Your little booklet C. S.Expanded:Christian Science History, has fallen into my hands & deeply impressed me– "Almost thou persuaded me" as Felix said of old to PaulActs 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. - I do not see how any oneCorrected:anyone could know Mrs Eddy without loving her dearly– I did, do, & always have. At the same time, if we love Truth best, & honestly believe that certain things are wrong, there is but one course to pursue, even tho it means failure or death– Such was my position

Personally Mrs Eddy was an Angel of kindness to me – But I left her Class in the darkness not in the light.

She loved me - said I would make her "instantaneous healer", (& a year afterward I was used to heal Mrs J. F Starr of Marshall Texas– old timeCorrected:old-time friends of ours- She & her husband both now devoted disciples of Mrs Eddy, noble noble people-

I wish now that I had gone to Mrs Eddy & had a talk with her -when Phillips Brooks & some of her students & others led me into channels of thought that carried conscientious conviction – But I could not stand it when a member was expelled without a hearing, especially when even the Police Courts give the [?] Unclear or illegible  accused that chance, & when we proclaimed all is Good- all is Love- and should reclaim by Love & never expel the vilest expression, but redeem him or her to the Good– Still I should have talked with Mrs Eddy & found out if it was her orders - or unripe students –

One thing I know Mrs Eddy was right about & I wrong it would have saved me great suffering viz malicious mesmerism- I fell Corrected: felt she was creating 1,000 thousands of devils in place of the true one the Church worships. yYears afterward I longed so for Truth I went to study with Thomas Lake HarrisEditorial Note: Thomas Lake Harris (1823-1906) was a British Universalist minister, devotee of the Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, writer, poet, and wine merchant. He is best remembered as the spiritualist prophet and leader of a series of communal religious experiments, including a group called the Brotherhood of the New Life in Brocton, New York, which later moved to Santa Rosa, California. - a most wonderful man of high culture. wWhen I learned of the poisonous asp in his teachings & practice, I gave my lecture on True & False Mysticism- I left him however because he claimed divine leadership. & then it was, he told me it would mean death to me– & that he killed Lord OliphantEditorial Note: Laurence Oliphant (1829-1888) was a South African-born British author, traveler, diplomat, British intelligence agent, Christian mystic, and Christian Zionist. Around 1881, Oliphant and his wife, Alice le Strange Oliphant, broke away from Thomas Lake Harris' sect, the Brotherhood of the New Life in Brocton, New York. Oliphant's view of Harris can be found in his novel, Masollam (1886). Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant, who was Oliphant's cousin, wrote about the Oliphants in Memoir of the Life of Laurence Oliphant and of Alice Oliphant, his Wife (1891). While mentioned in this letter, we have found no further evidence suggesting that the Oliphants were killed by Thomas Lake Harris. & aliceEditorial Note: Alice le Strange Oliphant (1872-1886) was a writer and married to Laurence Oliphant. Around 1881, they broke away from Thomas Lake Harris' sect, the Brotherhood of the New Life in Brocton, New York. Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant, who was Laurence Oliphant's cousin, wrote about the Oliphants in Memoir of the Life of Laurence Oliphant and of Alice Oliphant, his Wife (1891). While mentioned in this letter, we have found no further evidence suggesting that the Oliphants were killed by Thomas Lake Harris. at Haifa Syria- Tho I replied "I do not fear you- my hand is in my FathersEditorial Note: God Hand- & you cannot come within the circle of His protection" thus partially [?] Unclear or illegible  arming myself with fearle [?] Unclear or illegible ssness & purity, I was not armed with the knowledge which if I had accepted what Mrs Eddy taught [?] Unclear or illegible  would have made me invulnerable. The result is I have been laid on the shelf of uselessness tho longing for service, ever since I was there Mrs Margaret OliphantEditorial Note: Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant (born Margaret Oliphant Wilson; 1828-1897) was a Scottish novelist and historical writer who usually wrote as Mrs. Oliphant. Oliphant wrote more than 120 works, including novels, books of travel and description, histories, and volumes of literary criticism. In 1891, she published a biography about her cousin called Memoir of the Life of Laurence Oliphant and of Alice Oliphant, his Wife., the [?] Unclear or illegible  author wrote me that she held one of Mr Harris's letters to Laurence saying "I killed Alice for her rebellion & I will also kill you".

A well knownCorrected:well-known poet of S. F.Editorial Note: San Francisco, California wrote Mamma after my lecture, "After listening to the wonderful pathos, the passionate indignation, the incontrovertible sincerity, one could not remain calm to her appeal for purity. It was the noblest, the holiest, the most womanly defence Corrected: defense of truth purity & morality that I had ever heard issue from the lips of human being."

