Article May 27, 1911 Issue

The greatest woman of modern times, probably of all...

From a sermon by the Rev. Loomis O. Black,

Boone (Ia.) News-Republican

The greatest woman of modern times, probably of all time, was Mary Baker Eddy. Her system of religion was different from Tolstoi's; but they had this similarity, they both believed absolutely in the teachings of Jesus and in God. They both understood the unhappiness of men and believed that God would have all of His children really glad. They both were dissatisfied with the results obtained by the other religious institutions and appealed to people to accept the teachings of Jesus.

Mary Baker Eddy was a comparatively unknown woman when she was fifty years of age. At the time when most women consider their real work finished, she began. And during the past thirty or forty years, when most churches have been losing ground, she gained a million followers. In that number will be found all kinds and conditions of people. The wise, the rich, the ignorant, and the poor have become acquainted with Christian Science and have been helped. In a generation when we have said that men were not religious, this sect, which bases all its claims on the relations which exist between God and men, has grown and become powerful. I believe the principal reasons for the remarkable growth of Christian Science are that it teaches that God is good and all-powerful, and that men, being made "in the image of God." are therefore good. When Mrs. Eddy began teaching, most of the churches were attempting to show that men were evil and that God was largely far removed from their needs and was full of hate and revenge. The churches were quarreling among themselves. Not having peace, they had none to give to individuals. People were starving spiritually while each denomination was attempting to prove its individual superiority. In the race for a "following" the churches forgot their real mission, to develop the relation existing between God and men.

Mrs. Eddy had been ill. Being naturally deeply religious, she thought long and often of God, and came to believe that God was really good, that He had created all things and that He had not made a mistake. She discovered that all the forces, outside those of men, were working together harmoniously and perfectly, an became certain that God intended that man should join with Him. She began to teach that men should be at peace and happy, that all the laws of God were working together for the one great purpose of making men more "Godlike." She believed that man, instead of being naturally bad, was naturally good, and instead of there being a power beside that of the good God at work, the adverse effects were caused by men thinking in opposition to the will of the eternal. I believe she was correct. It is not strange that she became well and gained a large following. The churches were filled with a spirit directly opposed to that of God. Mrs. Eddy taught that all's right in God's world, and that if men would cease to think in opposition to His wishes, if they would let their spirits unite with His spirit, all would be well with them. Her message came as a balm to a troubled and weary people. They who were not at peace and hopeless became contented and full of hope. They found that God was a friend, a Father ready to lead His children to the springs of real life.

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