Your letterEditorial Note: See V01809. surprises me, as I supposed the caseEditorial Note: This is a reference to a libel suit against Mary Baker Eddy by Josephine Curtis Woodbury. The suit was filed on July 31, 1899 and concluded in Eddy's favor on June 5, 1901. As part of Woodbury's libel suit, she asserted that if Christian Scientists considered the "woman clothed with the sun"Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: from Revelationto be a person (Eddy), then they also considered the Babylonish womanRev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. to be a person (Woodbury). had been thrown out of court. I saw something to that effect in the paper, and having heard nothing to the contrary, supposed the court had squelched her filthiness.

When I first heard of the case I immediately wrote to you proffering my services, if I could be of any assistance.

I am very well aware that she and those opposed to you, called "disloyal", "mesmerists", "mental healers", et ceteraAs Written:&c et ceteraAs Written:&c.," have been determined to make me take a stand against you. But they do not attempt to blacken or destroy my character, (it is only the so called loyal Christian ScientistsAs Written:C. S.'s that do that – and I hate the word loyal because of the hellish designs that are concocted and executed under its cover) but they claim that after my sanguine interest in the CauseEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science, and its leader, and my faithful subservience theretoAs Written:there to, that I was unjustly and wickedly kicked out, but that I am so completely under your mesmerism that I do not dare to peep.

I have been told that something to this effect has been published in several cities in this country, though I have not seen it. If she wants to get me on to BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts to blacken my character I will certainly go and let her try it on, for I know that my moral character and my thought is as pure as anyoneAs Written:any one in, or out of, Christian ScientistAs Written:C. S; (thanks for your assurance on this Subject) and it would give me a hold on her. She cannot frighten me into, or out of, anything. I have always had a contempt of a threat and for one who threatened, for fear is not a large element in my nature,– nor in fact is it a family trait a family that can be traced back through kings, emperors, knights, noblemen, lawyers to the year seven hundred.

I never told you of an incident that occurred at the terrible battle of Cold HarborEditorial Note: The battle of Cold Harbor was fought in the American Civil War from May 31 to June 12, 1864, near Mechanicsville, Virginia.. In fact it seemed so insignificant that I had forgotten it myself until told of it about a year ago by the officer in charge. He said to me: "It is a wonder you are alive today! I don't suppose you remember it, but when I called for a volunteer to take the flag and hold it in a very dangerous position, where shot and shell were flying thick and fast, no one replied, but you spoke up and said: "I will if I am big enough," and I replied you are the biggest As Written: bigest man here and took you where I wanted the flag posted, but when I saw where I had put you I was scared and never expected to see you alive again. You stayed there until you were relieved, and was not hurt, but I was dreadfully scared about you and I thought surely you would be killed and I had no business to put you there."

What is my duty to do I fear not to do it, but I have no idea of being a witness for W. I am well aware that if by any possible means such a thing should be, there would be great fear and tremblingPhil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. amongst some who profess such great loyalty, but who are intriguing As Written: intrigueing in behalf of their own selfish ends, and who will never permit my return to Boston, or ConcordEditorial Note: Concord, New Hampshire, if they can possibly prevent it, for I stood in the way of their devilish designs, and was not afraid to talk and act against them in the interest As Written: interist of Truth and honesty.

Some most dishonest things have been done under what seems to be your sanction, but I believe you were unwittingly made the tool of villains, and I have never believed you knew or understood certain things, for I have always thought and believed you to be the dearest, sweetest, purest Mother of all.

Be careful dear One! You are surrounded by vipers! Shake them off, and put your whole trust in God!

TodayAs Written:To day I seem to occupy a strange place, or no place, in the world. I seem to be a nameless outcastAs Written:out cast, a wanderer, slandered, character and reputation blackened and I am insulted all over this land by those who call themselves Christian Scientists, and hated by the others because of my persistent, unswerving fidelity to you. I cannot write to my friends or students in Christian ScientistAs Written:C. S. as they will immediately As Written: immeditely be put down as "under my thought", "darkened", "disloyal" – gone to the bad"!

But it will not always be so, for there is an invincible God!!

I can never forget the first vision God gave me of you, neither can I forget your last words to me:- "When I have demonstrated some things we shall be together again".

Thinking on these things I wait patiently on Good.

As I may go East next season you hadbetterlet me know when that suit comes off so I will not run into it blindly, or against your desire.