Hotel Decatur
BostonEditorial Note: Boston, Massachusetts May 30. 1877
Trusting not person, but Principle; confering not with flesh and bloodGal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: , but Spirit; taking for my example "the way set before" in the inspirational part of "Science and Health"Editorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, fearing nothing but hypocrisy As Written: hypocricy and wrongdoingAs Written:wrong doing I shall go on as I have laboring unselfishly to the planting of the kingdom of Truth on earth.
At a meeting at 8 Broad St Lynn, last January you said that "'Science and Health' was written under inspiration", I accept it, with the exception of the testimonials and say that you have no more right to walk over it rough-shod than others; you was an instrument to give birth to that book and see it placed before the people.
⇉ Handshift:Unknown[*]Archival Note: A metamark that looks like an X appears at this point in the manuscript. ⇉ Handshift:Daniel H. SpoffordThe world suffers for that work to interpret the mighty changes which are fast moving on. It is not healing a few sick or teaching a dozen students a year but the preparing of the "ark" for the saving of God's people. Nineteen months since the book was first issued and not corrected yet. But teaching has paid and your oft-repeatedAs Written:oft repeated words are that "you will let the book go down if others will not take hold and carry it on" and the "writing on the wall"Dan 5:5 ¶In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. is–"'you have proven yourself unworthy to be 'the standard-bearerAs Written:standard bearer of Christian Science,'" and God will remove from you the means for carrying on this work
You accuse me of being mercenary, look at the facts for the sake of circulating the books I dropped the price from 2.50Editorial Note: $2.50 in 1877 is the equivalent of $69.68 in 2022. to 1.00Editorial Note: $1.00 in 1877 is the equivalent of $27.87 in 2022. per copy then to still hasten the circulation I gave them away in my practice As Written: practise trusting in God to "return the bread cast before the waters"Eccl 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. . You looking for selfish motives said "I did this to increase my practiceAs Written:practise," if a person could not look at but one side of an object at a time of course they would see it from where they stood. I repeat "those cures related were not written under inspiration"
You accuse me of "talking the book without giving credit", are you not rather childish? does Truth come from person or Principle? why are you so anxious to have people know it was revealed to you? if the world gets the Truth will not God adjust the balances? why not trust Him? You say "if the cures mentioned are a hindrance to the practice then advance to their demonstration," no teacher except under inspiration of sense would show passion or disparage a pupil if they did not do quite as much in two years as they, the teacher had done in fifteen years of practice.
I consider that I have a perfect right to appoint meetings, or place in practice those you have taught; to "assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah"Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. , for out of your mouth at the meeting referred As Written: refered to we took the words "I have today As Written: to-day but one student"
Should I hear or suspect that you are trying to injure my character or practice As Written: practise in any way whatever I have certain letters in your handwritingAs Written:hand writing which I shall not hesitate to make public. I trust you know what I mean. I suggest that you give that book and the copyright As Written: copy-right unconditionally to someoneAs Written:some one, anyoneAs Written:any one; and see if God will not prosper it for this which is indifferent, "neither cold nor hot" ought to be spued outRev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
You have said "if you only had two to stand by you you would carry this cause." I propose to carry it alone expecting no one but God to stand by me,
⇉ Handshift:Daniel H. Spofford Lamentations IV. – 6. 7. 8.Lam 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Lam 4:7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Lam 4:8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.