Nov. 7th 1886 -
Your lovely letter was much appreciated and I felt that wave of love that came to me and knew it was from you. And I was so strengthened – & how wonderfully we can bear the trials As Written: tryals when we know the ever lasting arm is round about usDeut 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. – My Husband is more quiet – He went with me to Mrs. Larminies to talk with her Students while she is absentAs Written:abscent – He made some objections at first but he yielded As Written: yeiled with less argument than usual – He listened very attentively & when he got home he said – What wonderful things you said – & added "I am awful proud of you"– If I can only see him reconciled to my work and have his society at Church and make him forgetAs Written:for get there ever was a fashionable pew at the worldly assemblage at Swing's As Written: Swings Church and still the belief of the law of opposites in time – I will then say- A great demonstration has been made – but the pruning and the purging are the "need-besAs Written:need-be's" and this I know whatever betides me the voiceis heard above all the din – " Fear no evilPs 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. – be not dismayedIsa 41:10 ¶Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. – " My rod and my staff they comfortPs 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. &c – My work is growing more & more interesting and the new thoughts given in our last class stimulate wonderfully and have made some beautiful demonstrations since coming home– We had last sabbath about one hundred and eighty at our Church so was told by one who counted – and our receipts were about twelve dollar'sEditorial Note: $12.00 in 1886 is the equivalent of $388.98 in 2023. for three sabbaths by nonmembersAs Written:non-members – My Sunday school class had thirty-five last Sunday & several strangers As Written: stranger's called to thank me for the light on the lesson – and enquiring for books & studyAs Written:studdy. This thought came to me I have heard since pleased the class so much – I wonder dear Teacher if I am right – It has been the question "why has this art so long been lost sight of – It came to me the answer in the last lesson – There was a purpose in Jesus folding the napkin & laying it apartJohn 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. - how the Orientals As Written: Orientalls prided themselves As Written: them-selves on the beautiful white linenAs Written:linnen – & the napkin must have been foursquareAs Written:four-square - and now the state of mind is ripe and Divine Science is unfolding the napkin"– Oh! how much there is in every line and verse – but I wonder "do I get it right"– but the class seems pleased & they say they are helped in their demonstrations– My desire is to be guided by the unerring As Written: unering mind – I recognize it is a very responsible place and the intelligent faces full of expectation staggers As Written: stagger's me and I want to retire – but if I can be a useful handmaidenAs Written:hand maiden in my master's vine yardMatt 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. Matt 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matt 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, Matt 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Matt 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. Matt 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? Matt 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. Matt 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Matt 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. Matt 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. Matt 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Matt 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. Matt 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Matt 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Matt 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. I can only humbly seek from the fountain of understanding, His will and way and lean upon the promises which are always golden. I hoped my Husband would go to Church with me todayAs Written:to-day – but no he planned everythingAs Written:every-thing antagonistic As Written: antagonistice to my church & class – the journey is far it brings me home late at night – and I walk three long blocks in the dark without escort – such a thing would have seemed impossible in the past and shocked the prudent gallantry of my noble Father & Bro'sEditorial Note: J. Newton Stone and Kinzea Stone are two of M. Bettie Bell’s brothers. – but God is good and lights my way & my poor misguided Husband thinks I am going insane – & says he will go with me to any other Church I name – So does His majesty the King of Error wear these garments to try to tempt me from the path – but God is Supreme:
Nov. 9th
Once more, dear Teacher & then no more of all this to anyoneAs Written:any one again – I was so happy in my work yesterday – & so busy all day- Mr- Bell came home in the evening As Written: evining I was writing my little notices to send out for my class to begin next Monday – He enquired what I was doing & when I told him he flew into a passion & said everything As Written: every-thing one could at such a moment – Then he informed me he had invited a housefullAs Written:house full of his relatives & the invitations had been accepted – & he wanted I should put those notions out of my head & entertain his guests with elegant As Written: eligant course dinner and [?] Unclear or illegible &c and he should have Theatre parties while they were here and wanted I should get myself As Written: my-self up in Style &c"- Oh! how my heart grew faint and sick & how could I with all this " keep my-self unspotted from the worldJames 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. – I made no reply laid my letters in my desk & the merry notes in my voice and heart was laid away with them – & I went to dinner with a heavy heart – Then he thought I was ungrateful &c – & thought it strange I was not pleased with his plans & as usual felt that I didn't As Written: did'nt love him Then the lips opened & the heart gave vent – and I went out of self in that moment – And I said Teo, if the rod was kept roaring over me to bind me under his weight of mortal thoughtAs Written:mortal-thought– the sparks of love that had been fanned and flickered – revived and grew dim would indeed die out if the persecutions were not softened and if once the iron weight pressed them entirely out – there would be a grave & the myrtle would grow over it thickly and nothing could resurrect As Written: ressurrect this annoyed love but that I could once see him clothed in the garments of Christian Science – then would he never doubt the love that would be of the type everlasting – He know of all my plans in my Science work I kept nothing concealed and yet he unfairly planned contradictory schemes As Written: scemes to thwart me and expected in return my love for this – No – Hamilton I know I gave you a woman's heart that is worth wearing, right will win it, wrong never – good nightAs Written:Good-night dear Husband may the Father forgive You. – You know not what you doLuke 23:34 ¶Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. "– I sought retirement & you may imagine it was all a night of prayer – After a few hours he came quietly to bed – & this morning he kicked the covers As Written: cover's down & said – "Bettie do you know that I never saw you so beautiful in my whole life as you were last night?