Worcester MassachusettsAs Written:Mass
Feb. 18th/1886As Written:86
My address as above implies what I know to be my feelings now towards you I have had a year of wonderful experience & enlightenment. Soon after our graduationEditorial Note: Foster was a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, taking Primary class alongside his wife, Sarah M. Foster, in March 1885. there came over us me especially an impression of antagonism,- that your instruction, was not all there was "so in the straight & narrow way"Matt 7:13 ¶Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Matt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. that leads to perfect harmony.
I did not take much stock in all you said about mesmerism, and in your caution to not read other authors. So like the prodigal sonLuke 15:11 ¶And he said, A certain man had two sons: Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. Luke 15:26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. Luke 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. Luke 15:28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. Luke 15:29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: Luke 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. Luke 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. , (disobedient pupil) I wandered away.
My good wife kept cautioning me but the "Red Dragon"Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. of Mortal Independence & Mesmerism kept me fretting "like the troubled sea that cannotAs Written:can not rest."Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
As length the peculiar physical As Written: physica condition of my body for several weeks & a very kindly hint from my wife opened my eyes and Rev. Mrs Ed[*]Gap: letters.Reason: page rip. came forth to my delighted inner, "spiritual sight", Christian Science & its blessed founder came forth clad in the glorious panoply of Christ my Life Truth & Love. and her disobedient pupil was forgiven and was happy, the red demon mesmerism disarmed.
There is much more to write but time will not allow my school dutiesEditorial Note: For over thirty years, the Fosters owned and taught at an "English, Classical and Commercial" school at 476 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts.. Your com-. of 17thEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. received am disappointed in what you said about Mrs F. being in the class with me.
Mrs F—. has adhered to the true faith & has been a firm friend of yours, She has spent the whole year in working for Christian Science Has talked much, & had for patients some of our best people, several clergymenAs Written:clergimen . She has been very successful in demonstration, We were together in the first classEditorial Note: Calvin C. Foster and Sarah M. Foster both graduated from Eddy’s Primary class in March 1885. & we desire to attend the Normal class together. I hope you will allow us to do so. Please give me the reason for your writing as you did in regard to Mrs F's being in the class. I have always understood that husband & wife could enter the classes as one.
Please reply at once as the time is so short,
Mrs Eddy I would like to have you heard what was said by Mrs Foster in her office this P. M (since I wrote my letter) in defense of Christian Science
& Mrs Eddy. and I think you would think her worthy of being a member of the Normal Class yours et ceteraAs Written:&c C. C. F.
⇉ Handshift:Mary Baker EddyFoster –