I hardly know how to address you with what I have in mind. Being personally strangers to each other, yet I feel that we have some acquaintance with you from the study of your Books Science & HealthEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.. But as an introduction I will say that like many others we (my wife and I) have been wandering in the wilderness of thought, and catching all the diseases that flow in the darkness, with a very crude conception of what we were or could be or should be. So in our wandering search for health and happiness we have been led here and there by fair promises, only to meet disappointments and came back with an empty worthless shell; and we have seen others meet the same fate. Wealth often makes large bids for them and the ways are numerous in which they have been sought, Sometimes they send their agents to view the scene but seldom do they come themselves in full uniform to stay only for a short visit. Where then is their dwelling place? – We have lately been informed (in your BooksEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.) that they have gone off to hold sweet communion and partake of a dinner of herbs, with some good and virtuous person who lives in a lovely cottage somewhere on the road of Christian Science; and even an angel of peace (Mrs. Harris) has been here in person to confirm the statement and point the way. So we have started out on that road but soon find out that the duties are very exacting, even to carrying all the commandments with us in a beautiful vase of Spirit and Truth, and loving our neighbor as ourselvesLev 19:18 ¶Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. Matt 19:16 ¶And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Matt 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matt 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Matt 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Mark 12:28 ¶And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. . I have not the least doubt of their happy abode, but should we ever be able to reach them and take them in as our guests, would they not some dayCorrected:someday get tired of our company and leave us in a river of tears to float back into the gulf of despair? and is it right to weight the slightest doubt of this kind? Since you have lifted the curtain from the answer to what and why and where am I – the little we comprehend creates a want for more’s and believing that every step we rightfully gain gives us strength to take another – we humbly ask, can you do more for us? Can you teach us how to settle the war between the spirit and flesh and stop the cause of future strife, and lead us beyond the lash of fear? Can you teach us how to hold the muddling senses down and stand aloof from mortal belief? Can you teach the laboring thought to make a higher flight and follow the soft notes of love midst all all this noise and strife of mortal life? Can you tell us if mind with kindred mind can talk without the cumberous Corrected: cumbrous use of feeble words? Can you lead in a grand survey of the line of right and point the compass true, betwixt, betwixt the sable goddess of mortal might, and the goddess of liberty, love and light? Mortal wants and customs cause stalking around, demanding our money or our lives; and so we sweat and toil to save our lives and wonder if it is worth the price. And here again is a higher life whose demands are large and also strain our ability to pay. Can we live them both at once? or will the higher absorb the lower life and view it only as a walking stalking nothingness? and will it be content to be viewed as such and quietly sit down with an humble crust? Where is the proper line between the two, and the price of each? And where is the mighty standard of wealth, when one is poor with a million in gold, and another is rich with a penny and health? Shall I say – vain thoughts be still: “enough for me to know is given? Then do not think you must answer with pen and ink, for even now it comes to me, that if I sincerely seek and earnestly strive and pray, the answer will meet me more than half way.

But here is a beggars Corrected: beggar’s question. We my wife and I would like to be your humble students, and sit under the light of your personal instructions, but our income is small and we have family to care for, and so we are halting between two opinionsI Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. of duty. Now then if you could conscienciously Corrected: conscientiously favor us on your price of admission we would try to meet all other demands and feel very grateful, So we patiently wait your reply to this last, and humbly subscribe as