Building Fund [15]
generously poured into the treasury. Unity prevailed,- till mortal man sought to know who owned G.o.d"s temple, and adopted and urged only the material side of this question.
The lot of land which I donated I redeemed from under [20]
mortgage. The foundation on which our church was to be built had to be rescued from the grasp of legal power, and now it must be put back into the arms of Love, if we would not be found fighting against G.o.d.
The diviner claim and means for upbuilding the Church [25]
of Christ were prospered. Our t.i.tle to G.o.d"s acres will be safe and sound-when we can "read our t.i.tle clear"
to heavenly mansions. Built on the rock, our church will stand the storms of ages: though the material super- structure should crumble into dust, the fittest would sur- [30]
vive,-the spiritual idea would live, a perpetual type of the divine Principle it reflects.
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The First Church of Christ, Scientist, our prayer in [1]
stone, will be the prophecy fulfilled, the monument up- reared, of Christian Science. It will speak to you of the Mother, and of your hearts" offering to her through whom was revealed to you G.o.d"s all-power, all-presence, and [5]
all-science. This building begun, will go up, and no one can suffer from it, for no one can resist the power that is behind it; and against this church temple "the gates of h.e.l.l" cannot prevail.
All loyal Christian Scientists hail with joy this pro- [10]
posed type of universal Love; not so, however, with error, which hates the bonds and methods of Truth, and shudders at the freedom, might, and majesty of Spirit, -even the annihilating law of Love.
I vindicate both the law of G.o.d and the laws of our [15]
land. I believe,-yea, I understand,-that with the spirit of Christ actuating all the parties concerned about the legal quibble, it can easily be corrected to the satis- faction of all. Let this be speedily done. Do not, I im- plore you, stain the early history of Christian Science by [20]
the impulses of human will and pride; but let the divine will and the n.o.bility of human meekness rule this busi- ness transaction, in obedience to the law of Love and the laws of our land.
As the amba.s.sador of Christ"s teachings, I admonish [25]
you: Delay not longer to commence building our church in Boston; or else return every dollar that you yourselves declare you have had no legal authority for obtaining, to the several contributors,-and let them, not you, say what shall be done with their money. [30]
Of our first church in Boston, O recording angel!
write: G.o.d is in the midst of her: how beautiful are her
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feet! how beautiful are her garments! how hath He en- [1]
larged her borders! how hath He made her wildernesses to bud and blossom as the rose!
With love, MARY BAKER EDDY
To Donors Of Boat, From Toronto, Canada.
Written on receipt of a beautiful boat presented by Christian Scientists in Toronto, for the little pond at Pleasant View. The boat displays, among other beautiful decorations, a number of masonic symbols. [10]
_Beloved Students and Friends_:-Accept my thanks for the beautiful boat and presentation poem. Each day since they arrived I have said, Let me write to the donors, -and what?
My first impression was to indite a poem; my second, [15]
a psalm; my third, a letter. Why the letter alone? Be- cause your dear hearts expressed in their lovely gift such varying types of true affection, shaded as autumn leaves with bright hues of the spiritual, that my Muse lost her lightsome lyre, and imagery of thought gave place to [20]
chords of feeling too deep for words.
A boat song seemed more Olympian than the psalm in spiritual strains of the Hebrew bard. So I send my answer in a commonplace letter. Poor return, is it not? [25]
The symbols of freemasonry depicted on the boat wakened memory, touched tender fibres of thought, and I longed to say to the masonic brothers: If as a woman I may not unite with you in freemasonry, nor you with me in Christian Science, yet as friends we can feel the [30]
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touch of heart to heart and hand to hand, on the broad [1]
basis and sure foundation of true friendship"s "level"
and the "square" of moral sentiments.
My dear students may have explained to the kind par- tic.i.p.ants in beautifying this boat our spiritual points, [5]