Chapter 1
Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896.
by Mary Baker Eddy.
DEDICATION.
To Loyal Christian Scientists In This And Every Land I Lovingly Dedicate These Practical Teachings Indispensable To The Culture And Achievements Which Const.i.tute The Success Of A Student And Demonstrate The Ethics Of Christian Science
Mary Baker Eddy
EPIGRAMS.
Pray thee, take care, that tak'st my book in hand, To read it well; that is, to understand.
BEN JONSON: _Epigram_ 1
When I would know thee... my thought looks Upon thy well made choice of friends and books; Then do I love thee, and behold thy ends In making thy friends books, and thy books friends.
BEN JONSON: _Epigram_ 86
If worlds were formed by matter, And mankind from the dust; Till time shall end more timely, There's nothing here to trust.
Thenceforth to evolution's Geology, we say,- Nothing have we gained therefrom, And nothing have to pray:
My world has sprung from Spirit, In everlasting day; Whereof, I've more to glory, Wherefor, have much to pay.
MARY BAKER EDDY
PREFACE.
[Page ix.]
[Transcriber's Note: The original book includes line numbers throughout the text, for easy reference to the text by page number and line number.
This transcription retains those page and line numbers; the numbers in [square brackets] at the right ends of lines are the original book's line numbers. The paragraphs are not adjusted as is customary for text in e-books, nor are words split by hyphens rejoined, so that the lines shown below have the same words as the lines in the original book.]
A certain apothegm of a Talmudical philosopher [1]
suits my sense of doing good. It reads thus: "The n.o.blest charity is to prevent a man from accepting charity; and the best alms are to show and to enable a man to dispense with alms." [5]
In the early history of Christian Science, among my thousands of students few were wealthy. Now, Christian Scientists are not indigent; and their comfortable fortunes are acquired by healing mankind morally, physically, spiritually. The easel of time presents pictures-once [10]
fragmentary and faint-now rejuvenated by the touch of G.o.d's right hand. Where joy, sorrow, hope, disap- pointment, sigh, and smile commingled, now hope sits dove-like.
To preserve a long course of years still and uniform, [15]
amid the uniform darkness of storm and cloud and tempest, requires strength from above,-deep
ever a girl. The fleeting freshness of youth, however, is not the evergreen of Soul; the coloring glory of
[Page x.]
perpetual bloom; the spiritual glow and grandeur of [1]
a consecrated life wherein dwelleth peace, sacred and sincere in trial or in triumph.
The opportunity has at length offered itself for me to comply with an oft-repeated request; namely, to collect [5]
my miscellaneous writings published in _The Christian_ _Science Journal_, since April, 1883, and republish them in book form,-accessible as reference, and reliable as old landmarks. Owing to the manifold demands on my time in the early pioneer days, most of these articles [10]
were originally written in haste, without due preparation.
To those heretofore in print, a few articles are herein appended. To some articles are affixed data, where these are most requisite, to serve as mile-stones measuring the distance,-or the difference between then and now,- [15]
in the opinions of men and the progress of our Cause.
My signature has been slightly changed from my Christian name, Mary Morse Baker. Timidity in early years caused me, as an author, to a.s.sume various _noms_ _de plume_. After my first marriage, to Colonel Glover [20]
of Charleston, South Carolina, I dropped the name of Morse to retain my maiden name,-thinking that other- wise the name would be too long.
In 1894, I received from the Daughters of the American Revolution a certificate of members.h.i.+p made out to Mary [25]
Baker Eddy, and thereafter adopted that form of signature, except in connection with my published works.
[Page xi.]
The first edition of Science and Health having been [1]
copyrighted at the date of its issue, 1875, in my name of Glover, caused me to retain the initial "G" on my subsequent books.
These pages, although a reproduction of what has [5]
been written, are still in advance of their time; and are richly rewarded by what they have hitherto achieved for the race. While no offering can liquidate one's debt of grat.i.tude to G.o.d, the fervent heart and willing hand are not unknown to nor unrewarded by Him. [10]
May this volume be to the reader a graphic guide- book, pointing the path, dating the unseen, and enabling him to walk the untrodden in the hitherto unexplored fields of Science. At each recurring holiday the Christian Scientist will find herein a "canny" crumb; and thus [15]
may time's pastimes become footsteps to joys eternal.
Realism will at length be found to surpa.s.s imagination, and to suit and savor all literature. The shuttlec.o.c.k of religious intolerance will fall to the ground, if there be no battledores to fling it back and forth. It is reason for [20]
rejoicing that the _vox populi_ is inclined to grant us peace, together with pardon for the preliminary battles that purchased it.
With tender tread, thought sometimes walks in memory, through the dim corridors of years, on to old battle- [25]
grounds, there sadly to survey the fields of the slain and the enemy's losses. In compiling this work, I have tried
[Page xii.]
to remove the pioneer signs and ensigns of war, and to [1]
retain at this date the privileged armaments of peace.
With armor on, I continue the march, command and countermand; meantime interluding with loving thought this afterpiece of battle. Supported, cheered, I take my [5]
pen and pruning-hook, to "learn war no more," and with strong wing to lift my readers above the smoke of conflict into light and liberty.
Mary Baker Eddy