Accession: 161A.27.006
Editorial Title: Laura V. Lathrop to Mary Baker Eddy, March 8, 1886
Author: Laura V. Lathrop 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: March 8, 1886
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Laura V. Lathrop on unlined paper from New York, New York.
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161A.27.006
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
My dear Mrs Eddy, my much loved teacher

Your second letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. to me came this morning, and I feel as though it would be a great comfort to me to get right down at those beautiful feet of yours, and acknowledge, and beg pardon for my sins of omission. I find since I have been pushed out into the world to earn a living for myself and my childrenEditorial Note: John Carroll Lathrop and Katherine Lathrop, not only the peace that comes from a daily and hourly reliance on God, but the disappointments I constantly meet with, from a too confiding, trusting, feeling for humanity. You see, dear, I have been so busy trying to live up to your beautiful christ-like teachings, and in helping my patients to travel the same road, have been so sure of my own singleness of purpose, that I never imagined for a moment that anyoneAs Written:any one could doubt me. You know I had a very hard battle with mortal mind before I could understand and accept your teachings, but when you put your dear arms around me, the day you bade me goodbyeAs Written:good by, and I assured you of my devotion I meant every word of ,it, and I don't As Written: dont know how to feel one thing and act another. I hoped the CampbellsEditorial Note: J. Allen Campbell and Lysbeth L. Campbell hadn'tAs Written:had'nt told any of the BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts people what they told me they had heard of my heresy, without speaking to me first, but I suppose we all have to fight more or less error. Why, my friend, I have glanced through the first part of one of Evans' Books, but have never recommended them to anybodyAs Written:any body, and as for Swartz JournalEditorial Note: In 1885, A. J. Swarts began publishing a monthly periodical called The Mind Cure and Science of Life (later renamed Mental Science Magazine), which regularly published articles repudiating the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy., I never saw one in my life. Ask Mrs Batchelder whether I was true to you and Christian Science through the Plunkett trouble when Mrs Plunkett would insist telling me everythingAs Written:every thing, urging me not to join the Association, that I was too smart a woman to be put in a straightjacketAs Written:straight jacket that they never would have given up winning me over to them had she not seen that you had mesmerized me, and I was wholly in your power. I wasn'tAs Written:was'nt half as strong to resist temptation as I am now, and I am under the impression that as long as the C. S. A. care to keep me with them they will have me. I am very much obliged for what you would have done to help me through the Normal Course. Believe me, I have made no effort to get a class - nor I haven'tAs Written:hav'nt had one yet. Some of my patients wanted me to teach them. I wouldn'tAs Written:would'nt have had the presumption to try to teach, had I not needed the money to pay back what I was compelled to borrow to take the course in September, and to pay for my Normal Course. I am doing very well in my business, try to realize constantly the presence of God, and love you dearly.

Sincerely
Laura Lathrop
161A.27.006
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
My dear Mrs Eddy, my much loved teacher

Your second letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. to me came this morning, and I feel as though it would be a great comfort to me to get right down at those beautiful feet of yours, and acknowledge, and beg pardon for my sins of omission. I find since I have been pushed out into the world to earn a living for myself and my childrenEditorial Note: John Carroll Lathrop and Katherine Lathrop, not only the peace that comes from a daily and hourly reliance on God, but the disappointments I constantly meet with, from a too confiding, trusting, feeling for humanity. You see, dear, I have been so busy trying to live up to your beautiful christ-like teachings, and in helping my patients to travel the same road, have been so sure of my own singleness of purpose, that I never imagined for a moment that any oneCorrected:anyone could doubt me. You know I had a very hard battle with mortal mind before I could understand and accept your teachings, but when [?] Unclear or illegible  you put your dear arms around me, the day you bade me good byCorrected:goodbye, and I assured you of my devotion I meant every word of ,it, and I dont Corrected: don't know how to feel one thing and act another. I hoped the CampbellsEditorial Note: J. Allen Campbell and Lysbeth L. Campbell had'ntCorrected:hadn't told any of the BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts people what they told me they had heard of my heresy, without speaking to me first, but I suppose we all have to fight more or less error. Why, my friend, I have glanced through the first part of one of Evans' Books, but have never recommended them to any bodyCorrected:anybody, and as for Swartz JournalEditorial Note: In 1885, A. J. Swarts began publishing a monthly periodical called The Mind Cure and Science of Life (later renamed Mental Science Magazine), which regularly published articles repudiating the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy., I never saw one in my life. Ask Mrs Batchelder whether I was true to you and Christian Science through the Plunkett trouble when Mrs Plunkett would insist telling me every thingCorrected:everything, urging me not to join the Association, that I was too smart a woman to be put in a straight jacketCorrected:straightjacket that they never would have given up winning me over to them had she not seen that you had mesmerized me, and I was wholly in your power. I was'ntCorrected:wasn't half as strong to resist temptation as I am now, and I am under the impression that as long as the C. S. A. care to keep me with them they will have me. I am very much obliged for what you would have done to help me through the Normal Course. Believe me, I have made no effort to get a class - nor I hav'ntCorrected:haven't had one yet. Some of my patients wanted me to teach them. I would'ntCorrected:wouldn't have had the presumption to try to teach, had I not needed the money to pay back what I was compelled to borrow to take the course in September, and to pay for my Normal Course. I am doing very well in my business, try to realize constantly the presence of God, and love you dearly.

Sincerely
Laura Lathrop
 
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This letter is not extant. John Carroll Lathrop and Katherine Lathrop J. Allen Campbell and Lysbeth L. Campbell Boston, Massachusetts In 1885, A. J. Swarts began publishing a monthly periodical called The Mind Cure and Science of Life (later renamed Mental Science Magazine), which regularly published articles repudiating the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy.