0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

                   Chapter VII 

  	       PLEASANT VIEW AND CONCORD, N.H.

 1	              INVITATION TO CONCORD, JULY 4, 1897
  	                                         
	    My Beloved Church: — I invite you, one and all,
 3	to Pleasant View, Concord, N. H., on July 5, at
  	12.30 P.M., if you would enjoy so long a trip for so small
  	a purpose as simply seeing Mother. 
 6	    My precious Busy Bees, under twelve years of age,
  	are requested to visit me at a later date, which I hope
  	soon to name to them. 
 9	                                              With love, Mother,

  	                                                  MARY BAKER EDDY 

  	PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
12	                  June 30, 1897 


     	                                      [New York Journal] 

  	                     VISIT TO CONCORD, 1901 

15	    Please say through the New York Journal, to the
  	Christian Scientists of New York City and of the world
  	at large, that I was happy to receive at Concord, N. H.,
18	the call of about three thousand believers of my faith,
  	and that I was rejoiced at the appropriate beauty of
  	time and place which greeted them. 
 
                                                          Miscellany                                   170


  1	    I am especially desirous that it should be understood
  	that this was no festal occasion, no formal church cere-
 3	monial, but simply my acquiescence in the request of my
  	church members that they migh...t see the Leader of Chris-
  	tian Science. 
 6	    The brevity of my remarks was due to a desire on my
  	part that the important sentiments uttered in my annual
  	Message to the church last Sunday should not be confused
 9	with other issues, but should be emphasized in the minds
  	of all present here in Concord. 


  	         ADDRESS AT PLEASANT VIEW, JUNE, 1903 

12	    Beloved Brethren: — Welcome home! To your home
  	in my heart! Welcome to Pleasant View, but not
  	to varying views. I would present a gift to you
15	to-day, only that this gift is already yours. God hath
  	given it to all mankind. It is His coin, His currency;
  	it has His image and superscription. This gift is a
18	passage of Scripture; it is my sacred motto, and it
  	reads thus: —  
  	    "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell
21	in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself
  	also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine
  	heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in
24	Him; and He shall bring it to pass.  And He shall bring
  	forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment
  	as the noonday." 
27	    Beloved, some of you have come long distances to kneel
  	with us in sacred silence in blest communion — unity of
  	faith, understanding, prayer, and praise — and to return
30	in joy, bearing your sheaves with you. In parting I
 
                                             Visit to Concord, 1904                        171


1	repeat to these dear members of my church: Trust in
  	Truth, and have no other trusts. 
 3	    To-day is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "And the
  	ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion
  	with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads:  they
 6	shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sigh-
  	ing shall flee away." 


  	                           VISIT TO CONCORD, 1904 

 9	    Beloved Students: — The new Concord church is so
  	nearly completed that I think you would enjoy seeing it. 
  	Therefore I hereby invite all my church communicants
12	who attend this communion, to come to Concord, and
  	view this beautiful structure, at two o'clock in the after-
  	noon, Monday, June 13, 1904. 
15	                                        Lovingly yours,

  	                                                   MARY BAKER EDDY 

  	PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
18	                  June 11, 1904 


  	                                  The Day in Concord 

  	    While on her regular afternoon drive Mrs. Eddy re-
21	sponded graciously to the silent greetings of the people
  	who were assembled on the lawn of the Unitarian church
  	and of the high school. Her carriage came to a stand-
24	still on North State Street, and she was greeted in behalf
  	of the church by the President, Mr. E. P. Bates, to
  	whom she presented as a love-token for the church a
27	handsome rosewood casket beautifully bound with bur-
  	nished brass. 
  	    The casket contained a gavel for the use of the
 
                                                          Miscellany                                   172


 1	President of The Mother Church. The wood of the head
  	of the gavel was taken from the old Yale College Athe-
 3	naeum, the first chapel of the college. It was built in
  	1761, and razed in 1893 to make room for Vanderbilt
  	Hall. The wood in the handle was grown on the farm
 6	of Mark Baker, father of the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy,
  	at Bow, N. H. 
  	    In presenting this gavel to President Bates, Mrs. Eddy
 9	spoke as follows to the members of her church, The First
  	Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass.: —  

  	    "My Beloved Brethren: — Permit me to present to you
12	a little gift that has no intrinsic value save that which it
  	represents — namely, a material symbol of my spiritual
  	call to this my beloved church of over thirty thousand
15	members; and this is that call:  In the words of our great
  	Master, 'Go ye into all the world,' 'heal the sick,' cast
  	out evil, disease, and death; 'Freely ye have received,
18	freely give.' You will please accept my thanks for your
  	kind, expert call on me." 

  	    In reply Mr. Bates said, — 

21	"I accept this gift in behalf of the church, and for
  	myself and my successors in office." 

  	    The box containing the gavel was opened the following
24	day in Boston at the annual meeting of The Mother
  	Church of Christ, Scientist, and the enclosed note from
  	Mrs. Eddy was read: —  

27	    "My Beloved Brethren: — You will please accept
  	from me the accompanying gift as a simple token of
  	love." 
 
