Accession: 338AP1.46.003
Editorial Title: Josephine Curtis Woodbury to Mary Baker Eddy, 1884
Author: Josephine Curtis Woodbury 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: 1884
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Josephine Curtis Woodbury on lined paper.
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338AP1.46.003
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
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Friday Morning
My Dear Teacher,

It is no new thing for me not to understand you or all you do and say, but I am sorry to have you feel that I wish to criticize you – if I don’t As Written: dont know enough to comprehend I certainly am debarred from judging – I can understand about Father, and perhaps you will tell me when you have time what my duty towards my husband is in your idea. He is the farthest removed from a sick man of anyone As Written: any one I ever met

This I think I have told you in years past, so it seems to me as if you must refer to some sin. He smokes but he is willing to give that up – It has always been a joy to me to remember what you said of him three years ago in Union Park – “that he was near being in harmony than almost anybody you ever met”

This much I know – He never believed in Mrs. C. or her teachings and never wanted to study with her and never took but the few lessons and believed less in her than ever, and always fought with me over her – When I was so blind –

He didn’t As Written: didnt want to study when I did with you – but he has seen the difference in me in the last two months and it has opened his eyes – wonderfully – You know Mary Baker Eddy that one must study this with you – in order to live it – No one else can impart that high courage under seven trials – that power to be tortured and still loved but yourself – and for the first time in three years there seems a space in mind between me and my husband noble as he is which is the greatest trial

I have ever known as I cannot tell it to him for he could not understand me – No one can who has not been your student I would teach him with all my heart everything As Written: every thing I knew but it has not the inspiration that comes from you – and is impossible – Now if you cannot trust me you cannot love me and I only ask you to give me some clue as to what I may say to him is the reason you decide that he is not to study for as I told and it was such a joy time you he has given up his lessons willingly and his salary for the time to go into the class and I must be perfectly honest with him -

With Love –
J.C.W –

I am convinced of the point that no wife should study without her husband if they love each other as we do for it is constant friction and agony –

I will work and try to heal my father myself – Oh for more of the spirit of the living God! The way is dark but I will toil on -

338AP1.46.003
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
X

Copied document link to clipboard.

Friday Morning
My Dear Teacher,

It is no new thing for me not to understand you or all you do and say, but I am sorry to have you feel that I wish to criticize you – if I dont Corrected: don’t know enough to comprehend I certainly am debarred from judging – I can understand about Father, and perhaps you will tell me when you have time what my duty towards my husband is in your idea. He is the farthest removed from a sick man of any one Corrected: anyone I ever met

This I think I have told you in years past, so it seems to me as if you must refer to some sin. He smokes but he is willing to give that up – It has always been a joy to me to remember what you said of him three years ago in Union Park – “that he was near being in harmony than almost anybody you ever met”

This much I know – He never believed in Mrs. C. or her teachings and never wanted to study with her and never took but the few lessons and believed less in her than ever, and always fought with me over her – When I was so blind –

He didnt Corrected: didn’t want to study when I did with you – but he has seen the difference in me in the last two months and it has opened his eyes – wonderfully – You know Mrs Eddy that one must study this with you – in order to live it – No one else can impart that high courage under seven trials – that power to be tortured and still loved but yourself – and for the first time in three years there seems a space in mind between me and my husband noble as he is which is the greatest trial

I have ever known as I cannot tell it to him for he could not understand me – No one can who has not been your student I would teach him with all my heart every thing Corrected: everything I knew but it has not the inspiration that comes from you – and is impossible – Now if you cannot trust me you cannot love me and I only ask you to give me some clue as to what I may say to him is the reason you decide that he has is not to study for as I told and it was such a joy time you he has given up his lessons willingly and his salary for the time to go into the class and I must be perfectly honest with him -

With Love –
J.C.W –

I am convinced of the point that no wife should study without her husband if they love each other as we do for it is constant friction and agony –

I will work and try to heal my father myself – Oh for more of the spirit of the living God! The way is dark but I will toil on -

 
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