Accession: 382.50.055
Editorial Title: Eldridge J. Smith to Mary Baker Eddy, February 19, 1885
Author: Eldridge J. Smith 
Recipient: Mary Baker Eddy 
Date: February 19, 1885
Manuscript Description: Handwritten by Eldridge J. Smith from Washington, D.C.
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382.50.055
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Washington Febr 19. 1885
Dearly Beloved Teacher: -

I had arranged to leave for Boston the last of this week, so as to be with you SundayAs Written: sunday , but I have just received a letter from my brother in Minnesota who will be here to see me in a few days, so I will have to wait until he comes – In the meantime As Written: mean time I am not idle. I think that this delay will work together for goodRom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. . A friend of mine is interested in a machine for setting type of about one sixth the present cost by the old method.

Will not that by a great advantage in our little paper?

I send you a pamphlet of the company. I may have one of the machines in Boston.

I find each day evidences of the truth you teach, of the fact that the material body – that matter is subject to mind – and is proved to be. I have heretofore taken great interest in the [?] Unclear or illegible  study of revealing the principles of mechanics – but that of soul is of far more interest and importance. Both are demonstrable. Both are demonstrated. I have through good-mind, healed the sick. This is nothing full of wonder – or wonderful! This so natural. This no more a subject of surprise for a sick person – (in belief) to get up and realize themselves well – than it is for one to move their body across a room. In both instances it is the operation of mind. For it is true, in which “we live, move, and have our being”Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. .

Do you think of coming to Washington? I have seen Miss. Gray a few days ago. We both find the people here singularly averse As Written: adverse to paying anything for learning the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science – Yet they appear interested. They had rather buy a diamond ring and live in luxury; than to sell all they have and buy the “pearl of great price”Matt 13:45 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Matt 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. .

I cannot account for this strange condition of spiritual apathy. Perhaps the old Quaker As Written: quaker I met in the cars once leaving Washington – He said to me “I tell thee friend I am glad I am out of Washington”! “Why” I naturally asked. “Why friend,” all the time I was there, and for the first time in my life, I felt like stealing something”.

Well dearly beloved, I will hope it will be very soon that I shall be with you all –

I shall not wait for the Inauguration I assure you if I can get through with the business with my brother before that time.

My thoughts go to you in prayer and healing

Affectionately
E J Smith
382.50.055
-
Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
X

Copied document link to clipboard.

Washington Febr 19. 1885
Dearly Beloved Teacher: -

I had arranged to leave for Boston the last of this week, so as to be with you sunday Corrected: Sunday, but I have just received a letter from my brother in Minnesota who will be here to see me in a few days, so I will have to wait until he comes – In the mean time Corrected: meantime I am not idle. I think that this delay will work together for goodRom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. . A friend of mine is interested in a machine for setting type of about one sixth the present cost by the old method.

Will not that by a great advantage in our little paper?

I send you a pamphlet of the company. I may have one of the machines in Boston.

I find each day evidences of the truth you teach, of the fact that the material body – that matter is subject to mind – and is proved to be. I have heretofore taken great interest in the [?] Unclear or illegible  study of revealing the principles of mechanics – but that of soul is of far more interest and importance. Both are demonstrable. Both are demonstrated. I have through good-mind, healed the sick. This is nothing full of wonder – or wonderful! This so natural. This no more a subject of surprise for a sick person – (in belief) to get up and realize themselves well – than it is for one to move their body across a room. In both instances it is the operation of mind. For it is true, in which “we live, move, and have our being”Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. .

Do you think of coming to Washington? I have seen Miss. Gray a few days ago. We both find the people here singularly adverse Corrected: averse to paying anything for learning the scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science – Yet they appear interested. They had rather buy a diamond ring and live in luxury; than to sell all they have and buy the “pearl of great price”Matt 13:45 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Matt 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. .

I cannot account for this strange condition of spiritual apathy. Perhaps the old quaker Corrected: Quaker I met in the cars once leaving Washington – He said to me “I tell thee friend I am glad I am out of Washington”! “Why” I naturally asked. “Why friend,” all the time I was there, and for the first time in my life, I felt like stealing something”.

Well dearly beloved, I will hope it will be very soon that I shall be with you all –

I shall not wait for the Inauguration I assure you if I can get through with the business with my brother before that time.

My thoughts go to you in prayer and healing

Affectionately
E J Smith
 
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