– do you know that your eyes were like diamonds and your face radiantAs Written:radient?– If it was so, then Hamilton what did it?– "It was Christian Science & the right – Oh! dear Teacher do you wonder that I yearn more & more for the Father's mercy and the Love that He tendersAs Written:tender's?– & He is certainly my Pharioh, relenting, promising and hardening his heart alternatelyEditorial Note: This is an allusion to Moses demanding that Pharaoh release the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Pharaoh would alternatively agree to let them go and then change his mind and “harden his heart.” These instances are described in Exodus, chapters 8 through 11, and in chapter 14. – but how glorious are the Truths of our ScienceEditorial Note: Christian Science and notwithstanding the unreal appearances they cannot keep us from sometimeAs Written:some time reaching the Shore of Galilee – Forgive my annoying lettersAs Written:letter's – I will henceforthAs Written:hence-forth show my love for you by being charitable and brief and sending you happy accounts or none – but I felt my heart would break if I could not speak – Your As Written: Your's cares are great enough – mine shall not annoy you –
It come in my lesson to me – There were three qualities of matter shown - in the lesson on Thomas –
Nail – wood & flesh –
Nail – belief of substance in matter
Wood – " " " in life
Flesh " substance – life intelligence in matter – this represents the Mineral, VegetableAs Written:Vegatable & Animal Kingdom – & when the nail pierced the flesh into the wood – it was all proven destructibleAs Written:destructable & Life was not found in either – I give a few hints of my study As Written: studdy in wonderment if I am right – I must have no choice now but put my class off until after Thanksgiving –
I was married nine years to his younger Bro. one of earth noblest and gentlest – It was conceded by all to be the happiest marriage ever was known – On his death bed the last words he said – "The grave nor death cannot separate me from you – my love for you is eternal"– In one week the belief of scarlet fever robbed me of him & two beautiful childrenEditorial Note: Florida W. Bell (1870-1876) and Frank D. Bell Jr. (1873-1876)– In belief my heart was broken – I entered upon my widowhood. Time waned- many suitors As Written: suitor's came with offerings As Written: offering's of affection and this elder Brother watched every movement of my life with determination & perseverance he finally claimed me - since which time I have yielded everythingAs Written:every thing and sacrificed all to the demands of his exacting but impetuous and honest love – In no way have I not yielded As Written: yeilded to many unreasonable demands until I came into Science – and now I know the tables ought As Written: aught to turn & the sacrificing be done by him a little – and yet he wears many a noble trait and I see now why I was taken from that smoothAs Written:smoothe, happy life and led As Written: lead into this – " The Wife must sanctify the Husband or the Husband the WifeI Cor 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. I Cor 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. –
Excuse me for telling you this I will not do so again – for though in belief the heart has been sad & the step weary – yet the cup I must drink itMatt 20:20 ¶Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. Matt 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. Matt 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. Matt 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. , and the cross wear itMatt 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. , and the crown win it. Mr- Adams called to see about what I thought of a South Side Church for the Students this Side – & morning serviceAs Written:servise – I think though it is so far off – that our Church is just beginning to prosper & it seems hard to split up & I should hate to lose Mr– Day– I like him as Pastor best – yet am willing to do what is right in all things. Mr- Day is modest & unassuming As Written: un'assuming and genuine and honest – Mr- Adams has improved wonderfully – but as my Brother says "he puts on too many airs"– but I think he means all right Miss B's Students say Mr- Adams is growing modest and is oftentimesAs Written:often times quite shocked at Miss B's bragging ability – It will be him that will be prunedJohn 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. and ripened by the association – Our causeEditorial Note: The cause of Christian Science. is prospering in every direction. Mr- Day just called – he is now teaching a class in ClevelandAs Written:Cleaveland – he has agreed to go in with Mrs. Larminie and myself As Written: my-self in our Institute and will finish up the businessAs Written:busyness todayAs Written:to-day – I went to see him last week – he was dilatory & undecided – I sifted mattersAs Written:matter's found the chords As Written: cords that were sending forth the wrong sound – He had hadAs Written:had-had advice from the west side Students – I talked with Mr– Noyes– I detected there was a belief of jealousy that they couldn't As Written: could'nt also have a minister – So I came home – & soliloquized "Now here is more work for you Bettie Bell and doff your things and settle yourself As Written: your-self to businessAs Written:busyness – I went out on ascouting tour in mind and lingered all around the camp – So the first question Mr- Day said Sunday – "I am all right now Mrs- Bell – I am going right in with you – I know you had been after me &c" – So he is full of work & cheerful and so benefitted in his normal class. Have had some applications for a class – so will send out the little announcements and will go to work more earnestly still – How happy I would be if only my Husband was in Science – but I am happy anyhow As Written: any-how and will go on seeking the Father's mercy & blessing and bide His will – I will enclose you check for booksEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy received all right – I will cultivate charity next time & not trouble you with a wordy letter – A student of Miss Hopkins came to ask if she could not be taught right – & asked why can't her students heal as you are all doing – I explained &c
Yours As Written: Your's With love. –