Accession: L08514
Editorial Title: Mary Baker Eddy to Ruth B. Ewing, March 18, 1895
Author: Mary Baker Eddy 
Recipient: Ruth B. Ewing 
Date: March 18, 1895
Manuscript Description: Typewritten for Mary Baker Eddy, with some handwritten edits and a handwritten signature, on unlined Pleasant View stationery from Concord, New Hampshire.
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L08514
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CONCORD, New HampshireAs Written:N. H. March 18, 1895
Rev. Ruth B. Ewing,
My beloved Student: —

In reply to your letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. will say, God's waysIsa 55:8 ¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. are not as our ways, but higher far than the Heavens above the earth is His wisdom above ours. When I requested you to be ordained, I little thought of the changes about to be madeEditorial Note: On December 19, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy replaced personal pastors in The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, with an “impersonal pastor” – the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In April 1895, she expanded this to include all Christian Science churches.. When I insisted on your speaking without notesEditorial Note: See L08507, I little knew that so soon another change in your pulpit would be demanded. But now, after His messenger has delivered the message of divine Love, then came the interpretation thereof. But you see we both had first to obey, and do this through faith not sight.II Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

The meaning of all this, as now shown is, When you were bidden to be ordained it was in reward for your faithfulAs Written:faithfull services, thus to honor them. The second command, to drop using notes, was, to rebuke a lack of faith in divine help, and to test your humility and obedience in bearing this cross.Matt 16:24 ¶Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

All God's servants are minute men and women. As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in handEx 12:11 ¶And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. waiting for the watchword and the revelation what, how, whither? Be ever faithful and obedient and God will do the rest.

In the April numberEditorial Note: See “Church and School” in the April 1895 issue of The Christian Science Journal. of the Christian Science Journal you will find the forthcoming completion (as I now think) of the Divine directions, sent out to the churches. It is satisfactory to note how the order therein given responds to the example of our Master. Jesus was not ordained as our churches ordain ministers. We have no record that he used notes when preaching. He preached in their synagogues by reading the Scriptures and expounding them, and God has given to this age Science And Health with Key To The ScripturesEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy to elucidate His Word.

You may read this letter to your Church; and then send it to Rev. Mr. Norcross and he will understand. May the God of all grace give you peace.

Lovingly yours,
Mary Baker Eddy
L08514
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
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CONCORD, N. H.Expanded:New Hampshire March 18, 1895
Rev. Ruth B. Ewing,
My beloved Student: —

In reply to your letterEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. will say, God's waysIsa 55:8 ¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. are not as our ways, but higher far than the Heavens above the earth is His wisdom above ours. When I requested you to be ordained, I little thought of the changes about to be madeEditorial Note: On December 19, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy replaced personal pastors in The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, with an “impersonal pastor” – the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In April 1895, she expanded this to include all Christian Science churches.. When I insisted on your speaking without notesEditorial Note: See L08507, I little knew that so soon another change in your pulpit would be demanded. But now, after His messenger has deliveredobeyed the message of divine Love, then came the interpretation thereof. But you see we both had first to obey, and do this through faith not sight.II Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

The meaning of all this, as now shown is, When you were bidden to be ordained it was in reward for your faithfullCorrected:faithful services, thus to honor [?] Unclear or illegible them. The second command, to drop using notes, was, to rebuke a lack of faith in divine help, and to test your humility and obedience in bearing this cross.Matt 16:24 ¶Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

All God's servants are minute men and women. As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in handEx 12:11 ¶And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. waiting for the watchword and the revelation what, how, whither? Be ever faithful and obedient and God will do the rest.

In the April numberEditorial Note: See “Church and School” in the April 1895 issue of The Christian Science Journal. of the Christian Science Journal you will find the forthcoming completion (as I now think) of the Divine directions, sent out to the churches. It is satisfactory to note how the order therein given responds to the example of our Master. Jesus was not ordained as our churches ordain ministers. We have no record that he used notes when preaching. He preached in their synagogues by reading the Scriptures and expounding them, and God has given to this age Science And Health with Key To The ScripturesEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy to elucidate His Word.

You may read this letter to your Church; and then send it to Rev. Mr. Norcross and he will understand. May the God of all grace give you peace.

Lovingly yours,
Mary Baker Eddy
 
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This letter is not extant. On December 19, 1894, Mary Baker Eddy replaced personal pastors in The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, with an “impersonal pastor” – the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In April 1895, she expanded this to include all Christian Science churches. See L08507 See “Church and School” in the April 1895 issue of The Christian Science Journal. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy