0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

  	                    TO  —— , ON PRAYER 

 9	                        MASSACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL COLLEGE,
  	                                   571 COLUMBUS AVENUE,
  	                                             BOSTON, March 21, 1885 

12	    Dear Sir: — In your communication to Zion's Herald,
  	March 18, under the heading, "Prayer and Healing; sup-
  	plemental," you state that you would "like to hear from
15	Dr. Cullis; and, by the way, from Mrs. Eddy, also." 
  	    Because of the great demand upon my time, consisting
  	in part of dictating answers through my secretary, or an-
18	swering personally manifold letters and inquiries from all
  	quarters, — having charge of a church, editing a maga-
  	zine, teaching Christian Science, receiving calls, etc., — I
21	find it inconvenient to accept your invitation to answer
  	you through the medium of a newspaper; but, for infor-
  	mation as to what I believe and teach, would refer you to
24	the Holy Scriptures, to my various publications, and to my
  	Christian students. 
  	    It was with a thrill of pleasure that I read in your arti-
27	cle these words: "If we have in any way misrepresented
  	either Dr. Cullis or Mrs. Eddy, we are sorry." Even the
  	desire to be just is a vital spark of Christianity. And those
30	words inspire me with the hope that you wish to be just. 
 
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 Miscellaneous Writings --- Letters: TO ----, On Prayer                      

 1	If this is so, you will not delay corrections of the statement
  	you make at the close of your article, when referring to
 3	me, "the pantheistic and prayerless Mrs. Eddy, of Boston." 
  	    It would be difficult to build a sentence of so few words
  	conveying ideas more opposite to the fact. 
 6	    In refutation of your statement that I am a pantheist,
  	I request you to read my sermons and publications. 
  	    As to being "prayerless," I call your attention and
 9	deep consideration to the following Scripture, that voices
  	my impressions of prayer: —  
  	    "When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites
12	are:  for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and
  	in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.  
  	. . . But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
15	and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
  	which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret
  	shall reward thee openly." 
18	    I hope I am not wrong in literally following the dictum
  	of Jesus; and, were it not because of my desire to set
  	you right on this question, I should feel a delicacy in mak-
21	ing the following statement: —  
  	    Three times a day, I retire to seek the divine blessing
  	on the sick and sorrowing, with my face toward the Jeru-
24	salem of Love and Truth, in silent prayer to the Father
  	which "seeth in secret," and with childlike confidence that
  	He will reward "openly." In the midst of depressing care
27	and labor I turn constantly to divine Love for guidance,
  	and find rest. It affords me great joy to be able to attest to
  	the truth of Jesus' words. Love makes all burdens light,
30	it giveth a peace that passeth understanding, and with
  	"signs following." As to the peace, it is unutterable; as
  	to "signs," behold the sick who are healed, the sorrowful
 
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 Miscellaneous Writings --- Letters: TO ----, On Prayer                      

 1	who are made hopeful, and the sinful and ignorant who
  	have become "wise unto salvation"! 
 3	    And now, dear sir, as you have expressed contrition for
  	an act which you have immediately repeated, you are
  	placed in this dilemma:  To reiterate such words of
 6	apology as characterize justice and Christianity. 
  	                          Very truly,
  	                                     MARY BAKER G. EDDY 
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