Accession: L04663
Editorial Title: Mary Baker Eddy to Ellen Latham Clarke, December 26, 1880
Author: Mary Baker Eddy 
Recipient: Ellen Latham Clarke 
Date: December 26, 1880 - archivist estimate
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Mary Baker Eddy.
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L04663
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
My very dear Student,

I did not see you yesterday and felt anxious to hear from you I hope you will come to me often and never let the coal die upon the altarIsa 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. or the light fade from the Mount of Revelation

O, no! do not let the fowls pick away the good seed, come to me — or meet with the students often and I will sow anew until they cannot pluck it all upMatt 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. Matt 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Matt 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; Matt 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Matt 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: Matt 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Matt 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: Matt 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Matt 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:4 ¶And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. Luke 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. , and so sure as God is sure when you learn your way you will master it all. Do not stay away from us. My Sunday meeting theyEditorial Note: Probably a reference to mental malpractitioners. can make less beneficial to you by saying you can receive no benefit from it, but then by doing your duty putting yourself in the way even, though it include a cross for it is requisite you should meet the cross — you will be blessed.[*]Editorial Note: Mary Baker Eddy referred to mental malpractice as "the injurious action of one mortal mind controlling another from wrong motives, and it is practised either with a mistaken or a wicked purpose" (Science and Health 451:26). She cautioned her students against using mortal mind (Science and Health 591:25) to control others in their practice of Christian Science by stating "We have no moral right and no authority in Christian Science for influencing the thoughts of others, except it be to serve God and benefit mankind. Man is properly self-governed, and he should be guided by no other mind than Truth, the divine Mind" (Message for 1901 20:2-6). She felt that it was important for her students to know how to defend themselves against any adverse effects stemming from mortal mind and made an important addition to Science and Health to cover this topic (Retrospection and Introspection 38:7-10). She also instructed teachers of Christian Science to teach their students how to defend themselves against it (Church Manual 84:1). While initially Eddy referred to certain individuals, who had turned against Christian Science, as "mesmerists" or "mental malpractitioners," she learned over time that it was crucial in dealing with mental malpractice to see evil as an impersonal lie and not to identify it with persons.

Now you need not despair, nothing can help you on earth but this, and this will restore you perfectly, I know, if only you give it a fair chance. You do not take the means now that are in your power

Please come to our AssociationEditorial Note: Christian Scientist Association next Wed. and then I shall not forget you but will certainly help you through if only you will do as I say but if you do not I cannot of course. My hand trembles for my trials are very great to know as I do the certain power of what I teach to make you healthy and happy and then to see you all turning back as the poison breathed into your ears is a trial beyond what I ever had before in all my severe labors to do good Remember 7 P. M. at 8 Broad St. Now if you love me you will be here next Wed so I shall know by that. Oh do not answer me the way to discourage me but come and God will show us our way out I have been through it all and so have some of my students and I know you can master them all and that Truth will be found far beyond what you think

Yours truly
MBGE
L04663
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
My very dear Student,

I did not see you yesterday and felt anxious to hear from you I hope you will come to me often and never let the coal die upon the altarIsa 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. or the light fade from the Mount of Revelation

O, no! do not let the fowls pick away the good seed, or else come to me — or meet with the students often and I will sow anew until they cannot pluck it all upMatt 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. Matt 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Matt 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; Matt 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Matt 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: Matt 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Matt 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: Matt 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Matt 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:4 ¶And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. Luke 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. , and so sure as God is sure when you learn your way you will master it all. Do not stay away from us. My Sunday meeting theyEditorial Note: Probably a reference to mental malpractitioners. can make less beneficial important to you by saying you can receive no benefit from it, but then by doing your duty putting yourself in the way even, though it include a cross for it is requisite you should meet the cross — you will be blessed.[*]Editorial Note: Mary Baker Eddy referred to mental malpractice as "the injurious action of one mortal mind controlling another from wrong motives, and it is practised either with a mistaken or a wicked purpose" (Science and Health 451:26). She cautioned her students against using mortal mind (Science and Health 591:25) to control others in their practice of Christian Science by stating "We have no moral right and no authority in Christian Science for influencing the thoughts of others, except it be to serve God and benefit mankind. Man is properly self-governed, and he should be guided by no other mind than Truth, the divine Mind" (Message for 1901 20:2-6). She felt that it was important for her students to know how to defend themselves against any adverse effects stemming from mortal mind and made an important addition to Science and Health to cover this topic (Retrospection and Introspection 38:7-10). She also instructed teachers of Christian Science to teach their students how to defend themselves against it (Church Manual 84:1). While initially Eddy referred to certain individuals, who had turned against Christian Science, as "mesmerists" or "mental malpractitioners," she learned over time that it was crucial in dealing with mental malpractice to see evil as an impersonal lie and not to identify it with persons.

Now you need not despair, nothing can help you on earth but this, and this will restore you perfectly, I know, if only you give it a fair chance. You do not take the means now that are in your power

Please come to our AssociationEditorial Note: Christian Scientist Association next Wed. and then I shall not forget you but will certainly help you through if only you will do as I say but if you do not I cannot of course. My hand trembles for my trials are very great to know as I do the certain power of what I teach to make you healthy and happy and then to see you all turning back as the poison breathed into your ears is a trial beyond what I ever had before in all my severe labors to do good Remember 7 P. M. at 8 Broad St. Now if you love me you will be here next Wed so I shall know by that. Oh do not answer me the way to discourage me but come and God will show us our way out I have been through it all and so have some of my students and I know you can master them all and that Truth will be found far beyond what you think

Yours truly
MBGE
 
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Probably a reference to mental malpractitioners. Christian Scientist Association Mary Baker Eddy referred to mental malpractice as "the injurious action of one mortal mind controlling another from wrong motives, and it is practised either with a mistaken or a wicked purpose" (Science and Health 451:26). She cautioned her students against using mortal mind (Science and Health 591:25) to control others in their practice of Christian Science by stating "We have no moral right and no authority in Christian Science for influencing the thoughts of others, except it be to serve God and benefit mankind. Man is properly self-governed, and he should be guided by no other mind than Truth, the divine Mind" (Message for 1901 20:2-6). She felt that it was important for her students to know how to defend themselves against any adverse effects stemming from mortal mind and made an important addition to Science and Health to cover this topic (Retrospection and Introspection 38:7-10). She also instructed teachers of Christian Science to teach their students how to defend themselves against it (Church Manual 84:1). While initially Eddy referred to certain individuals, who had turned against Christian Science, as "mesmerists" or "mental malpractitioners," she learned over time that it was crucial in dealing with mental malpractice to see evil as an impersonal lie and not to identify it with persons.