Accession: 155EP1.25.006
Editorial Title: Edward A. Kimball to Mary Baker Eddy, July 15, 1902
Author: Edward A. Kimball 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: July 15, 1902
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Edward A. Kimball on unlined paper from Beach Bluff, Swampscott, Massachusetts.
Related Topic: L07595Digital document L07595 not available
Final Edits
Original Document
Click image to magnify
Full
Back
Close
View Document
View Image
155EP1.25.006
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
X

Copied document link to clipboard.

Beach Bluff July 15/02
Beloved Mother–

Beginning with the very day that you wrote the first letter, there has been a gradual but steady, general improvement - and for a week or ten days, there has been a distinct improvement in hearing

I am deeply grateful to you for your exceeding kindness to me and mine

I constantly learn, more and more about your loving ministry, as the earthly shepherds of our flock, and realize how utterly impossible would have been, what we call the cause of Christian Science, had not God educated and guided you

I feel that I can sincerely declare that the holiness which you have fed unto us has not been fed unto dogsMatt 7:6 ¶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. - for there never was an hour wherein I so fully recognized your divinely inspired and instructed mission or hoped so much for the CauseEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science under your leadership

Just at present, the members of this household are rejoicing over the last by-lawEditorial Note: In 1902, a By-Law was added limiting Readers terms to three years. Eddy had requested that branch churches adopt or adapt the new By-Law limiting Readers terms to three years, as was now the practice for The Mother Church. Prior to the By-Law, in some cases one individual had served as First Reader of a branch church for a number of years, creating a situation where that individual became the leader of that church. which sounds the knell of the Christian Science "boss".

I have wondered and wondered how it would be accomplished, or how the first step would be taken but this first step is a great stride into the very middle and narrow of the situation-

I mean no offence when I say that the By law reaches the summit of shrewdness - saying nothing of wisdom

BusinessmenAs Written:Business men would say that you are extremely shrewd, not understanding that it all means wisdom and its wise ways-

Mr McLellan is here and I shall do all that I can to help him and the other Editors

I am expecting to stay with him or by him during the remainder of this month and then go to ChicagoEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois, to institute & carry out preparations for coming to BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts as you have advised

We have not sold our house but will make efforts to otherwise dispose of the problem- Whatever it may be, our going home will have the one object namely to get ready to come here

I am not wise enough to see my own way & shall do what you tell me is wise for me to do

The change is important but I do not ask to see the distant sceneEditorial Note: This is an allusion to the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light," written by John Henry Newman in 1833. The first stanza includes the line "Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me." It is included in the Christian Science Hymnal as Hymn 169.–

I have 400. applicants for primary class teaching awaiting me- Many of them are people of importance– I might hold two classes 60 in all while I am getting ready to leave Chicago, or drop the whole thing and let them go to someoneAs Written:some one else.- I have also lecture calls and engagements– Shall I cancel them all and drop all my former work? You told me last year that if I came here I might still arrange to look after my old students occasionally of which I have several hundreds

I do not want to shoulder the details of my situation on you but as I am a semi public character, I have to consider what I am to do to those who have long waited for me to teach them – and those who are waiting for lectures and otherwise depending on me– If you know what I ought to do about these things - please tell me and I will gladly follow your advice

Lovingly-
Edwd A Kimball
155EP1.25.006
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
X

Copied document link to clipboard.

Beach Bluff July 15/02
Beloved Mother–

Beginning with the very day that you wrote the first letter, there has been a gradual but steady, general improvement - and for a week or ten days, there has been a distinct improvement in hearing

I am deeply grateful to you for your exceeding kindness to me and mine

I constantly learn, more and more about your loving ministry, as the earthly shepherds of our flock, and realize how utterly impossible would have been, what we call the cause of Christian Science, had not God educated and guided you

I feel that I can sincerely declare that the holiness which you have fed unto us has not been fed unto dogsMatt 7:6 ¶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. - for there never was an hour wherein I so fully recognized your divinely inspired and instructed mission or hoped so much for the CauseEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science under your leadership

Just at present, the members of this household are rejoicing over the last by-lawEditorial Note: In 1902, a By-Law was added limiting Readers terms to three years. Eddy had requested that branch churches adopt or adapt the new By-Law limiting Readers terms to three years, as was now the practice for The Mother Church. Prior to the By-Law, in some cases one individual had served as First Reader of a branch church for a number of years, creating a situation where that individual became the leader of that church. which sounds the knell of the Christian Science "boss".

I have wondered and wondered how it would be accomplished, or how the first step would be taken but this first step is a great stride into the very middle and narrow of the situation-

I mean no offence when I say that the By law reaches the summit of shrewdness - saying nothing of wisdom

Business menCorrected:Businessmen would say that you are extremely shrewd, not understanding that it all means wisdom and its wise ways-

Mr McLellan is here and I shall do all that I can to help him and the other Editors

I am expecting to stay with him or by him during the remainder of this month and then go to ChicagoEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois, to institute & carry out preparations for coming to BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts as you have advised

We have not sold our house but will make efforts to otherwise dispose of the problem- Whatever it may be, our going home will have the one object namely to get ready to come here

I am not wise enough to see my own way & shall do what you tell me is wise for me to do

The change is important but I do not ask to see the distant sceneEditorial Note: This is an allusion to the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light," written by John Henry Newman in 1833. The first stanza includes the line "Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me." It is included in the Christian Science Hymnal as Hymn 169.–

I have 400. applicants for primary class teaching awaiting me- Many of them are people of importance– I might hold two classes 60 in all while I am getting ready to leave Chicago, or drop the whole thing and let them go to some oneCorrected:someone else.- I have also lecture calls and engagements– Shall I cancel them all and drop all my former work? You told me last year that if I came here I might still arrange to look after my old students occasionally of which I have several hundreds

I do not want to shoulder the details of my situation on you but as I am a semi public character, I have to consider what I am to do to those who have long waited for me to teach them – and those who are waiting for lectures and otherwise depending on me– If you know what I ought to do about these things - please tell me and I will gladly follow your advice

Lovingly-
Edwd A Kimball
 
View Image
 

Back Text

Shown for development purposes only
The cause of Christian Science In 1902, a By-Law was added limiting Readers terms to three years. Eddy had requested that branch churches adopt or adapt the new By-Law limiting Readers terms to three years, as was now the practice for The Mother Church. Prior to the By-Law, in some cases one individual had served as First Reader of a branch church for a number of years, creating a situation where that individual became the leader of that church. Chicago, Illinois Boston, Massachusetts This is an allusion to the hymn "Lead, Kindly Light," written by John Henry Newman in 1833. The first stanza includes the line "Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me." It is included in the Christian Science Hymnal as Hymn 169.