Letters September 15, 1906 Issue

LETTERS TO OUR LEADER

with contributions from Grace R. Knapp, Laura Dunbar Hagarty, Edgar G. Gyger, M. J. Stoneman, Norman E. John

Westerly, R. I., Aug. 26, 1906.

My Dear Mrs. Eddy:—In Mrs. Mims' helpful article, "The Lesson of the Dove," published in the Sentinel of June 2, she spoke of your "pioneer work, when at first there seemed no abiding-place for the heavenly message," and I was forcibly reminded of your visit to Westerly in those early days, as told in your book, "Retrospection and Introspection." "This letter is just an "olive branch," telling you that there is a receptivity and appreciation here now. We hold regular Sunday services, and also keep a Reading Room open daily. Copies of Science and Health are being constantly loaned and sold, and the librarian of the public library tells us the copies there are in great demand. The sick are being healed and many people are asking, "What is Christian Science?" One of our earnest Scientists here is the daughter of a late member of the Lyceum Club which engaged you to lecture. That organization has not been in existence for many years, but a number of the members are living and hold posts of honor in this and other towns. I recently called on the Rev. A. H. Lewis, now of Plainfield, N. J., pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist church there and editor of The Sabbath Recorder. He has a summer home near here, and as I knew he was a member of that club when pastor here, I thought he might tell me something of interest in regard to it. He said it was organized in the early winter of 1865 and that he was its first president. They had a reading room, also debates, and a lecture course. Among the lecturers he remembers Rev. William H. Milburn, who for so many years was "the blind chaplain" of the United States Senate and House of Representatives; also J. G. Holland, the author. As Dr. Lewis left Westerly in 1867 he does not remember your visit. He said, "That was just the time when women, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, were fighting their way to the platform."

I venture to enclose a clipping from to-night's local paper, which may be of interest to you. It was written by my stepfather, Rev. William L. Swan, who this month resigned his pastorate in order to devote his time to practising the truth, "the best sermon ever preached." For my healing, over seven years ago, for my present faint understanding of the Science of divine Love, and for all my many blessings, I have to thank God, my Leader, and my teacher. I pray that I may ever be alert, watchful, and obedient to Principle, thus expressing my gratitude.

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