I have been interested in the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science of which you and your school are the founders – or exponents – and the first of this week visited a pupil of yours in Chicago, to learn if it is practicable for a person of my age. The gentlemans Corrected: gentleman’s name is ShermanEditorial Note: Bradford Sherman or Roger Sherman and he gave me your address advising me to write to you freely. I hope you will kindly pardon the liberty and give me the advice I need.

I am past fifty years of age, have lived in a suburb of New York city until the pas last three years, have a husband and three children We invisted Corrected: invested and lost most of our property since we came west. We are “strangers in a strange land”Ex 2:21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Ex 2:22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. , where it seems the only standard of worth is money, and unlike the east – if you have money you are not lonely or desolate – I only state a fact. I am not complaining but as an explanation of my desire to learn the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science not so much for myself but for my daughters sake. I do not wish to be considered – to use an expressive phrase – a “crank” or to learn anything that is in a measure – humbug. As I have confessed I do it not so much for humanity’s sake in general, as the particular part of humanity that belong especially to me. I can spare $100Editorial Note: $100.00 in 1885 is the equivalent of $2,644.93 in 2019.. Could I make a beginning with that much money. The elder Sherman charges that much for two weeks lectures. I visited both father and son. I was more favorably impressed with the son. The father is not as intelligent and talks too much.

I have no religious belief. except a belief in a primal Cause - I know nothing else and therefore can believe nothing else. I am not credulous – and am afraid I shall find it difficult to lay hold of a science that is not demonstrable

Before I commit myself and money – (I have so little) advise me what to do.

I used to have an acquaintance in Boston, Mrs Diaz the Authoress. Abby Morton. Diaz. If you know her she will remember, Mrs George B Day of Paterson New Jersey, and will tell you – if you care to know – as to my position and character etc. – I hope you will pardon this very ego letter – I realize its egotism – but it is frank and the truth.