been too much for a friend and fellow-citizen who was there visiting at the house, and who assisted in treating the child, for she writes Mrs. Eddy an imploring letter, asking, "Why this termination?" and declaring: "We recognised no disease, and as first symptoms would appear—beliefs of paralysis, spasms, fever, etc.—we would realise the allness of God, and they would disappear." But the letter itself must be given in full. Its account of the sufferings of the baby and the terrible fortitude of the mother sound like a passage from the earlier and harsher chapters of religious history, which so often make us wonder whether there is anything else in the world that can be quite so cruel as the service of an ideal.
Pierre, Dakota, Jan. 31, 1889.
Last September Mrs. N——[1] took a course of lectures in Science in Des Moines, and returned to her home here, and was the instrument of great good. Many were healed physically who sought also the spiritual benefits.
Instead of working for the church, of which she had been a consistent and active member, she gave all her time to Science. This stirred up the error in the minds of the brothers and sisters,—and caused the fiery darts to be mentally hurled at her and they seemingly penetrated her weakest point, her darling baby, eleven months old, who seemed in December to be sinking under the blows. As Herod was seeking the young child's life they thought it best to flee for a time from this mental atmosphere, and went to Des Moines where he grew better. Mr. N—— being obliged to go to New York, and Mrs. N—— hearing that mortal mind had got hold of some of her patients determined to return to Pierre to look after their spiritual welfare.
I returned with her, and almost all our time has been spent in reading the Bible and "Science and Health" to those who were interested. Ministers called upon us and denounced Science in the strongest terms; and one Sunday every minister in the place preached against it, not knowing they could "do nothing against the Truth." We continued working quietly and speaking only to those who came to see us.
- ↑ The name is withheld in consideration for the family most intimately concerned in this case. The interested reader, however, may refer to the f
liles of the Christian Science Journal, March, 1889, pages 637-639, where this letter was originally printed and where the full name is used.
