Accession: 237AP1.38.012
Editorial Title: Silas J. Sawyer to Mary Baker Eddy, January 21, 1884
Author: Silas J. Sawyer 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Annotator: Calvin A. Frye 
Date: January 21, 1884
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Silas J. Sawyer on his lined printed stationery from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Archival Note: This letter includes a notation in the handwriting of Calvin A. Frye.
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237AP1.38.012
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Mrs M B G Eddy
569 Columbus Ave
Boston- MassachusettsAs Written:Mass. Dear Madam.

After a very pleasant trip, by Steamer to New YorkAs Written:N Y, thence by way of Philad'aEditorial Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. to Milwaukee where we arrived on Saturday at 3.00 P M. We are at home again. You will be more interested to hear of what we have done in ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science, since returning, than of a journey. Briefly then,– I have good news to write, We have only been home one day, at eleven o'clock this A M, Mrs Silsbee left for ChicagoEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois I shall follow her on Thursday, and we go to ShermansEditorial Note: Bradford Sherman, Martha E. Sherman, and Roger Sherman, to strike a blow for Science there. I shall place the Truth before them, and the facts in relation to E. J. Arens; with proof of his work.

My wife & self, on our return home followed the plan you suggested, in relation to Mrs Silsbee. We did not ask her to join a class I might teach, but took her up in thought. Sunday morning, after a struggle through the night, Mrs S— said she preferred As Written: prefered to go into a class, than have me teach her alone. She wants to destroy all error, its claims, in relation to her, and leave nothing undone to fit her for the work before us.

Mrs Eddy-? we felt like shouting glory! for what a load, God had lifted for us. Then I laid that part of the plan, in relation to Shermans before her, and I think she will prove a strong ally. This is the plan– I will form a small class, and among them we are to get Mrs Sherman of Chicago, it will take me a week or more to get ready for it. Mrs Silsbee goes to a friends house in Chicago, remains until I come. I shall try and get there on Thursday next; take a set of BooksEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and get them placed in the BookstoresAs Written:Book stores there at the same time. In the evening Mrs Silsbee and self will visit Mr Shermans, and Mrs S— is to be a witness, to them of the utter failure of their practice and teachings, herself As Written: hersself being a living evidence for, Mrs Eddy– her old beliefs of Tumor asthma Etc. have returned with strong attacks. Do you think they, Shermans; can stand up against such proof of the sandy foundation they are building upon.

After our interview, I shall leave, and then Mrs Silsbee will induce Mrs Sherman to come and join the class with her, at Milwaukee, as soon as I can form it. Then in the spring, they can come to you, or you come here, and the father and son, come under your teaching- Oh! Mrs Eddy.– when I look at what I am undertaking, I am almost

dismayed, and were it not that you advised, and are helping me, I would not dare try it.

My hand is on the plough, now, and I do not look back.Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. "God and I are a majority." There is work to do now, I do not want to hear the rebuke "could ye not watch one hour,"Matt 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? and to accomplish the victory over error, by bringing Mr Shermans into Science requires continualAs Written:continal watchfulnessAs Written:watchfullness and work. I know you will take up the enemy, at Chicago, so we all can move in harmonious action. and we are harmonious, for all is Mind, there is no fear. I am quite anxious the books should arrive, and trust Dr Frye has them on the route to me. We have not informed Mrs Silsbee that you might come west, or of any future operations, for we think it best to wait developments As Written: developements on her part, and if she continues in the same spirit, and with watchfulness As Written: watchfullness of her on our part, we hope she will prove a grand worker in the Science of healing, and a great help to you. She expresses herself as willing to do just as we advise, and we shall advise only in Science, and for science

TodayAs Written:To day I withdrew from our Curling Club, also disposed, per agreement, of my dental office, and thus I burn my ships of belief, and now its for God and I, "where thou goest, I will go, thy people shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God."Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Of course it will take a little time to get entirely free from dentistry.

Mr W G. Swan passed away last Thursday. I am sorry for Mrs Swan; and hope she will now see God as he is.

Although we have begun work toward Chicago, do not think we have neglected Milwaukee. My wife received a beautiful evidence of what she has done in science, from away off in St Paul. It would rejoice you as much as myself, to see how she enters into the work now, so different from the first. My patient, Chas Briggs has come up rapidly since my return. several others I have not seen yet, but when I do, I have no doubts of the result.

Mrs Eddy! have you written Mrs Silsbee yet; if not, or if you have, do not consider a suggestion of mine impertinent, that is, to impress upon her the necessity of listening to and following our advice regarding the science, also that she need write no more to you, as I can inform her when your next class is. to commence. She is so impulsive we have to keep a close watch, or she is apt to do, and regret, frequently. A few words from you to her, in regard to our actions, would assist us. I have not seen Mr Klepsir since my return, but hope he has received your letter in relation to myself.

Will you send me the form of notice you would like inserted in the paper, in relation to the books. it was for the standing Ad's. Mrs Sawyer joins in love to all. I do not expect a long reply to this, and shall only expect a brief business reply, for I know you have no time waste; but I shall write you from time to time, as the work progresses here. I know, and can feel you with us, which is a great help.

