I write this letter relative to the present educational system for the purpose of lessening your cares and to avoid future trouble to you and all concerned. Certain impending difficulties need immediate careful attention and adequate remedial measures.

I will state the case as briefly as possible

At the time you reopened the College workEditorial Note: Mary Baker Eddy closed the Massachusetts Metaphysical College on October 29, 1889, but retained its charter and reopened it in 1898 as the Board of Education of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts., you told me that you greatly deplored the wretched mistakes that were being perpetrated in the way of teaching, and that you expected that the work to be accomplished by the Board of Education would result in greater uniformity in the teaching; a more accurate & scientific understanding of the ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science itself and the establishment of a more practical and righteous practice which would eliminate much of folly and of the mesmerism which enters so largely into the work of many students–

I knew, my selfCorrected:myself, that some of the most fantastic things and methods of work were being taught – things that would amaze, if not appal Corrected: appall you, if you knew of them. I also knew that many teachers were establishing an absolute despotism over their students, and maintaining a mesmeric or personal control over them which threatened the existence of the students and was a grave menace to our causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science. You knew of much of this also and I mention it only to have it appear by way of contrast that if the teaching and methods of the College were what they ought to be & you hoped they would be, they would rebuke and antagonize every error in the teaching work and arouse the incidental wrath

Since that day nearly 300 students of many different teachers have attended these College Classes and 125 to 150 have been graduated

Not all of these have been perfect by any means but they have been the very best students that the various teachers have been able to send to the College - the flower of the entire field of primary teaching

The entrance of this new corps of teachers upon the scene of class teaching was unwelcome to very many if not most of the old teachers

They were regarded as intruders and rivals and there speedily ensued a constantly growing antagonism to the College which was putting forth these new teachers- This antagonism is waxing more virulent every day and must be stopped

There is no doubt that the College teaching has been a rebuke to, and in repudiation of a good deal that has been taught, and of bad practices which have prevailed, and herein is the reason for a mischievous state of affairs in the midst of our cause, namely an onslaught against the College, its graduates & its teacher, with probably an undercurrent of murmuring against you for allowing such things - or procuring them

I heard today that it was proposed by some oneCorrected:someone in New York to urge you to stop my teaching because it was perverting your teaching- I also hear that the following question is being put into activity namely "Is it true that Mr Kimball says that he is a better teacher than Mrs Eddy?"

I will not insult your intelligence by presuming that it is necessary to defend myself against such abominations, but will say that Satan never devised more pestiferous lies or procured their utterance with more mischievous intent

If at any time the College teaching were not in marked contrast with much that is being done, it ought to cease, but because it is different, I am being hated and stoned by some to such an extent that they are making it difficult for me to endure in any sense of peace or harmony

The only ones among the older class of teachers who have ever heard me teach are Mrs Lathrop and Judge Hanna who were in the first class.

Mrs Lathrop told me “Your teaching of this class is magnificent, no one but Mother could do it better"

Judge Hanna sopspoke, also in the highest terms of approval & commendation

The only others who have heard & are therefore qualified to judge are the students who have graduated & I believe there is scarcely one who has not spoken in the most extraordinary terms concerning the soundness & value of the College work.

I wrote you about a month ago concerning this friction and touched lightly upon it because I did not then know strenuous the situation was–

I notice that you have prepared some new By LawsEditorial Note: Some of the By-Laws that Kimball may have proposed may be (in their current form) in Article XXVI of the Manual of The Mother Church. For example, Sect. 2Mary Baker Eddy, Manual of The Mother Church 83:8Care of Pupils. Sect. 2. Christian Scientists
83:9who are teachers shall carefully select for pupils
 such only as have good past records and promis‐
 ing proclivities toward Christian Science. A
83:12teacher shall not assume personal control of, or
 attempt to dominate his pupils, but he shall hold
 himself morally obligated to promote their prog‐
83:15ress in the understanding of divine Principle, not
 only during the class term but after it, and to
 watch well that they prove sound in sentiment
83:18and practical in Christian Science. He shall per‐
 sistently and patiently counsel his pupils in con‐
 formity with the unerring laws of God, and shall
83:21enjoin them habitually to study the Scriptures
 and Science and Health with Key to the
 Scriptures as a help thereto. includes a requirement that a Christian Science teacher "not assume personal control of, or attempt to dominate his pupils…" And Sect. 6Mary Baker Eddy, Manual of The Mother Church 84:16Associations. Sect. 6. The associations of the
 pupils of loyal teachers shall convene annually.
84:18The pupils shall be guided by the Bible, and
 Science and Health, not by their teachers’
 personal views. Teachers shall not call their
84:21pupils together, or assemble a selected number of
 them, for more frequent meetings. indicates that "The pupils shall be guided by the Bible, and Science and Health, and not by their teachers' personal views." with a view to relieving this situation but I do not think they will operate so as to compose the difficulty as it stands now

If I could see you I could much easier & better explain to you, but knowing that these interviews are a tax upon your attention and repose I will, if you think well of it write you fully and propose a plan which will, I think, do much to tranquilize matters and in order to save you trouble will make some proposed By LawsCorrected:By-Laws to fit the case which you will simply need to read and confirm or reject or amend

The one essential thing is to reconcile the old teachers to your College and your right to use it and conduct it as you please

Otherwise the impending duel between two sections of teachers will result in disturbance to all concerned– It would be far better to stop all teaching than to have the present status go on and wax worse)...

I am going out to several country places to stay for two or three weeks but if you will address me care of the Publishing Office, I will keep them posted

I think that the matter should be settled before the new Manual is issued)

Answering your question in your last letterEditorial Note: See L07400., I say that my desire to help you & therefore our cause,– and vice versa, is all that keeps me in the work at all Otherwise I would most gladly seek some obscure and quiet phase of living-

My affections nestle very closely to your heroic and exalted purpose and life but I am still under the sense of limitation which indicates that there are certain things that I can do and that I cannot go farther. The conditions are much the same as last year, when you advised me that for such reasonsyI would better not remain here permanently

I think you were right [?] Unclear or illegible then- I expect to overcome, and at any rate shall be in this vicinity much more than ever & will do what I can