About the new cover:

From In Defense of Mary Baker Eddy, and the Remnant of Her Seed, by Paul R. Smillie:

In the Christian Science Sentinel of September 6, 1913 on page ten, Archibald McLellan stated three most important points about the cover of the Sentinel and a minor change made at that time on its cover. Speaking of this change he said, “Beyond this there can be neither desire nor occasion for change in the Sentinel, because,” he said, “Mrs. Eddy’s instructions forbid any change.” He explained this by saying, “Mrs. Eddy likewise gave instructions.” The word “instructions” is most important. Speaking then of the two women, the lamps and the inscriptions beneath them, he said they had been “preserved as expressive of our Leader’s thought. ...” Mrs. Eddy requested that the cover of the Sentinel be light blue in color.”

The Carpenters

Gilbert C. Carpenter, Sr. and Gilbert C. Carpenter, Jr.

(Excerpts from the “Prospectus of the Carpenter Foundation,” and “Gilbert C. Carpenter, Sr., and Gilbert C. Carpenter, Jr.,” by Ralph B. Spencer)

Most everyone who knew the Carpenters and knew what they stood for felt the loving sincerity of their thought. When malicious gossip was occasionally voiced, they would listen politely, but would soon begin to unfold the impersonal nature of error and show how an individual, even though erroneously influenced, would rise up and express the good and the true if the cloud of mesmerism were removed from him.

The Carpenters served their church in Providence, R.I., as very fine Readers, and Mr. Carpenter, Sr., as a fine soloist. Some spoke of attending Wednesday evening meetings to hear the wonderful testimonies from the “voice in the balcony” — Mr. Carpenter, Sr. He frequently gave beautiful, healing testimonies from the balcony that inspired or healed many listeners, and there were some who never knew whose voice it was. One newcomer to Christian Science was taken severely ill in the middle of the night. When asked what doctor or practitioner she wanted, she replied that she wanted that man with the voice from the balcony. Her daughter knew who it was and called Mr. Carpenter, and in a few minutes she was completely healed.

Gilbert Carpenter, Sr., had the privilege of serving one year as Associate Secretary to Mrs. Eddy. Even though he served in Mrs. Eddy’s home for only one year, he took away what is likely the finest understanding of Mrs. Eddy’s life and example of anyone in the home. When his year of service was completed, Mrs. Eddy said to him in the presence of the other students at Pleasant View, “Gilbert, it is like taking my heart out to let you go. During the year that you have been here you have not committed a single moral offence!” Mr. Carpenter received his C.S.B. from Mrs. Eddy herself in 1906.

Mr. Carpenter obviously understood that the daily writings and teachings, and the example of Mrs. Eddy, would be of great value to future Christian Scientists as their understanding and love for this Science grew and they hungered for more. Thus he began to take notes and to collect whatever writings came into his possession. Others in the household who learned of his growing collection, shared with him their notes and recollections. Calvin Frye provided a half dozen copies of the Manual containing edits in Mrs. Eddy’s own handwriting, several first editions of her books, and many articles and letters.

While Mr. Carpenter lived in the household, he saw firsthand, and also received, some of the rebukes and corrections Mrs. Eddy provided. He would retire to his room to pray and ask God to open his thought to understand Mrs. Eddy’s purpose in awakening the students. This practice made him more than qualified to interpret many of Mrs. Eddy’s actions and her letters that are included in the “Footsteps” and “Precepts” books. Thank God Mr. Carpenter never tried to cover, hide, or make excuses for Mrs. Eddy’s actions, which sometimes seemed perplexing; but instead, he helped us to understand them and to learn from them how to truly live Christian Science and to keep error off guard by sometimes doing the unexpected.

After returning to his home, and for the next 25 years, Mr. Carpenter rarely spoke about his time in Mrs. Eddy’s home; but his love, loyalty, and reverence for God, Mrs. Eddy, and this Science were unquestionable. When he began to give morning talks about his experiences at Pleasant View, notes taken during these talks became the foundation for his books, “Footsteps” and “Precepts.”

When Gilbert C. Carpenter, Jr., became aware of the collection his father had made, he continued adding to the collection, obtaining items from other workers in the home and purchasing still more. He established the Carpenter Foundation to maintain all the items they had accumulated.

