Your very welcome letter of the 14thEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. reached me Saturday night. I had been away to get a few patients, sthree of them - of which more anon.— I have heard nothing from the CharterEditorial Note: This is a reference to the charter being drawn up for the Massachusetts Metaphysical College. as yet. I didnt Corrected: didn't know what arrangements you had made with Dr Eastman and so thought it best to wait till I heard from you, knowing that if it wasnt Corrected: wasn't all right he had my address. You see I expected to see you on the evening of the 5th July, & thought I would have a chance to taklk "College" for awhile, & say a few words that I didnt Corrected: didn't care to have overheard by any of the ScientistsEditorial Note: Christian Scientists (except of course Dr Eddy.) This evening I will go to our friend Dr. Eastman & will let you know the result immediately. Thursday my Mother in LawEditorial Note: Sophia Wolfenden & Father in LawEditorial Note: John Wolfenden came to pay us a visit & it has been [?] Unclear or illegible  a load for me to carry I can assure you. They go away tonight though, so I can have a little rest, [?] Unclear or illegible  if you can call it rest. I dont Corrected: don't want to talk "beliefs" but yesterday I had a job on my hands with Sarah, but she is much better today & I have no fears & I didnt Corrected: didn't have a chance to write a word or I should have sent your letter (which I have inclosedCorrected:enclosed.) Mrs. Choate has a letter for you which I am to get tonight, so you mustnt Corrected: mustn't b [?] Unclear or illegible lame her altogether for [?] Unclear or illegible  detaining it, I am to blame as well, though when she said [?] Unclear or illegible  she had a letter for you I said I would take it if she would let me have it; she said "certainly", but didnt Corrected: didn't get it for me & turned the conversation in such a channel that I forgot all about it till next day. Without being notified I went to 551 ⇉ Handshift:UnknownShawmut Ave ⇉ Handshift:James C. Howard last Wednesday evening, but couldnt Corrected: couldn't get there till late. All I found there were Mrs. Choate Mrs. Childs Miss Childs & Henry L. Bancroft. I learned a good deal that wasnt Corrected: wasn't intended for me. Mrs. Choate among other things said "O Mr. H. where is Mrs. Eddy." "Iks" "I dont Corrected: don't know". Mrs. C. "What !!!"

"Iks" "I dont Corrected: don't know."

Mrs. C. "There. I thought I was going to find out so much "I am real sorry". When did you see her last.?"

"Iks." "On the morning of the 5th."

Mrs. C. "Dont Corrected: Don't you know her address? I thought you were to have her address & take all the letters that came for her."

"Iks." "That is the understanding, & when I get the address I will send what I am holding."

Mrs. C. "O then you have some letters have you"

"Iks" "I have a little in that line"

Mrs. C. "ImCorrected:I'm real disappointed. "I thought you cwould tell me all about it."

(If Mrs. C. had the gift of the discerning of spiritsI Cor 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: she would have seen a small spirit of hilarity with a grin on his face that would lap round far enough on his head that you could tie a double bow [?] Unclear or illegible  knot itn it.) After talking on other subjects for awhile she said, as near as I can remember the conversation.

Mrs. C. "Mr. H. I did something tonight that will make you hate me, [?] Unclear or illegible  or make you angry with me."

"Iks" "What was that?"

Mrs C. "When they spoke of having you for President,, I said that you wouldnt Corrected: wouldn't take it, that you had said you couldnt Corrected: couldn't if you would and wouldnt Corrected: wouldn't if you could. You know you said so to me once"

"Iks" "I never said such a thing Mrs C.' I never had any conversation with you on the subject. But I am obliged to you for not allowing my name to be used as I dont Corrected: don't want the office."

Mrs. C. "O yes you know when we waere talking about it you said you wouldnt Corrected: wouldn't have the office."

"Iks." "You are mistaken Mrs. C. as I never spoke to you on that subject. But that is all right as I wont Corrected: won't have the position."

Mrs. C. "I dont Corrected: don't know what Bancroft (Henry's brother) will say for I did the same thing for him. I am afra [?] Unclear or illegible id he will be very angry with me."

