Edward P. Bates to Mary Baker Eddy, February 11, 1897

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019C.09.054

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Author:

Edward P. Bates

Recipient:

Mary Baker Eddy

Annotator:

Unknown

Date:

February 11, 1897

Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Edward P. Bates on lined paper from Boston, Massachusetts.

Archival Note: This letter includes a notation in unknown handwriting. It has been marked up in an unknown hand, perhaps for publication, and not all markings can be represented. It also contains illegible erasures. See original.

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019C.09.054

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Boston, Feby, 11th 1897.

Dear Mother:-

To me, and I believe to the world, February 10th, 1897, is a Red Letter day in Christian Science. On this day, the first Edition of "Miscellaneous WritingsEditorial Note: Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy" was delivered at our Publishing House in Boston, and through the Publisher, Mr. Armstrong, distributed all over our country and to some foreign points. I believe I realize the truth of this passage in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,Editorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy" today as never before, viz. "Divine Love always has met, and always will meet every human needMary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures494:10Divine Love always has met and always will meet every
human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demon‐
494:12strated the divine power to heal only for a select number
or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and
in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.."

Two years ago you gave us an Impersonal PastorEditorial Note: On December 19, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as the Pastor of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. On January 20, 1895, Readings from the Bible and Science and Health replace personal sermons, and Readers replace preachers in The Mother Church services. for our Mother Church, and soon afterward for all the branch churches. Now you give us the Impersonal Teacher. I wish I might find words adequate to express all that I feel in receiving this last great gift from you. I consider it the most valuable Book ever published, ⇉ Handshift:unknownsince the Bible was issued ⇉ Handshift:Edward P. Bates with one exception only, i.e.As Written:ie.; "Science and Health As Written: Heath with Key to the Scriptures." I also believe that "Miscellaneous Writings" will be a great factor in the sale and distribution of our Text-BookEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, thereby proving itself a great blessing, not only for today, but for ages to come. There are several points about, and connected with this Book which to me are significant. I notice there are twelve chapters,- one for every tribeEditorial Note: This is a reference to the "twelve tribes of Israel." In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Jacob (later called Israel) had twelve sons. Each son was considered to be the ancestor of a "tribe," and these constituted the nation of Israel. The name of the sons/tribes were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Mary Baker Eddy gives metaphysical definitions for some of these in the "Glossary" chapter of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. (or phase of belief).

The third chapter contains sixty-fourAs Written:sixty four pages of questions and answers. If this chapter does not destroy the belief in the trinity of error, then printed matter can never accomplish it. I notice also that this Book contains a large portion of your writings for fourteen years; this number is significant when I recall what has transpired during those years; also a remarkable prophecy, and its fulfilment, in just fourteen years, and its meaning in Christian Science. I am reading this Book carefullyAs Written:carefuly, and while I recognize many old friends which were in the Journal, yet there is much that is new to me.

I am so much rejoiced to have, assembled with other articles, your letters to the church, to the First Members, your sermons in the early days, as well as all the other warnings, admonitions, and wise counselingsAs Written:counsellings. I had never dared to hope for all this in a book which I could take in my hands and call my own. God is better to us than we ask or think to hope. After reading "Miscellaneous Writings," one is impressed with the great fact that God has done this, by the hand of His Anointed. One more delightful experience in reading this Book is, that it takes one back to the classes in the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, and it seems as though we were sitting at your feet and being taught directly by you. Then again, what a blessing to those who were unable to enter your College, but have waited long years to do so! To them you speak as of old you did to your students who were present, and these brothers and sisters who have been waiting and longing for this day are now fed, not with crumbs, but with meat from the table of our GodMatt 15:21 ¶Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Matt 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Matt 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. Matt 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matt 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Matt 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. Matt 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Matt 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Mark 7:24 ¶And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. Mark 7:25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: Mark 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. Mark 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. Mark 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. Mark 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. , who is Life, Truth, and Love,

Your AffectionateAs Written:Aff. Student,

E. P. Bates.

019C.09.054

Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library

Copied document link to clipboard.

Boston, Feby, 11th 1897.

Dear Mother.:-

To me, and I believe to the world., February 10th, 1897, is a Red Letter day in Christian Science. On this day, the first Edition of "Miscellaneous WritingsEditorial Note: Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy" was deli [?] Unclear or illegible vered at our Publishing House in Boston, and through the Publisher, Mr. Armstrong, distributed all over our country and to some foreign points. I believe I realize the truth of this passage in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,Editorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy" today as never before., viz;. "Divine Love always has met, and always will meet every human needMary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures494:10Divine Love always has met and always will meet every
human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demon‐
494:12strated the divine power to heal only for a select number
or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and
in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.."

Two years ago you gave us an Impersonal PastorEditorial Note: On December 19, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as the Pastor of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. On January 20, 1895, Readings from the Bible and Science and Health replace personal sermons, and Readers replace preachers in The Mother Church services. for our Mother Church, and soon afterward for all the branch churches. Now you give us the Impersonal Teacher. I wish I might find words adequate to express all that I feel in receiving this last great gift from you. I consider it the most valuable Book ever published, ⇉ Handshift:unknownsince the Bible was issued ⇉ Handshift:Edward P. Bates with one exception only, ie.Corrected:i.e.; "Science and Heath Corrected: Health with Key to the Scriptures." I also believe that "Miscellaneous Writings" will be a great factor in the sale and distribution of our Text-BookEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, thereby proving itself a great blessing, not only for today, but for ages to come. There are several points about, and connected with this Book which to me are significant. I notice there are twelve chapters,- one for every tribeEditorial Note: This is a reference to the "twelve tribes of Israel." In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Jacob (later called Israel) had twelve sons. Each son was considered to be the ancestor of a "tribe," and these constituted the nation of Israel. The name of the sons/tribes were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Mary Baker Eddy gives metaphysical definitions for some of these in the "Glossary" chapter of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures., (or phase of belief.).

The third chapter contains sixty fourCorrected:sixty-four pages of questions and answers. If this chapter does not destroy the belief in the trinity of error, then printed matter can never accomplish it. I notice also that this Book contains a large portion of your writings for fourteen years,; this number is significant when I recall what has transpired during those years,; also a remarkable prophecy, and its fulfilment, in just fourteen years, and its meaning in Christian Science. I am reading this Book carefulyCorrected:carefully, and while I recognize many old friends which were in the Journal, yet there is much that is new to me.

I am so much rejoiced to have, assembled with other articles, your letters to the church, to the First Members, your sermons in the early days, as well as all the other w [?] Unclear or illegible arnings, admonitions, and w [?] Unclear or illegible ise counsellingsCorrected:counselings. I had never dared to hope for all this in a book which I could take in my hands and call my own. God is better to us th [?] Unclear or illegible an we ask or think to hope. After reading "Miscellaneous Writings," one is impressed with the great fact that God has [?] Unclear or illegible done this, by the hand of His Annointed. One more delightful experience in reading this Book is, that it takes one back to the classes in the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, and it seems as though we were seitting at your feet and being taught directly by you. Then again, what a blessing to those who were unable to enter your College, but have waited long years to do so,! tTo them you speak; as of old you did to your students who were present, and these brothers and sisters who have been waiting and longing for this day are now fed, not with crumbs, but with meat from the table of our GodMatt 15:21 ¶Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Matt 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Matt 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. Matt 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matt 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Matt 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. Matt 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Matt 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Mark 7:24 ¶And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. Mark 7:25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: Mark 7:26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. Mark 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. Mark 7:29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. Mark 7:30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. , who is Life, Truth, and Love,

Your Aff.Expanded:Affectionate Student,

E. P. Bates.

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Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy On December 19, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as the Pastor of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. On January 20, 1895, Readings from the Bible and Science and Health replace personal sermons, and Readers replace preachers in The Mother Church services. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy This is a reference to the "twelve tribes of Israel." In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Jacob (later called Israel) had twelve sons. Each son was considered to be the ancestor of a "tribe," and these constituted the nation of Israel. The name of the sons/tribes were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Mary Baker Eddy gives metaphysical definitions for some of these in the "Glossary" chapter of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.