Your kind and prompt replyEditorial Note: This letter is not extant., (dated Jan. 15.), to my first communicationEditorial Note: See 702.82.063., was early received. The enclosed, notice, informing me of the religious service you were to conduct on the following Sabbath, was duly appreciated, and I was present with several friends. I would have thanked you personally for the favors received, and more, which I believed were in your heart to bestow, but that so many crowded about the platform at the close of the service, whom I took to be your personal friends, that I desisted through fear of intrusion. I have been to the services once since that.

I find, that, however much I may want to study your metaphysicsEditorial Note: Christian Science, that it will be impossible. I have read your curriculum carefully noting times of meeting, and terms, and find that with my present position and income I cannot arrange for either one of them. A desire to learn whatever is new and good, of itself would have interested me in this scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science and particularly so, Since “by their fruits ye shall know them,”Matt 7:15 ¶Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Matt 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matt 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. –

This scienceEditorial Note: Christian Science seems to have yielded a remarkably good fruit, from what I have heard.

I have a perfect horror of mesmerism – so much so that I should feel I had died, if I were subject to the will of another. I do not know but that spirits of the departed return and impress their thoughts upon sensitive minds, but I believe the so-called Spiritualists “have other gods” before our Creator, in almost deifying these spirits, so that I cannot have fellowship with them.

Personally I have a very strong will power, and hope that I am using it on the side of truth or right: over myself, with Divine aid, I have a good control, and have overcome many obstacles and proved myself capable of physical endurance to to such an extent as to have caused very general comment in years past. I do not know what I might not do for others, if this latent power were “energized” by your teaching.

I have a neighbor, almost a stranger to me, whom I judge to be in a very critical physical condition from a depressed mental state. I have thought and felt from the first, that a ScientistEditorial Note: Christian Scientist could effect a wonderful cure there, where I believe the regular physician is making a sad failure. I want to do it myself, but like a bird with cropped wings, must rest or walk when I would fly to [?] Unclear or illegible  great height in metaphysics. I wish you and every other teacher, who would do us good by honoring God and our SaviorsEditorial Note: Jesus Christ, very great wisdom in teaching, and that your spirit & vision may become clearer to the end so that no mistakes may be made in giving to others what you seem to so perfectly understand as the correct interpretation of the Scriptures yourself.