Accession: 215.36.008
Editorial Title: William I. Gill to Mary Baker Eddy, June 4, 1886
Author: William I. Gill 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: June 4, 1886
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by William I. Gill on lined paper from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
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215.36.008
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library

How singular that after my interview with you today I felt a conviction of healing power sent as I never had before; and I am persuaded that the Lord is not going to deny that gift to me.

But my object in writing is to tell you of a new or rather another embarrassment As Written: embarrasment that powerfully occurred to me. as soon as I left you: It comes this way: The action of this new body is as yet all informal. It has not yet become a legally constituted body. It has not therefore been able to give me anything more than a private, personal and informal call. This condition I would like to prolong. They want to push the organization as rapidly as possible and get a legal settlement with me as pastor. Now if they should complete their part of this plan and give me a formal call with expectation of a speedy and favorable reply, I could not long withhold an answer. What should it be? For the strongest and noblest reasons I would rather work with and for you and ChristianAs Written:Chrn. Science, if I had indisputable evidence that I am wanted for one year. If a letter to that effect from you or the Ch. should come to me before I am called upon to give a formal reply to them, my way would be clear.

You said in one letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. that you would like to have me for a pupil a year; and I think that nothing less would suffice to help me to do justice to ChristianAs Written:Chrn. Science, and make my studies tell to the best effect in the pulpit. I do not consider it any light task; but it is so noble and grand that I should be glad to give to it all my strength.

Besides, I have a deep longing to be able to relieve you of some of the spiritual burdens which rest on your shoulders. I believe that a year's study and labor with you would give proof of my growing qualification to then serve you and the great and lovely As Written: lovly cause.

I feel, too, that it is the crucial hour, and that what we do effectively must be done quicklyJohn 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. , and hence I speak thus feelingly and frankly with you. I do not at this time wish to make any mistake. The mistake here would be serious, as it would doubtless As Written: dubtless determine all my future course, and I want that to be for the greatest good that I may possibly achieve.

At all events, I pray the Infinite to long shield and preserve you, and by some agency or other prosper and perpetuate in growing power the Ch. and enterprise you have so well begun. The CauseEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science., since I have come to have any real knowledge of it, has become dear to me as the culmination of all the secret toil and aspiration of my life. Goodnight–11:30 P.M.

Your Son in the Gospel of ChristianAs Written:Chrn. Science.
Wm. I Gill
215.36.008
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library

How singular that after my interview with you today I felt a conviction of healing power sent as I never had before; and I am persuaded that the Lord is not going to deny that gift to me.

But my object in writing is to tell you of a new one or rather another embarrasment Corrected: embarrassment that powerfully occurred to me. as soon as I left you: It comes this way: The action of this new body is as yet all informal. It has not yet become a legally constituted body. It has not therefore been able to give me anything more than a private, personal and informal call. This condition I would like to prolong. Some of tThemy want to push the organization as rapidly as possiblye and get a legal settlement with me as pastor. Now if they should copmplete their part of this plan and give me a formal call with expectation of a speedy and favorable reply, I could not long withhold an answer. What should it be? For the strongest and noblest reasons I would rather work with and for you and Chrn.Expanded:Christian Science, if I had indisputable evidence that I am wanted for one year. If a letter to that effect from you or the Ch. should come to me before I am called upon to give a formal reply to them, my way would be clear.

You said in one letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. that you would like to have me for a pupil a year; and I think that nothing less would suffice to help me to do justice to Chrn.Expanded:Christian Science, and make my studies tell to the best effect in the pulpit. I do not consider it any light task; but it is so noble and glrand that I should be glad to give to it all my strength.

Besides, I khave a deep longing to be able to relieve you of some of the spiritual burdens which rest on your shoulders. I believe that a year's study and labor with you would give proof of my growing qualification to then serve you and the great and lovly Corrected: lovely cause.

I feel, too, that it is the crucial hour, and wthat what we do effectively must be done quicklyJohn 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. , and hence I speak thus feelingly and frankly with you. I do not at this time wish to make any mistake. The mistake here would be serious, as it would dubtless Corrected: doubtless determine all my future course, and I want that to be for the greatest good that I may possibly achieve.

At all events, I pray the Infinite to long shield and preserve you, and by some agency or other prosper and perpetuate in growing power the Ch. and enterprise you have so well begun. The cCauseEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science., since I have come to have any real knowledge of it, has become dear to me as the culmination of all the secret toil and aspiration of my life. Goodnight–11:30 P.M.

Your Son in the Gospel of Chrn.Expanded:Christian Science.
Wm. I Gill
 
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This letter is not extant. The cause of Christian Science.