                                                     Card of Thanks                              173


 1	                                CARD OF THANKS 

  	    The following letter appeared in the Concord (N. H.)
 3	newspapers after the visit of the Christian Scientists in
  	1904: —  

  	    Dear Mr. Editor: — Allow me through your paper to
 6	thank the citizens of Concord for the generous hospi-
  	tality extended yesterday to the members of my church,
  	The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. 
 9	    After the Christian Science periodicals had given notice
  	that no preparations would be made for a large gathering
  	at this annual meeting of The Mother Church, I scarcely
12	supposed that a note, sent at the last moment, would bring
  	thousands here yesterday; but as many gifts had come
  	from Christian Scientists everywhere to help furnish and
15	beautify our new church building in Concord, it came to
  	me:  Why not invite those who attend the communion
  	in Boston to take a peep at this church edifice on the day
18	when there are no formal exercises at the denominational
  	headquarters? The number of visitors, about four thou-
  	sand, exceeded my expectation, and my heart welcomed
21	each and all. It was a glad day for me — sweet to observe
  	with what unanimity my fellow-citizens vied with each
  	other to make the Christian Scientists' short stay so
24	pleasant. 
  	    Special thanks are due and are hereby tendered to his
  	Honor, the Mayor, for arranging the details and allowing
27	the visitors to assemble on the green surrounding the high
  	school; also to Mr. George D. Waldron, chairman of the
  	prudential committee of the Unitarian church, and to his
30	colaborers on said committee and to the church itself,
  	for their kindly foresight in granting permission, not only
 
                                                          Miscellany                                   174


 1	to use the beautiful lawn surrounding their church build-
  	ing, but also for throwing open their doors for the com-
 3	fort and convenience of the Christian Scientists during
  	the day. The wide-spreading elms and soft greensward
  	proved an ideal meeting place. I greatly appreciate the
 6	courtesy extended to my friends by the Wonolancet Club
  	in again opening their spacious club-house to them on this
  	occasion; and the courtesy of the efficient city marshal
 9	and his staff of police extended to me throughout. And
  	last but not least, I thank the distinguished editors in my
  	home city for their reports of the happy occasion. 


12	         TO FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

  	To the Rev. Franklin D. Ayer, D.D., Pastor Emeritus; the Rev. 
  	     George H. Reed, Pastor of the First Congregational Church,
15	     Concord, N. H., Edward A. Moulton, John C. Thorne, William P. 
  	     Ballard, Henry K. Morrison, Deacons. 

  	    Beloved Brethren: — I have the pleasure of thanking
18	you for your kind invitation to attend the one hun-
  	dred and seventy-fifth anniversary of our time-honored
  	First Congregational Church in Concord, N. H., where
21	my parents first offered me to Christ in infant baptism. 
  	For nearly forty years and until I had a church of my
  	own, I was a member of the Congregational Church in
24	Tilton, N. H. 
  	    To-day my soul can only sing and soar. An increas-
  	ing sense of God's love, omnipresence, and omnipotence
27	enfolds me. Each day I know Him nearer, love Him
  	more, and humbly pray to serve Him better. Thus
  	seeking and finding (though feebly), finally may we not
30	together rejoice in the church triumphant? 
 
                                                               Greetings                                 175


 1	    I would love to be with you at this deeply interesting
  	anniversary, but my little church in Boston, Mass., of
 3	thirty-six thousand communicants, together with the
  	organizations connected therewith, requires my constant
  	attention and time, with the exception of a daily drive. 
 6	    Please accept the enclosed check for five hundred
  	dollars, to aid in repairing your church building. 

  	PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H.,
 9	               November 14, 1905 


  	                                        GREETINGS 

  	    Allow me to say to the good folk of Concord that the
12	growth and prosperity of our city cheer me. Its dear
  	churches, reliable editors, intelligent medical faculty,
  	up-to-date academies, humane institutions, provisions for
15	the army, and well-conducted jail and state prison, — if,
  	indeed, such must remain with us a little longer, — speak
  	for themselves. Our picturesque city, however, greatly
18	needs improved streets. May I ask in behalf of the public
  	this favor of our city government; namely, to macadam-
  	ize a portion of Warren Street and to macadamize North
21	State Street throughout? 
  	    Sweeter than the balm of Gilead, richer than the
  	diamonds of Golconda, dear as the friendship of those
24	we love, are justice, fraternity, and Christian charity. 
  	The song of my soul must remain so long as I remain. 
  	Let brotherly love continue. 
27	    I am sure that the counterfeit letters in circulation,
  	purporting to have my signature, must fail to influence the
  	minds of this dear people to conclusions the very opposite
30	of my real sentiments. 

 
                                                          Miscellany                                   176


 1	TO FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST,
  	                         WILMINGTON, N. C. 

 3	IN APPRECIATION OF A GIFT OF FIFTY DOLLARS IN GOLD TOWARDS
  	                       THE CONCORD (N. H.) STREET FUND 

  	    My Beloved Brethren: — Long ago you of the dear
 6	South paved the way to my forever gratitude, and now
  	illustrate the past by your present love. God grant
  	that such great goodness, pointing the path to heaven
 9	within you, hallow your Palmetto home with palms of
  	victory and songs of glory.
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