I have been trying to write you for some time, but your letter of the 14thEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. just received prompts me to answer at once setting all work aside. I have never felt my dear Mrs Eddy that I wanted to write you complaining or fault-findingAs Written:fault finding letters, if I could not write cheerful As Written: cheerfull and encouragingly I would not write at all. Even now I cannot write you of many things that needs verbal explanations. The question that was brought up in class by Mrs Courtney is one that I myself told her to ask, that Mr Norvell might be set straight. On the 18th of January- the Association met in BeatriceEditorial Note: Beatrice, Nebraska, of which I am President- The question was there asked Mr Norvell does God know of Sin, he answered no, then said they, does God know of the belief, Mr Norvell said yes, and went on explaining the why and wherefore. I arose at once and said where do get that- why he says in Science & HealthEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and pointed out one place and said it spoke of it in two or three others, he spoke of one in particular Genesis P.P. 477 taking As Written: takeing nearly the whole page, error, origin of man. and creation- I brought up your answer or article in December Journal '85 to prove his statement false- he said it meant the same- God knows man is beleiving As Written: beleiving a lie- God knows man is out of harmony &c &c.
I said to him through my many years of suffering, my prayers and prayers of my friends, if God knew I was believing As Written: beleiving a lie why did he not relieve As Written: releive me- his reply was, because you prayed amiss.- Mrs Eddy I was made to feel before my pupils and I may say before the Association that I had been teaching wrong. I said nothing more until As Written: untill I was alone and then I pondered the question in thought. I knew that you had never taught that, and said again & again if I am wrong I wish to be set right, and if Mr Norvell was wrong he should be set right, and that is why I had Mrs Courtney bring up the question before him, .and felt that he surely would acknowledge the error he had been teaching, talking and darkening the minds of many good followers of Truth. Mrs Courtney is not to blame poor child, it was a hard cross for her to bear. in uncovering the lie- It was only her sense of right and wrong of which she felt was due to the ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science and myself. She feels that many are against her for the Truth that she tried to bring out. Mrs Courtney is true in every sense of the word, and she has proved and demonstrated what her understanding of Truth is..
Mr Norvell has never written since he left here for Boston and neither has he called on me since his return. My dear Mrs Eddy, I can see by your letter, and also by a letter I have receivedAs Written:recd from Mrs Spooner this Morning that much has been misrepresented to you- Mrs Eddy I never by word or deed have I ever done that I am not ready and willing to lay before you- if I err it is through lack of understanding only, and not by any wrong motive or desire.
I have always felt and do now that if I cannot work honestly in God's vineyard As Written: vinyard I will give it up. Oh! how I have suffered As Written: sufferd by the Stabs of mortal beliefs as I know that you have, but it has been all in silence and alone. Your letter relative to Mrs Colman was grievous As Written: grevious but I could honestly say with Job though you slay me yet do I love you.
Mr Norvell has three classes promised him. I can only hope that he has been convinced of his error. I shall not talk about him that is sure but he must come and acknowledge that he was wrong in his statement– He has a class in Beatrice on the 14th of March and I do notAs Written:donot know how soon one at Weeping, Water. NebraskaAs Written:Neb- also he is promised a class soon in Carrollton, MissouriAs Written:Mo. I expect my dear Mrs Eddy to see you before long and then I hope to have a clearer understanding. In the meantime believe As Written: beleive me always