I vowed if I did that aggressive work to warn the occult student of the sensuous dangers of mystic study I would never again attack any wrong, but wait until lifted up spiritually to a height where could draw others by Love & Truth into Holiness & HealthJohn 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. – Perhaps that is why I am useless­– because not yet lifted up–

There is one thing about Mrs Eddy– [?] Unclear or illegible  No immorality of any kind can attach itself to her teachings– & unless the feet are planted in the ten commandmentsEx 20:2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Ex 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Ex 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Ex 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Ex 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Ex 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Ex 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: Ex 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: Ex 20:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Ex 20:12 ¶Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Ex 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. Ex 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex 20:15 Thou shalt not steal. Ex 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Ex 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. , no search for truth is safe.

People have told me, & I have believed it that there was a P- M. assocn in your C. S. inner foldEditorial Note: Mary Baker Eddy gives a detailed explanation of this P. M. (Private Meeting) society on pages 320-321 of the September 1888 issue of The Christian Science Journal. An slightly edited version is found on page 350 of Eddy’s book, Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896., that practisedCorrected:practiced malicious mesmerism to injure those who left Mrs Eddy- I never felt one dart of malicious thought from any of you- I have from Mr Harris– I never sent an unkind thought to either, tho I di [?] Unclear or illegible d uncover the dangerousness of his teachings.

I have thought Mrs Eddy had "passed on"– I do not now believe it– The DressersEditorial Note: Julius A. Dresser, Annetta G. Dresser, and Horatio W. Dresser persuaded me that probably Mrs Eddy stole from [?] Unclear or illegible  the Quimby MSSExpanded:manuscripts. but I never asserted it to any oneCorrected:anyone - because I had no proof- I do not now believe it –That Mrs Eddy is a leader & I do not believe in leadership I feel doubtful about– It is quite possible that over zealCorrected:overzeal places her as a Pope & as Mr Harris wished me to believe of him– About Mrs Eddy's insanity reminds me that Mr Harris foisted the same shaft at me & my physician (allopathic) in NY wrote a beautiful card that it reminded him of the accusation against GrantEditorial Note: Ulysses S. Grant to Lincoln who replied I wish more of my Generals would partake of his whiskey – Dr [?] Unclear or illegible  said he wished more women would be touched by the inspiration animating me – This could be said a thousand foldCorrected:thousandfold of Mrs Eddy -

Other things that affect my opinion personally, but not mentioned in your argument, I ought not to refer to– I only wanted to say that tho a "disaffected student" I love Mrs Eddy, wish to be just to her – & above all to do Right & to do Good - I could not heal or be healed for a year after I studied with Mrs Eddy- Her healers failing on me & I unable (financially) to board with Mrs Eddy as she suggested, I went to another school of healing – who also failed – & healed myself healing Mrs Starr of Texas of the only case in Medical history of recovery from that disease. I know full well that only Mrs Eddy's Key to the ScripturesEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy opened my eyes to study my dear Bible with Spiritual tunderstanding. I would love to see & talk to Mrs Eddy - & I am vain enough (my bump of self esteemCorrected:self-esteem my lowest bump & holds me down constantly) to feel she would see me– But I cannot tho I would travel across the continent to have [?] Unclear or illegible  such a talk – Will not Mohamet come to the mole hillEditorial Note: The apparent origin of Chevaillier’s allusion here is Francis Bacon’s 1625 book, Essays, specifically in essay number 12, “Of Boldness”: “Mahomet made the people believe that he would call an hill to him, and from the top of it offer up his prayers, for the observers of his law. The people assembled; Mahomet called the hill to come to him, again and again; and when the hill stood still, he was never a whit abashed, but said, If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill.” This anecdote in not found in the Quran or in Islamic teachings.  here in San Diego? My home would be hers if she only would – & it is an ideal little home in the most beautiful climate in the world- We have our home but often wish we could eat, or drink it [?] Unclear or illegible  as we are "unlucky" in cold cash- A fear of poverty is I think the root of half or all my troubles- & yet I [?] Unclear or illegible  think I dont love money, & always divide with others when I have it, & treated freely not daring to sell the gift of the Holy SpiritActs 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. .

If you t [?] Unclear or illegible hink Mrs Eddy would care to see this, send it to her–

I have an 187584 two volExpanded:volume Edition Science & Health with [?] Unclear or illegible statement of Being somewhat different from that in later editions- & testemonials Corrected: testimonials from Col Smith who was expelled or — I understand you wish them recalled & offer $5-Editorial Note: $5.00 in 1900 is the equivalent of $174.20 in 2022. If this is so I would exchange mine for your edition de-luxe Corrected: deluxe should you desire it & be most glad at the change myself-

Tell Mrs Eddy that Louise Proctor studied with me who committed suicide, loved her, but she gr [?] Unclear or illegible ieved because she cdntExpanded:couldn't get money to pay on that piano she paid for her lessons– & that hardened me to Mrs Eddy – but I think now I should have told Mrs Eddy – I made many mistakes –