Accession: L12923
Editorial Title: Mary Baker Eddy to James C. Howard, July 23, 1880
Author: Mary Baker Eddy 
Recipient: James C. Howard 
Date: July 23, 1880 - archivist estimate
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Mary Baker Eddy from Concord, New Hampshire.
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L12923
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library

Thanks many for the best letterClick link to view 284.42.008 document in new window I ever had, it was an epistle known and read of Mary not many. I see through the veilAs Written: vail of the pit where you went out at the toes. It is a new trick of theirs They send all hopeless cases to my good students and if they could otherwise cure them they lie in wait and as soon as they begin to improve counteract it if they can, and if the student can't cure them, they get under this cover to hide their own dirty work. Now please adopt this rule Say to every patient that they leave and would pin on to you, “Your case is rendered hopeless by their malpracticeAs Written: mal-practice[*]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). Initially, Eddy referred to certain individuals, who had turned against Christian Science, as "mesmerists" or "mental malpractitioners." In particular, she named former students Richard Kennedy, Daniel H. Spofford, and Edward J. Arens as malpractitioners, even going so far as to use their initials in discussing malpractice in the chapter "Demonology" in her third edition of Science and Health. Over time, however, she learned that it was crucial in dealing with mental malpractice to see evil as an impersonal lie and not to identify it with persons. or, to save the poor sufferer make it easier, say I should have to undo all their bad work (which is true) and this makes your case much more difficult of cure than before they treated you and I prefer not to meddle with their cases. Next I want to post you on C's policy She is keeping the Presidency for her husband neither of them are fit for it both I know to be traitors He is making the acquaintance of Dick and his last letter to me tells the story. Do take the "chair" forward this note to Mrs. Rice please . I want to talk with you things I cant write. I wish as I never did be fore I knew shorthandAs Written: short hand writing.

Yes, that was why she asked for my health I have passed into and out of Hell since I saw you. O Howard, I only wish I was a man three days then would I openly be laid on the altar. Something must be done more than is done or—Your dear wife is victimized, I knew it the last - time I was at your house, but Mrs C. is the rebound not the starting point K. and S. are the ones that tell her to do these jobs and her cruel nature doesn't shrink from it. If it wasn't her it would be another one, they can find someoneAs Written: some one always spurredAs Written: spured up by their arguments to do their fiendish slaughter They have taken this cue lately to foil the victim in meeting it. I want to see you to say things important. I hope you'llAs Written: you'l get that situation referredAs Written: refered to; if only you could practice and find the right ones to study and we could get a little strong band in the place you named we could meet them thereafter. Gilbert would be remembered. Love to Mrs H.

Ever truly
Your affectionateAs Written:affec'te Teacher

I never flatter You would not be hurt by being better but Peter S.Editorial Note: Possibly a reference to Hanover P. Smith—has the keysAs Written: kies of the kingdomMatt 16:13 ¶When Jesus came into the coasts of C
æsarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
; he meant all he said and you deserved it all

L12923
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library

Thanks many for the best letterClick link to view 284.42.008 document in new window I ever had, it was an epistle known and read of Mary not many. I see through the vailCorrected: veil of the pit where you went out at the toes. It is a new trick of theirs They send all hopeless cases to my good students and if they could otherwise cure them they lie in wait and as soon as they begin to improve counteract it if they can, and if the student can't cure them, they get under this cover to hide their own dirty work. Now please adopt this rule Say to every patient that they leave and would pin on to you, “Your case is rendered hopeless by their mal-practiceCorrected:malpractice[*]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). Initially, Eddy referred to certain individuals, who had turned against Christian Science, as "mesmerists" or "mental malpractitioners." In particular, she named former students Richard Kennedy, Daniel H. Spofford, and Edward J. Arens as malpractitioners, even going so far as to use their initials in discussing malpractice in the chapter "Demonology" in her third edition of Science and Health. Over time, however, she learned that it was crucial in dealing with mental malpractice to see evil as an impersonal lie and not to identify it with persons. or, to save the poor sufferer make it easier, say I should have to undo all their bad work (which is true) and this makes your case much more difficult of cure than before they treated you and I prefer not to meddle with their cases. Next I want to post you on C's policy She is keeping the Presidency for her husband neither of them are fit for it both I know to be traitors He is making the acquaintance of Dick and his last letter to me tells the story. Do take the "chair" forward this note to Mrs. Rice please after you read and seal it. I want to talk with you things I cant write. I wish as I never did be fore I knew short handCorrected: shorthand writing.

Yes, that was why she asked for my health I have passed into and out of Hell since I saw you. O Howard, I only wish I was a man three days then would I openly be laid on the altar. Something must be done more than is done or—Your dear wife is victimized, I knew it the last - time I was at your house, but Mrs C. is the rebound not the starting point K. and S. are the ones that tell her to do these jobs and her cruel nature doesn't shrink from it. If it wasn't her it would be another one, they can find some oneCorrected: someone always spuredCorrected: spurred up by their arguments to do their fiendish slaughter They have taken this doge cue lately to foil the victim in meeting it. I want to see you to say things important. I hope you'lCorrected: you'll get that situation referedCorrected: referred to; if only you could practice and find the right ones to study and we could get a little strong band in the place you named we could meet them thereafter. Gilbert would be remembered. Love to Mrs H.

Ever truly
Your affec'teExpanded:affectionate Teacher

I never flatter You would not be hurt by being better but Peter S.Editorial Note: Possibly a reference to Hanover P. Smith—has the kiesCorrected: keys of the kingdomMatt 16:13 ¶When Jesus came into the coasts of C
æsarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
; he meant all he said and you deserved it all

 
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Concord, New Hampshire Possibly a reference to Hanover P. Smith 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). Initially, Eddy referred to certain individuals, who had turned against Christian Science, as "mesmerists" or "mental malpractitioners." In particular, she named former students Richard Kennedy, Daniel H. Spofford, and Edward J. Arens as malpractitioners, even going so far as to use their initials in discussing malpractice in the chapter "Demonology" in her third edition of Science and Health. Over time, however, she learned that it was crucial in dealing with mental malpractice to see evil as an impersonal lie and not to identify it with persons.