Accession: 544.57.002
Editorial Title: Ursula N. Gestefeld to Mary Baker Eddy, July 24, 1884
Author: Ursula N. Gestefeld 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: July 24, 1884
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Ursula N. Gestefeld from Chicago, Illinois.
Related Topic: 544.57.001Click link to view 544.57.001 document in new window, L14278Click link to view L14278 document in new window
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ChicagoEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois July 24th 1884
Dear Mrs. Eddy

Many thanks for your speedy replyEditorial Note: See L14278. to my letterEditorial Note: See 544.57.001. and also for the magazine and paper you sent me. I read the article “The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” with great pleasure and find many thoughts therein identical with yours. With all my heart I declare for the power of two of the keys he mentions – love and self-renunciation; but it seems to me that these in reality form but one key; for does not love for our kind bring about naturally, self-renunciation?

I do most earnestly desire to realize every moment the oneness of man with God – to realize that God is Life Truth and Love, and to so order my ways that that sublime fact shall find the clearest expression through me. It is not always easy though, is it Mrs. Eddy? I was progressing nicely with that case of disease of the genital organs I wrote to you about when a very disagreeable circumstance arose which made me feel very badly for a few days. The husband of the lady did not know that I was treating her; she did not wish him to know it; but he accidentally discovered it and forbade her to take another treatment, and it happened just when I was beginning to see the effect of what I had done for her; and because he believes “Christian Science” to be a _ humbug (as he expressed it) he will not allow her to have anything As Written: any thing to do with it and through what he has said of it, I have lost another patient – the case of gout I also spoke of. I suppose I must make up my mind to meet such occurrences as these and not allow them to trouble me but I must confess that for two or three days I felt as nearly ill in consequence of them as anyone As Written: any one who believes in the nothingness of matter can.

I always knew there was a great difference in the people of the north and west sidesEditorial Note: The north and west sides of Chicago, Illinois. but I never realized how great the difference was till I began to practice. On the north sideEditorial Note: The north side of Chicago, Illinois. people are very slow to try the Metaphysical method of healing; they look upon it only as a new “ism”, extravagant and impossible, born today only to die tomorrow, and they cannot afford to have their names associated with it. A lady acquaintance said to me the other day, that if I were not careful I would lose “caste” by being identified with any such thing. I told her I hoped I should never have any troubles worse to bear than loss of “caste”; that friends were not so easily lost, and so-calledAs Written:so called ones were not necessary to me.

On the west sideEditorial Note: The west side of Chicago, Illinois., itEditorial Note: Christian Science has been taken up by some people who cannot As Written: can not make it respected; otherwise fair-minded and intelligent people, looking upon them as the exponents of the causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science. do not think it worth their while to even investigate it for themselves; they think the fact of these people’s association with it stamps it as a fraud and delusion. It is the war necessary therefore that we who do thoroughly believe in and practice the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science should win their respect for it; through the respect we compel in them for ourselves.

I have made up my mind Mrs. Eddy to practice “Christian Science” conscientiously; to make it my life work and I will make people respect and believe inAs Written:it it sometime. I want to make money I admit, but that shall be with me a secondary consideration not the first. Whenever I meet a person who needs help but cannot pay for it; I will aid him just as readily as I would one who paid me for it. I think I ought to.

I hear very good accounts of the success of many practitioners on the west sideEditorial Note: The west side of Chicago, Illinois. however; one in particular says every moment of her time is taken up and she is making one hundred dollarsEditorial Note: $100 in 1884 is the equivalent $2,768.90 in 2017. a week all the time.

Whether I make money or not I want to see the causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science. progress, and in my own person I know I can make it respected, but I have to work slowly and patiently and wait for the result.

Mr. Slade preached a sermon on “Metaphysical Healing” a little time ago and he sent me the paper in which it was published: probably he sent you one also: but if not I will send you mine if you would care to have it and will let me know.

Once more many thanks for your kind remembrance of me.

Yours Et ceteraAs Written:&c
Ursula N. Gestefeld.
544.57.002
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ChicagoEditorial Note: Chicago, Illinois July 24th 1884
Dear Mrs. Eddy

Many thanks for your speedy replyEditorial Note: See L14278. to my letterEditorial Note: See 544.57.001. and also for the magazine and paper you sent me. I read the article “The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” with great pleasure and find many thoughts therein identical with yours. With all my heart I declare for the power of two of the keys he mentions – love and self-renunciation; but it seems to me that these in reality form but one key; for does not love for our kind bring about naturally, self-renunciation?

I do most earnestly desire to realize every moment the oneness of man with God – to realize that God is Life Truth and Love, and to so order my ways that that sublime fact shall find the clearest expression through me. It is not always easy though, is it Mrs. Eddy? I was progressing nicely with that case of disease of the genital organs I wrote to you about when a very disagreeable circumstance arose which made me feel very badly for a few days. The husband of the lady did not know that I was treating her; she did not wish him to know it; but he accidentally discovered it and forbade her to take another treatment, and it happened just when I was beginning to see the effect of what I had done for her; and because he believes “Christian Science” to be a _ humbug (as he expressed it) he will not allow her to have any thing Corrected: anything to do with it and through what he has said of it, I have lost another patient – the case of gout I also spoke of. I suppose I must make up my mind to meet such occurrences as these and not allow them to trouble me but I must confess that for two or three days I felt as nearly ill in consequence of them as any one Corrected: anyone who believes in the nothingness of matter can.

I always knew there was a great difference in the people of the north and west sidesEditorial Note: The north and west sides of Chicago, Illinois. but I never realized how great the difference was till I began to practice. On the north sideEditorial Note: The north side of Chicago, Illinois. people are very slow to try the Metaphysical method of healing; they look upon it only as a new “ism”, extravagant and impossible, born today only to die tomorrow, and they cannot afford to have their names associated with it. A lady acquaintance said to me the other day, that if I were not careful I would lose “caste” by being identified with any such thing. I told her I hoped I should never have any troubles worse to bear than loss of “caste”; that friends were not so easily lost, and so calledCorrected:so-called ones were not necessary to me.

On the west sideEditorial Note: The west side of Chicago, Illinois., itEditorial Note: Christian Science has been taken up by some people who can not Corrected: cannot make it respected; otherwise fair-minded and intelligent people, looking upon them as the exponents of the causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science. do not think it worth their while to even investigate it for themselves; they think the fact of these people’s association with it stamps it as a fraud and delusion. It is the war necessary therefore that we who do thoroughly believe in and practice the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science should win their respect for it; through the respect we compel in them for ourselves.

I have made up my mind Mrs. Eddy to practice “Christian Science” conscientiously; to make it my life work and I will make people respect and believe itCorrected:in it sometime. I want to make money I admit, but that shall be with me a secondary consideration not the first. Whenever I meet a person who needs help but cannot help pay for it; I will aid him just as readily as I would one who paid me for it. I think I ought to.

I hear very good accounts of the success of many practitioners on the west sideEditorial Note: The west side of Chicago, Illinois. however; one in particular says every moment of her time is taken up and she is making one hundred dollarsEditorial Note: $100 in 1884 is the equivalent $2,768.90 in 2017. a week all the time.

Whether I make money or not I want to see the causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science. progress, and in my own person I know I can make it respected, but I have to work slowly and patiently and wait for the result.

Mr. Slade preached a sermon on “Metaphysical Healing” a little time ago and he sent me the paper in which it was published: probably he sent you one also: but if not I will send you mine if you would care to have it and will let me know.

Once more many thanks for your kind remembrance of me.

Yours &cExpanded:Et cetera
Ursula N. Gestefeld.
 
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Chicago, Illinois See L14278. See 544.57.001. The north and west sides of Chicago, Illinois. The north side of Chicago, Illinois. The west side of Chicago, Illinois. Christian Science The cause of Christian Science. Christian Science The west side of Chicago, Illinois. $100 in 1884 is the equivalent $2,768.90 in 2017. The cause of Christian Science.