It is commonly said that, if he would be heard, none should write in advance of his times. That I do not believe. Only, it does not matter how few listen. I believe that we are close upon a great and deep spiritual change. I believe a new redemption is even now conceived of the Divine Spirit in the human heart, that is itself as a woman, broken in dreams and yet sustained in faith, patient, long-suffering, looking towards home. I believe that though the Reign of Peace may yet be a long way off, it is drawing near: and that Who shall save us anew shall come divinely as a Woman, to save as Christ saved, but not as He did, to bring with Her a sword.

William Sharp (Fiona MacLeod)
in The Isle of Dreams

 

No one could listen to Mrs. Eddy's teaching for very long without seeing how Christian Science absolutely coincides with the Holy Scriptures and agrees in every respect with the teachings of the Master. She went directly to the Bible for striking illustrations. She quoted Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, and John to elucidate her points, and revealed the inner meaning of well-known Scriptural passages. She put forth the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, the inspired word of John and Paul so convincingly that the listeners felt as though never before had they understood anything more than the letter of the Scriptures. At one point in her teaching, she called upon several members of the [November, 1898] class to give the spiritual interpretation of a Scriptural passage. The students did exceedingly well, but when they had concluded Mrs. Eddy gave so luminous, so forceful, so practical an interpretation of the passage, that everyone present felt a distinct spiritual uplift.

Mrs. Eddy explained that in Christian Science we are learning to speak the language of Spirit, and told us that we must strive to express it as accurately, as spiritually, as possible. She spoke of the inadequacy of the literal translations of the Bible, and the great importance of gaining its spiritual meaning.

"Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy," p. 89

 

On the question of peace and war [Mrs. Eddy] had much to say. When Portsmouth, a leading city in her native state of New Hampshire, was chosen for the peace conference for the settlement of the Japanese-Russian War, I remember how pleased she was, and at its final adjudication she requested the chimes in her Concord church to ring out the glad news.

But Mrs. Eddy was in no sense a pacifist. I never heard her voice a word in behalf of pacifism, but she did often quote the apostle's words: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life." And although she was strongly in favor of conciliation and arbitration, she did not counsel neutrality or pacifism when the safety and honor of her country demanded strength and firmness. In The Boston Herald of March, 1898, she clearly set forth her views when she wrote:

I will say I can see no other way of settling difficulties between individuals and nations than by means of their wholesome tribunals, equitable laws, and sound, well-kept treaties. ...But if our nation's rights or honor were seized, every citizen would be a soldier and woman would be armed with power girt for the hour. [Miscellany, p. 277]

In my twelve years' experience, I do not recall a single instance in which I found Mrs. Eddy to be neutral. On questions of public policy, she beheld the moral issue as paramount, the welfare of all mankind as the primary issue, and on such matters she was never neutral. Through communion with the one Mind, she sought a clear concept of the right and wrong of each vital question. Then she took her stand definitely for what she believed to be right. From her girlhood, she had never been afraid to declare her views and to adhere firmly to the stand she had prayerfully taken. Arguments of expediency or popularity failed to intimidate her. She recognized her duty "to help support a righteous government," and by her action she demonstrated the support of righteousness and justice in government wherever found. [Miscellany, p. 276]

Mrs. Eddy's love for the nations of the world did not lessen her love for her native land. Every word she spoke along these lines to her household, every message she gave to the world, was on fire with loyalty and love for her own country. Her counsel and admonition made of her students better citizens and patriots as well as better men and women. In messages to her church, in contributions to the newspapers, she admonished her followers to pray for the welfare and prosperity of the nation and for guidance and protection of the officials connected with the administration of her government. ...

There was no weak pacifism in her position, but a love of country and a support of those policies which she believed to be the nearest right under the circumstances.

When a crisis arose in the world's affairs, Mrs. Eddy did not hesitate to speak and to act. She never failed to add the weight of her influence and power to the side of human welfare, to the side of right and justice. ...

Mrs. Eddy was always alert to world problems. She saw clearly that the difficulties and troubles of international disputes can never be healed by ignoring their seeming existence. Mrs. Eddy knew and taught her followers that an erroneous situation must be faced and positive steps taken to correct it.

"Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy," pp. 192-196

 

A true appraisal of a great character in history is not always gained at once. It often happens that considerable time must elapse for the world to reach a state of understanding sufficient to perceive true greatness. But if the world is to receive the message of Christian Science which Mrs. Eddy brought, then it must obtain a true estimate of the messenger. Christian Scientists are convinced that just as the advent of Jesus proved the "first coming" of the Christ, so are they certain that Mary Baker Eddy's discovery of Christian Science fulfilled the prophecy of the "second coming."...

...It is absolutely essential to the understanding and demonstration of Christian Science to see its Discoverer aright, to recognize her unique position as the revelator of Truth to this age. For it is beyond doubt true that if we do not understand the revelator we cannot correctly understand the revelation.

How necessary it is for Mrs. Eddy's followers to understand her divine office! Not for her glorification or distinction, but solely because seeing her correctly is a necessary step to seeing Truth correctly...

Christian Science could not be a human invention. It must have originated with God. And the works resulting from Mrs. Eddy's discovery prove its divine origin. Only by divine revelation could Mrs. Eddy have brought about her own healing, achieved her epoch-making discovery, written Science and Health, established her church, and revolutionized the thinking of the world.

The healing work established by Mary Baker Eddy not only proves the existence of God, but also the truth contained in the Bible. And to those with eyes to see, there is abundant Scriptural testimony clearly showing Mrs. Eddy's place in Bible prophecy. ...

No one could serve twelve years under Mrs. Eddy's counsel and instruction without realizing how clearly she recognized her position as prophesied by St. John the Revelator. With superb courage, she braved the severe encounters which the resistance and hatred of the carnal mind persistently enlisted against the spiritual idea [Christ] presented in Christian Science, for she perceived the fulfillment of the Revelator's prophecy in her own life, and in Christian Science. This is evidenced by her own words: "The twelfth chapter of the Apocalypse, or Revelation of St. John, has a special suggestiveness in connection with the nineteenth century." ["Science and Health," p. 559]

Through her fidelity to divine Principle, Mary Baker Eddy was enabled to open the seven-sealed book mentioned in Revelation by means of the spiritual idea [Christ] revealed in Christian Science. The Apocalyptic vision she elucidated not only in written words, but also in living letters of fire in her own life experience.

As the years pass, Mary Baker Eddy's true position will be more fully recognized and appreciated. As Jesus strove to turn the attention of his disciples away from his corporeality and to open their eyes to his real identity, so did Mrs. Eddy endeavor to turn the thought of her followers away from her personality and to reveal through her writings her true place in spiritual history.

The real identity of God's messenger to this age will be unfolded as mankind seeks to understand it through a study of the Bible and her writings.

My first meeting with Mrs. Eddy was in February, 1887, when I had the privilege of studying in her Normal class...

As I looked into Mrs. Eddy's face I saw at once the wonderful character expressed so far as the human face and form can express it. The graceful figure, the beautiful hands, the well-shaped head with its dignified poise, the masses of beautiful brown hair, which at that time showed no trace of gray, and above all the wonderful eyes, with the depths of thought and feeling which looked out beyond the human sense of things into spiritual realities. With all this flooding my consciousness I realized that Mrs. Eddy was no stranger to me, because for more than two years I had been learning to know her through her great message to humanity, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." From the first hour almost that I had opened the book I was aware that it was for me a complete key to the Scriptures, and not only so, but I had proved through its teachings that Christian Science is indeed the promised Comforter, and that the healing work practiced by Jesus and taught to his disciples had become a present reality...

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Third Series, pp. 59-61

 

One would be apt to think that a woman who would telegraph to every part of our country--perhaps to a judge, a lawyer, a doctor--to come and spend a few hours with her [in class instruction], saying that it would be a blessing to him, would be an aggressive person, a woman who felt her power and enjoyed ordering others around. Indeed, mortal mind seems to get the idea sometimes that [Mrs. Eddy] is stern and arbitrary. "Oh, yes," they say, "she rules them with a rod of iron; they do just what she tells them to." But if they could only see her, they would know that her motive is simply her divine love for them and for the Cause [of Christian Science]. She is obliged to know what she is; she must know that it means a blessing to come within the radiation of her love--but you have never in all your life seen anyone so gentle and courteous and humble and meek. You have never seen so little human will, for she knows that human will is the devil, and all that she does is done by reflecting divine Love. And you feel this; you feel as tender as you would to a little child, and at the same time you realize the wonderful grasp and comprehension of her mind. As you see more of her, you see the most delicate play of wit, and in a gentle, sweet way, the most delicate sarcasm.