Most sincerely for Truth
S. J Sawyer
Handshift:Calvin A. FryeAnsweredAs Written:Ans.
237AP1.38.012
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Mrs M B G Eddy
569 Columbus Ave
Boston- Mass.Expanded:Massachusetts Dear Madam.

After a very pleasant trip, by Steamer to N YExpanded:New York, thence by way of Philad'aEditorial Note: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. to Milwaukee where we arrived on Saturday at 3.00 P M. We are at home again. You will be more interested to hear of what we have done in ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science, since returning, than of a journey. Briefly then,– I have good news to write, We have only been home one day, at eleven o'clock this A M, Mrs Silsbee left for ChicagoEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois I shall follow her on Thursday, and we go to ShermansEditorial Note: Bradford Sherman, Martha E. Sherman, and Roger Sherman, to strike a blow for Science there. I shall place the Truth before them, and the facts in relation to E. J. Arens; with proof of his work.

My wife & self, on our return home followed the plan you suggested, in relation to Mrs Silsbee. We did not ask her to join a class I might teach, but took her up in thought. Sunday morning, after a struggle through the night, Mrs S— said she prefered Corrected: preferred to go into a class, than have me teach her alone. She wants to destroy all error, its clainsms, in relation to her, and leave nothing [?] Unclear or illegible  undone to fit her for the work before us.

Mrs Eddy-? we felt like shouting glory! for what a load, God had lifted for us. Then I laid that part of the plan, in relation to Shermans before her, and I think she will prove a strong ally. This is the plan– I will form a small class, and among them we are to get Mrs Sherman of Chicago, it will take me a week or more to get ready for it. Mrs Silsbee goes to a friends house in Chicago, remain [?] Unclear or illegible s until I come. I shall try and get there on Thursday next; take a set of BooksEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and get them placed in the Book storesCorrected:Bookstores there at the same time. In the evening Mrs Silsbee and self will visit Mr Shermans, and Mrs S— is to be a witness, to them of the utter failure of their practice and teachings, hersself Corrected: herself being a living evidence for, Mrs Eddy– her old beliefs of Tumor asthma Etc. have returned with strong attacks. Do you think they, Shermans; can stand up against such proof of the sandy foundation they are building upon.

After our interview, I shall leave, and then Mrs Silsbee will induce Mrs Sherman to come and join the class with her, at Milwaukee, as soon as I can form it,. Then in the spring, they can come to you, or you come here, and the father and son, come under your teaching- Oh! Mrs Eddy.– when I look at what I am undertaking, I am almost

dismayed, and were it not that you advised, and are helping me, I would not dare try it.

My hand is on the plough, now, and I do not look back.Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. "God and I are a majority." There is work to do now, I do not want to hear the rebuke "could ye not watch one hour,"Matt 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? and to accomplish the victory over error, by bringing Mr Shermans into Science requires continalCorrected:continual watchfullnessCorrected:watchfulness and work. I know you will take up the enemy, at Chicago, so we all can move in harmonious action. and we are harmonious, for all is mMind, there is no fear. I am quite anxious the books should arrive, and trust Dr Frye has them on the route to me. We have not informed Mrs Silsbee that you might come west, or of any future operations, for we think it best to wait developements Corrected: developments on her part, and if she continues in the same spirit, and with watchfullness Corrected: watchfulness of her on our part, we hope she will prove a grand worker in the Science of healing, and a great help to you. She expresses herself as willing to do just as we advise, and we shall advise only in Science, and for science

To dayCorrected:Today I withdrew from our Curling Club, also disposed, per agreement, of my dental office, and thus I burn my ships of belief, and now its for God and I, "where thou goest, I will go, thy people shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God."Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Of course it will take a little time to get entirely free from dentistry.

Mr W G. Swan passed away last Thursday. I am sorry for Mrs Swan; and hope she will now see God as he is.

Although we have begun work toward Chicago, do not think we have neglected Milwaukee. My wife received a beautiful evidence w of what she has done in science, from away off in St Paul. It would rejoice you as much as myself, to see how she enters into the work now, so different from the first. My patient, Chas Briggs has come up rapidly since my return. several others I have not seen yet, but when I do, I have no doubts of the result.

Mrs Eddy! have you written Mrs Silsbee yet; if not, or if you have, do not consider a suggestion of mine impertinent, that is, to impress upon her the necessity of listening to and following our advice regarding the science, also that she need write no more to you, as I can inform her when your next the class is. to commence. She is so impulsive we have to keep a close watch, or she is apt to do, and regret, frequently. A few words from you to her, in regard to our actions, would assist us. I have not seen Mr Klepsir since my return, but hope he has received your letter in relation to myself.

Will you send me the form of notice you would like inserted in the paper, in relation to the books. it was for the standing Ad's. Mrs Sawyer joins in love to all. I do not expect a long reply to this, and shall only expect a brief business reply, for I know you have no time waste; but I shall write you from time to time, as the work progresses here. I know, and can feel you with us, which is a great help.

Most sincerely for Truth
S. J Sawyer
Handshift:Calvin A. FryeAns.Expanded:Answered
 
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Christian Science Chicago, Illinois Bradford Sherman, Martha E. Sherman, and Roger Sherman Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy