Accession: 083A.18.076
Editorial Title: Ira O. Knapp to Mary Baker Eddy, January 25, 1895
Author: Ira O. Knapp 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: January 25, 1895
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Ira O. Knapp on lined paper from Boston, Massachusetts.
Archival Note: This document contains illegible erasures. See original.
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083A.18.076
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
My Beloved Teacher

I dont know as anyoneAs Written:any one keeps you informed as regards the work on the Church. It seems to go rather slow and we shall not be able to hold our first Friday evening meetingEditorial Note: The Friday evening meetings held at this period were largely devoted to sharing testimonies of Christian Science healing by the congregation. These meetings were eventually held on Wednesday evenings. in the vestry I dont know as I fully understand how these meetings should be conducted to meet your desire. There is so much wrong done in the Mothers name that I sometimes fear until I get your meaning from God who leadeth in paths of rightnessPs 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. and wisdom. I shall be glad when the work is all finished on the church and all the contracts settled in the peaceful way of justice and equity. But error makes its threatenings now and then whenever wisdoms ways have not been followed as they should have been How long do we need to keep Mr & Mrs Bates for our agents, I ask this because some of the DirectorsEditorial Note: The Christian Science Board of Directors are unwilling to do or say anythingAs Written:any thing about it without your consent and perhaps this is right. The building of this Church is and has been doing its work all along the ruged wayMary Baker Eddy, Retrospection and Introspection46:9I will follow and rejoice
 All the rugged way.
. EveryoneAs Written:Every one who works in this vineyard of Christian Science abiding by its rules in the light of understanding and Truth will receive the full fruitage of their labor; nevertheless there are those who would come in at the eleventh hour, not to receive their own but the fruits of others laborMatt 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. Matt 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matt 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, Matt 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Matt 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. Matt 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? Matt 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. Matt 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Matt 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. Matt 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. Matt 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Matt 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. Matt 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Matt 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Matt 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. The demands of Truth are more each day until no corruptibleAs Written:corruptable claim can touch the flesh of man or mar the way of salvation in Christian Science I wish we were all more worthy to be called the sons of GodI John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. loving one another as the scripture demands God once promised me that Love should abide with me. Nothing less than the fulfilling of that promise can satisfy me, or give me the full fruitage of His redemption Whilst evil is hating this shining mark, this symbol of Christs Church, others are worshiping the symbol more than the divine Idea which made it possible to build such a Church, nevertheless this Church must stand the test of time and ameliorate extreme beliefs and unite all in the understanding of Christian Science as the one and only way of salvation which God has given to remain on earth until its heaven-bornAs Written:heaven born purpose is done

Lovingly Yours
Ira O. Knapp
083A.18.076
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
My Beloved Teacher

I dont know as any oneCorrected:anyone keeps you informed as regards the work on the Church. It seems to go rather slow and we shall not be able to hold our first Friday evening meetingEditorial Note: The Friday evening meetings held at this period were largely devoted to sharing testimonies of Christian Science healing by the congregation. These meetings were eventually held on Wednesday evenings. in the vestry I dont know as I f [?] Unclear or illegible ull [?] Unclear or illegible y understand how these meetings should be conducted to meet your desire. There is so much wrong done in the Mothers name that I sometimes fear until I get your meaning from God who leadeth in paths of rightnessPs 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. and wisdom. I shall be glad when the work is all finished on the church and all the contracts settled in the peaceful way of justice and equity. But error makes its threatenings now and then whenever wisdoms ways have not been followed as [?] Unclear or illegible  they should have been How long do we need to keep Mr & Mrs Bates for our agents, I ask this because some of the DirectorsEditorial Note: The Christian Science Board of Directors are unwilling to do or say any thingCorrected:anything about it without your consent and perhaps this is right. The building of this Church is and has been doing its work all along the ruged wayMary Baker Eddy, Retrospection and Introspection46:9I will follow and rejoice
 All the rugged way.
. Every oneCorrected:Everyone who works in theis vineyard of Christian Science abiding by its rules in the light of understanding and Truth will receive the full fruitage of their labor; nevertheless there are those who would come in at the eleventh hour, not to receive their own but the fruits of others laborMatt 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. Matt 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matt 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, Matt 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Matt 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. Matt 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? Matt 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. Matt 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Matt 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. Matt 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. Matt 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Matt 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. Matt 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Matt 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Matt 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. The demands of Truth are more each day until no corruptableCorrected:corruptible claim can touch the flesh of man or mar the way of salvation in Christian Science I wish we were all more worthy to be called the sons of GodI John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. loving one another as the scripture demands God once promised me that Love should abide with me. Nothing less than the fulfilling of that promise can satisfy me, or give me the full fruitage of His redemption Whilst evil is hating this shining mark, this symbol of Christs Church, others are worshiping the symbol more than the divine Idea which made it possible to build such a Church, nevertheless this Church must stand the test of time and ameliorate extreme beliefs and unite all in the understanding of Christian Science as the one and only way of salvation which God has given to remain on earth [?] Unclear or illegible until its heaven bornCorrected:heaven-born purpose is done

Lovingly Yours
Ira O. Knapp
 
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The Friday evening meetings held at this period were largely devoted to sharing testimonies of Christian Science healing by the congregation. These meetings were eventually held on Wednesday evenings. The Christian Science Board of Directors Allusion Ret:9-10