Accession: L08311
Editorial Title: Mary Baker Eddy to Sarah O. Bagley, March 1872
Author: Mary Baker Eddy 
Recipient: Sarah O. Bagley 
Date: March 1872
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Mary Baker Eddy in purple ink.
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L08311
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Dear Sarah,

I received your package containing my MSS.Editorial Note: Probably manuscripts written by Eddy for use in teaching her classes. She permitted some of her students to keep copies of these manuscripts. I gave that information to the public because I thought best, and never for a moment supposed Whittier would say what he would be loath to meet, or that you would be unwilling to aid in any way in your power the cause you have claimed to espouse.

I think you ought to be ashamed of your language to your teacher, but then perhaps it does not appear to you as it would to others.

This hour is the one that must come before the sifting from the taresMatt 13:24 ¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: Matt 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Matt 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. Matt 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? Matt 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? Matt 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Matt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matt 13:31 ¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Matt 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matt 13:33 ¶Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Matt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: Matt 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matt 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. Matt 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Matt 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Matt 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Matt 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Matt 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Matt 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matt 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Editorial Note: This is an allusion to Jesus’ parable of the tares (Matt:13:24-43; Gospel of Thomas, saying 57). “Tares” are thought to be darnel, a weed that can be mistaken for wheat in its early stages of growth. The word “tares” has been used by Christians as a metaphor for sins or shortcomings that need to be purged from one’s life. could take place that is necessary to purge my number of pupils and give me to know who are worthy to be my followers and who are not. All who have stood aloof from me, or who have tried to injure me at this time are marked of the Wisdom that numbers the hairsMatt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. , and such will be without oil in their lampsMatt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Matt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: Matt 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Matt 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. Matt 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Matt 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Matt 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Matt 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. Matt 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. , when the others who have sympathized with and aided me in this hour of peril to Truth even the Truth that you all are reaping the great blessings of and for which I have toiled and suffered for you to enjoy will rise to their reward

My reward for this is that you would strive to slander me one to the other and while you know that God has chosen me as a fit spirit to interpret Him, you would obey this important fact that alone can enable you to walk in the light by receiving my counsel in the spirit that becomes you, and not by endeavoring to hide from yourself the need you have of it. Say if you please I deny you the society of Richard — when I have no objection to your living with him during a life time — but I have objected to your trying to poison his mind and I have done this both for his good and your own The very darkness you that act in this manner find in your practice is the very result of your measures against me I know this as clearly as I know the first point in the science I have founded

Yours in Truth
M M B G
L08311
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Dear Sarah,

I received your package containing my MSS.Editorial Note: Probably manuscripts written by Eddy for use in teaching her classes. She permitted some of her students to keep copies of these manuscripts. I gave that information to the public because I thought best, and never for a moment supposed Whittier would say what he would be loath to meet, or that you would be unwilling to aid in any way in your power the cause you have claimed to espouse.

I think you ought to be ashamed of your language to your teacher, but then perhaps it does not appear to you as it would to others.

This hour is the one that must come before the sifting from the taresMatt 13:24 ¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: Matt 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Matt 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. Matt 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? Matt 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? Matt 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Matt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matt 13:31 ¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Matt 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Matt 13:33 ¶Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Matt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: Matt 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matt 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. Matt 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Matt 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Matt 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Matt 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Matt 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Matt 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matt 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Editorial Note: This is an allusion to Jesus’ parable of the tares (Matt:13:24-43; Gospel of Thomas, saying 57). “Tares” are thought to be darnel, a weed that can be mistaken for wheat in its early stages of growth. The word “tares” has been used by Christians as a metaphor for sins or shortcomings that need to be purged from one’s life. could take place that is necessary to purge my number of pupils and give me to know who are worthy to be my followers and who are not. All who have stood aloof from me, or who have tried to injure me at this time are marked of the Wisdom that numbers the hairsMatt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. , and such will be without oil in their lampsMatt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Matt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: Matt 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Matt 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. Matt 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Matt 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Matt 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Matt 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. Matt 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. , when the others who have sympathized with and aided me in this hour of peril to Truth even the Truth that they you all are [?] Unclear or illegible  reaping the great blessings of and for which I have toiled and suffered for you to enjoy will rise to their reward

My reward for this is that you would strive to slander me one to the other and while you know that God has chosen me as a fit spirit to interpret Him, you would obey this important fact that alone can enable you to walk in the light by receiving my counsel in the spirit that becomes you, and not by endeavoring to hide from yourself the need you have of it. Say if you please I deny you the society of Richard — when I have no objection to your living with him during a life time — but I have objected to your trying to poison his mind and I have done this both for his good and your own The very darkness you that act in this manner find in your practice is the very result of your measures against me I know this as clearly as I know the first point in the science I have founded

Yours in Truth
M M B G
 
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Probably manuscripts written by Eddy for use in teaching her classes. She permitted some of her students to keep copies of these manuscripts. This is an allusion to Jesus’ parable of the tares (Matt:13:24-43; Gospel of Thomas, saying 57). “Tares” are thought to be darnel, a weed that can be mistaken for wheat in its early stages of growth. The word “tares” has been used by Christians as a metaphor for sins or shortcomings that need to be purged from one’s life. Richard Kennedy