"Iks" "Who was Prest.Expanded:President tonight?"

Mrs. C. "I was. And I tell you I made them stand around. I laid every thing every thingCorrected:everything on the table."

Now Mr [?] Unclear or illegible s Eddy there are several mistakes as to the exact language used above, but if I am not all wrong there is little difference in the meaning. The only time I made any such statement as she said I did, was when you & I were talking over the C.S. Assn when you told me I must take the Presidency & then I used the expression she said I did, for I certainly said I wouldnt Corrected: wouldn't if I could & I couldnt Corrected: couldn't if I would; I can only account for it in this way, " she was listening & overheard the conversation. A serious charge but I think a just one.

I didnt Corrected: didn't think anything of it at that time, but soon it occurred to me what her object was. She wants to be Prest.Expanded:President. Peter Smith told me Saturday that your Amendment was voted on last Wednesday & carried, but Mrs. C. wouldntCorrected:wouldn't announce the vote but laid it on the table. I dont Corrected: don't know what the woman is after but she is grinding an axe of some kind. If I am here next meeting & have not decided to leave town I will take the Presidency if it is offered to me, if I can get it; not because I want it, but because I like to put a block in the Devil's wheel & stop his cart whenever I get a chance. Some things I heard & saw that night, I am very anxious to tell you, but they are so close on the borders of Gossipopolis that I dislike to write them or think about the matter. Peter Smith left town Saturday night; God will bless that boy in a way that will surprise us- at least that is my idea of him. I think he is a good boy in every sense of the word. I told him [?] Unclear or illegible  that I thought his blessing was sure, but not to be cast down if it didnt Corrected: didn't come as he expected or hoped. Then he told me his plans, etc. & I must say I admire his pluck. Just as I was saying "Goodbye" he too stooped to flattery (no I'll take that back, for I know he meant what he said) He told me that I never spoke to him that I didnt Corrected: didn't do him good & that every conversation I had with him I seemed to give him new light on many points. (Just here the Old Adam forged another link to my chain, for I was gratified [?] Unclear or illegible to hear Smith say so.) If I was sure of staying in Boston I would try my best to be Prest.Expanded:President of the C. S. Assn for this term. I dont Corrected: don't want to go near Mrs. C. if it can be avoided, for it is to me like handling wild ivy–(in belief.) I feel the poison for at least 48 hours after seeing her. Perhaps I shouldnt Corrected: shouldn't blame her, but I cant Corrected: can't help her it. "Murder will out." I expect to go to New York tomorrow night in search of a situation or something. I dont Corrected: don't know that I expect anything. I hardly know why I am going, but hope I will be led in a plain path. Now Mrs. Eddy I want to tell you of a pit I have fallen into and dont Corrected: don't think that I have any [?] Unclear or illegible  sinister motive in telling you of my patients for it is not my intention to mention their beliefs; though I know that even without that you can see through the veil- Smith came into the office & said that I must take three patients that he had seen twice. One of them had been a patient of E. J. Arens who had given her 20 treatments & had left her worse than when she fi [?] Unclear or illegible rst saw him. Arens wanted to get rid of the case & I believe his brother Otto had tried his powers. Then E. J. A. wanted her to go to another Scientist (.?) named Osgood (I have heard you tell of him.) Well, I didnt Corrected: didn't know about the Osgood part of the business when I agreed to take the case. So Smith had told them that a Dr. Howard would take the Cases after [?] Unclear or illegible  his (Smith's) departure which he postponed one day s [?] Unclear or illegible o as to give him an opportunity to introduce me to them. Saturday afternoon we went to Cambridgeport to see them. Then I learned that two years ago Dick Kennedy treated her for several months. At this point most of the Scientists would have lost heart, but I didnt Corrected: didn't for I felt sure I had mine in the toe of my left boot.