She sat there [in class] and spoke to us in the most graceful way. If she tells you to do anything, she asks you to do it, in the sweetest, most pleading way you ever saw. She said how glad she was to see us all, how she had heard of us as teachers, lecturers, and workers in the Field, and had heard of our work with great satisfaction. ...

Once she spoke substantially as follows:

"We are all learning together, and I must tell you of some of the funny things I used to do when I first saw that I had this wonderful power." (I think that her work has always been exceedingly quick.)

"My family and the friends around me saw what was done and knew that if they sent for me they would be well, but I could not make them acknowledge it. I could not make them admit what had done the healing work. One day I said, 'Oh, I must make them acknowledge it; I must make them see that God does this.' Sometimes as soon as they sent for me they would be healed, before I could get there, and then they would not know that it was God who had done it. So one day when I was called to see a child, I was so anxious to have the power of Truth acknowledged that I said to myself, 'He must not get well until I get there.' Of course that was not right, for I knew I must leave it all to God, but pride had come in and I had lost my humility, and the patient was not healed. Then I saw my rebuke, and when I reached home I threw myself on the floor, put my head in my hands, and prayed that I might not be for one moment touched with the thought that I was anything or did anything; I realized that this was God's work and I reflected Him. Then the child was healed." This was the way she learned her lesson.

Then after she had finished speaking, her students arose and gave their experiences. Judge Hanna said that he had once been the instrument through which death had been destroyed. I do not think he said that the patient had really passed on but that it was the very last moment. He said that he went into the room, and had such a realization of Life that the work was instantly done.

One of the physicians, of whom I have spoken, arose to speak but was so overcome with emotion that he had to sit down. It was quite a few moments before he could proceed. He said that Christian Science had come to him in a marvelous burst of light. Three times he had a vision of wonderful, intense light, in which he was simply bathed, a light beyond the brightness of the sun or any light that is known. I have never seen anything like her face when he told of it. It simply quivered. Her look was wonderful as she said, as I recall it: "Yes, I felt it when you wrote to me, and you are nearer to me in the resurrection thought than anyone I ever touched. That is the reason I told you not to go to anyone else to be taught, but to come to me."

There were a number of other interesting experiences. One lady said that once or twice a brilliant light had flooded her book as she was reading. ...

I think now that I have told you all. What I wanted to make you see was her wonderful meekness, humility, gentleness, courtesy, and love. I do not think anyone in this room will ever adore the personality of Mrs. Eddy, but you will love her and reverence her as the highest manifestation of Love that is in the world, or that has been for eighteen hundred years, as the Leader of the greatest movement that ever was, the movement that is establishing the kingdom of God on earth; as the one through whom God is being enthroned in the hearts of humanity.

 "We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Third Series, pp. 42-43, 46-48, 57

 

I am often asked how I felt on meeting Mrs. Eddy for the first time. I can truthfully say that I felt no strangeness. People are what their thoughts are, and I already knew many of Mrs. Eddy's thoughts. I had become acquainted with them through her writings.

Characteristically, I did not notice what Mrs. Eddy was wearing. I was aware of her erect carriage and dignity but much more aware of a sweet motherliness. I thought of my own mother, the noblest character I had hitherto known.

As I rose and took her outstretched hand I felt her swift, appraising glance. By that straight-through look I knew that Mrs. Eddy had read my thought and had taken my measure. ...

She then asked me many questions, evidently testing my grasp of Christian Science. My answers were based on what I had gleaned from her writings. Finally in a flash of apparent satisfaction with one of my answers, she said, "By the way, who is your teacher?"

"Well, Mrs. --- Mother," I replied, [Mrs. Eddy was called "Mother" by students and members of her household at that time...] "I believe I shall have to call you my teacher. I have been studying your book, Science and Health, and your other writings for the past four years, and if what is said to me by one of your own students or by one of your students' students is not backed up or verified by your writings, I take no stock in his statements, none whatever!"

Mrs. Eddy stepped forward, placed her hand on my shoulder and patted it gently, saying, "My child, my child, my child, you're safe, you're safe, you're safe!"

 "We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Third Series, pp. 6-7, 18

 

...I wrote to ask admission to [Mrs. Eddy's] class and with the characteristic frankness of youth and inexperience added, "If it is necessary for me to be a dissatisfied and miserable Christian, I am not ready for this instruction, for I am, and always have been, a very happy one."

This letter has always seemed to me my first coming to Mrs. Eddy, and I am sure it was her first knowledge of me. It was purely mental, but I seemed to know, even before her reply reached me, that we had met. As I look back, her answer to this letter seems very characteristic of her mode of thought and method of action. She wrote the letter herself. She offered no rebuke, she attempted no explanation. There was only the simple, loving message, "Come and see."

Later the details were worked out, and I was called to the class that convened September 14, 1885. This is counted, after these many years, the greatest privilege and joy of my life. ...

When she entered the classroom, I saw her for the first time. Intuitively, the members of the class rose at her entrance, and remained standing until she was seated. She made her way to a slightly raised platform, turned, and faced us. She wore an imported black satin dress heavily beaded with tiny jet beads, black satin slippers beaded, and had on her rarely beautiful diamonds. These she spoke of in one of the later sessions. She stood before us, slight, graceful of carriage, and exquisitely beautiful. Then, still standing, she faced her class as one who knew herself to be a teacher by divine right. She was every inch the teacher. ...

The first three days in the classroom gave overwhelming proof of Mrs. Eddy's understanding of God and her consistent acceptance of the fact that there was none beside Him. ...

Her identification with Truth is so fixed in my thought that no sense of absence, separation, or time touches my remembrance. She stands as a reflection of ever-present Truth. I love her more today than I did yesterday, simply because through demonstration I understand her better. She is my teacher, and to have had the privilege of being taught by her is the star in my crown of rejoicing.

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Third Series, pp. 3-5, 8, 18-19

 

When Mrs. Eddy was residing in Lynn, also while she lived in Boston, one constantly heard of many cases of healing which she accomplished; and in every one that I heard about the healing was instantaneous. A well-known case was the healing of a man who had been deaf and dumb. For many years afterwards he was at The Mother Church services and often gave testimonies. There is no doubt that much of Mrs. Eddy's healing work has never been recorded.

In speaking of so remarkable a character, of one who had so spiritual a vision, it is impossible to portray it fully. It is simply incomparable--above human praise or criticism, for there are no words that can express what the whole world owes to such a consecrated life.

She was the most consistent follower of the teachings of Christ Jesus that the world has ever known. She, too, reflected the immortal courage that dared to face the whole world and tell it that it was wrong. When Mrs. Eddy talked about the Cause, which she invariably did, it was easy to realize that we were living in a time like that of the early Christians.

Mrs. Eddy had a quiet, most gracious manner, with an entire lack of self-assertiveness that was most unusual. To be in her presence was an inspiration never to be forgotton. In the early days the students loved to speak of her as "Mother."

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," First Series, pp. 8-9

 

Someone sent [Mrs. Eddy] a set of the three little brass monkeys--"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." That, said Mrs. Eddy in substance, is not Christian Science, it is heathen philosophy. Christian Scientists do not close their eyes to evil, but open them. They open their eyes, spiritual discernment, and awaken to the true nature of evil or sin, to its false claims, methods, subtlety, etc., and then realize its nothingness, its utter powerlessness to control or harm.

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," First Series, pp. 22

 

If I in proportion to my worthiness drank of [Mrs. Eddy's] cup, I also rejoiced with her in her marvelous triumph over the claims of evil as they appeared, and her wisdom, spiritual discernment, and courage were an inspiration at all times. I could not come into her presence without feeling an uplift and the love and purity of her thought. I have seen students come from her room so softened and chastened and in tears saying they never saw such love. We saw her teachings exemplified in her life and in the love which heals and saves.

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Fourth Series, pp. 64-65

 

Moses gave us the moral law. Elias exemplified prophecy. Christ Jesus demonstrated the divine law in the destruction of sin, disease, and death. Mrs. Eddy gave us the Science of Christianity which forever reveals to all mankind the practical application of the divine law in everyday experience.

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Second Series, p. 74

 

...As we understand [Mrs. Eddy] better, we can give more to the Cause for which she laid down all. Only as we recognize the revelator can we understand and obey the revelation. As the prophecies of Jesus and of John were fulfilled through her, so must we, her followers, do our part in fulfilling her prediction for the twentieth century (Pulpit and Press, p. 22): "Christ will give to Christianity his new name, and Christendom will be classified as Christian Scientists."

"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy," Second Series, p. 64