Meeting Opposition with Love

An article in the Sentinel of May 10, in regard to the overcoming of resentment through the power of Love, reminded me that I should acknowledge a similar demonstration.

One morning a lawyer came into the office where I am employed, to borrow a certain law book. As I laid down "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" which I had been reading, to get the book he asked for, he picked it up, and his seeming disgust on seeing the name of my book, knew no bounds. He then proceeded in a very violent, sarcastic, and emphatic way to express his opinion of Christian Science and Christian Scientists, and talked so loud and so fast that I had no opportunity to speak a word. He was soon recalled to his own office, which is on the same floor with ours, but in a day or two returned to the charge,—his opening remark being loud enough to have been heard across the street. There were other persons present each time who seemed to support his views of Christian Science, and as before I had very little opportunity to say anything.

The statements made were very unjust, unreasonable, and unkind, and when the gentleman had gone out, the first impulse of self was to have a good cry. Then I remembered that if Christian Science were really what he thought it to be, I would be as much opposed to it as any one could be. And this admonition came into my thought, "At all times, and under all circumstances, overcome evil with Good" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker G. Eddy, p. 563). Also from the same book (p. 393): "Is there no divine permission to conquer error of every kind, with Truth and Love?" Then I recalled the lecture of Judge Ewing in the current Journal and thought I might take it to the lawyer to read. At first this seemed an impossible thing to do, but with another inspiring thought from our text-book (p. 562), to "Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences," I took the Journal and went into his office. This was about fifteen minutes after he had gone out of ours, but in this time his entire manner had changed. The "roaring lion" had become as gentle as a lamb. He received me very cordially, and thinking I had come in to see his daughter, told me where I would find her. But I said that I had come to give him some advice, but would not charge him any fee, and reminded him that in order to avoid prejudice, one should never judge in advance of the evidence for the defense. He laughed and said, "If you have something there about Christian Science, I will be glad to read it." I then spoke of Judge Ewing and said that I knew he regarded him as a sound man professionally and politically, and that I considered him sound religiously. The gentleman told me that he knew Judge Ewing, and knew that he was a lecturer on Christian Science, and that he would be very much pleased to read his lecture. I met him the next day in the elevator and he asked if the might not keep the Journal long enough for his wife to read the lecture, saying that she considered Christian Science a "menace to orthodoxy." In a day or two he came to me for more literature, and in a few weeks introduced our Christian Science lecturer, Judge Ewing, telling me that it gave him pleasure to do so, as he "felt very kindly toward the Scientists."

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Letter to Mrs. Eddy
July 5, 1900
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