20th July '80Expanded:1880 -

After mailing the first section of this epistle I went to see the patients spoken of, & they were, or seemed, surprised that they were not cured of their infirmity. After leaving the house I found I had very little time to spare as I had to see my Wife's parents while they were on the train. It took me 11 minutes to go from corner of Joy & Cambridge Sts. to the Old Colony Depot in Kneeland St. It didnt Corrected: didn't hurt me a particle. Then I called on Dr. Eastman who informed me that there woould probably be some changes necessary in the Bye LawsCorrected:Bylaws, but he would go again today to see about it. Called [?] Unclear or illegible  at Mrs. Choates Corrected: Choate's but couldnt Corrected: couldn't get itn. 21.st. July '80Expanded:1880.

Saw my patients & walked from Joy St. to Dr. Eastmans Corrected: Eastman's then to Mrs. Choates Corrected: Choate's then home, & wasntCorrected:wasn't tired. There will have to be an erasure on the Minute book, but the Dr. says I can do that this P.M. The Commissioner cant Corrected: can't allow that preiveilege given to the Prest.Expanded:President viz: the right to recall a diploma. But after we get the Charter we can put that clause back; or you can make a student sign a statement or paper giving you the right to recall it — before you let him or her have it the diploma. I hope that will be all the change necessary.

I enclose the letter from Mrs Choate, I mean the letter that she has had. She [?] Unclear or illegible  found I was a very dry pump. She desired me to say for her that she hoped the Lo [?] Unclear or illegible rd would bless y [?] Unclear or illegible ou or some other pious remark. Also that she has let the roomsEditorial Note: This is a reference to the rooms at 551 Shawmut Avenue, which the Eddys had been renting in a home leased by the Choates. The Eddys moved out of the property to spend July and August of 1880 in Concord, New Hampshire. The Choates, who had signed the lease, felt that the Eddys should continue to pay their share even after moving out since the Choates had secured the lease so that the Eddys would have a place to live, and they were initially concerned about finding new renters. after 1st August (to some parties whom she has healed) for the same amount as you pd, only they take their meals out of the house. I dont Corrected: don't mean that they have to picnic out on the front door stepsCorrected:doorsteps, but that they board some whereCorrected:somewhere else. She sai [?] Unclear or illegible d that she was acting as Prest.Expanded:President & that as no one else would, she took charge of the meeting on Sunday, & was taking all the duties that sh [?] Unclear or illegible e was requested to— this is a bid for the Presidency– She was anxious to know if you really had left town, as she said some parties were not satisfied that you gone out of the City. At this I told her that you I didnt Corrected: didn't really know what they meant by that as I couldnt Corrected: couldn't say how big the town was. She bit at that hook & said "O, then she isntCorrected:isn't here or in LynnEditorial Note: Lynn, Massachusetts".? I didnt Corrected: didn't reply to the question, but I knew she was prying into what didnt Corrected: didn't belong to her; I like to play with such folks. She was very anxious to know how your health was. Has been at work again? Then she inquired why I wasnt Corrected: wasn't out Sunday, at the same time watching [?] Unclear or illegible  my face very closely, I said I had Company my Wife's parents. I know why she asked after my wife!!!! But God hel [?] Unclear or illegible p her if she isnt Corrected: isn't a little more careful. Then she asked if my Wife was getting along nicely. I said "of course" in a way that surprised her. But when I got home I found Sarah had been taken sick as before & the time was not five minutes after she Mrs. C had asked about her. Can you see through that ladder.?.

I see I have made a mistake in telling you of my Wife, but I had no intention of speaking about it when I began to write. I forgot to say that yesterday I was soaked through with the rain from 3 oclock Corrected: o'clock till nearly 10- & that my boots are wet yet. It couldnt Corrected: couldn't affect me. I leave for N.Y.Expanded:New York tonight, to be back Saturday morning, or perhaps earlier. I wish I could get a situation as cornet [?] Unclear or illegible  for enough to clear my rent. That wouldnt Corrected: wouldn't be in the way of Science & would leave me free for the [?] Unclear or illegible  week to have full swing at Metaphysics. I hope that I wont Corrected: won't be so far away from Boston that I cannot have the privilege of giving you a diploma.