Excerpts from “Prospectus of the Carpenter Foundation”

A location needed to be chosen to contain all the items of the Carpenter collection. A way opened for the purchase of the Rockport, Mass. Granite Company’s office erected in 1892. An important feature of the building is a massive vault eight feet square, with walls over fourteen inches thick. Here is a spot where priceless items and irreplaceable material may be kept with safety.

The location of this granite structure deserves mention, since in the rear it overlooks the broad Atlantic Ocean, while in the front it stands on the edge of a majestic quarry. Two-thirds of the property is bounded by the periphery of the quarry, so that indeed the building “foursquare” is “set on an hill.” Being over a hundred feet above the ocean, it dominates the landscape like a lighthouse, and each window commands a view of unsurpassed beauty.

The Foundation includes thousands of items by our Leader — unpublished articles, books, letters, and sayings recorded by students and members of her household. The value of the Foundation to advanced students is to be found largely in these items — words said or written to students to admonish them, to encourage them, and to explain to them how to handle evil. These statements and letters set forth as nothing else could, what constitutes a real Christian Scientist. They show what his attitude should be toward the organization, as well as set forth his proper relation to it.

Through these priceless precepts, the advanced student may learn how to progress more rapidly than would he possible without them, since they cover the application of the metaphysics taught in Science and Health to almost every problem that would arise in the student’s daily life, as well as in his church life. What is equally important, these items give the reader an insight into how our Leader reflected or received the wisdom of God, which to the one who would follow her, is instruction that is as valuable as the wisdom itself, since to know how she received guidance from God enables her followers to be likewise guided.

It is as important for the man who owns an airplane to know how to pilot it, and to protect it, as it is for him to possess it. A student might be found so developed in intelligence, that he could evolve from a mere study of his plane the method of flying it; but the average would-be pilot needs much instruction by precept and example, before he is qualified to fly.

In her textbook our Leader has given ample instruction in metaphysics for all time to come, and no jot nor tittle will ever be added to or taken away from that instruction. Nevertheless, when a student presented an individual problem to her, she did not merely quote from her works. She sent him instruction based on her own understanding and demonstration of the teachings in her textbook. Since the problems of one are the problems of all, who is to deny that such instruction may not prove to be an invaluable teaching to the student who has progressed to the point where he needs it.

Footprints, that perhaps another,

Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

It can be said that Mrs. Eddy’s authorized writings are for knowledge, whereas her unauthorized material furnishes a means of spiritual development. Contained in the letters she wrote to her church and students, in her unauthorized articles and books, are statements that are subject to misunderstanding and controversy. Many statements sound inexplicable on the surface. There are letters that appear to be the emanation of a troubled, fearful, or irritated thought. Some appear to have no present-day value at all.

Yet digging deeply into these items with a prayer that the true spiritual import be revealed, one finds divine treasures of Truth and Love, that cause the mission and self-sacrifice, the motives and Christly love of Mary Baker Eddy to stand forth in greater relief than ever before. Verily one is led to the conclusion that she spoke truly when she said, “I am learning more and more every day to take God with me into every little thing I do.”

One might add that study of her letters reveals the fact that she did take God with her into every little thing that she did, and wrote, and said, — that she was consistently guided by a spiritual wisdom, the import of which was not always revealed to her. As she wrote to Judge Septimus Hanna, “faith and obedience before understanding is required to show us that it is God and not man that directs our steps in Christian Science, even the intelligent, all-wise Principle of man’s being — one Father-Mother, God.”

All advancing Christian Scientists should have an instinctive desire to know how Mrs. Eddy did what she did. The lazy human mind is ready to bask in effect, as did the nine lepers after Jesus had healed them. Only one came back to learn the process. Perhaps one out of every ten Christian Scientists has a real desire to learn how Mrs. Eddy functioned; what the demonstration was that she made; what her perception of the operation of the evil one was; how she brought forth a Cause that has successfully withstood the world’s prejudice, enmity, and the effort of evil to scatter, dislodge, and make disloyal its faithful adherents. It was no human wisdom that she used, since no human wisdom could anticipate as she did, and be ready to meet the moves of the enemy. Consider the Sunday morning, when she sent word out of a clear sky for her students to be in their seats in church one hour ahead of time. Later it was discovered that her disloyal and disgruntled students who had fallen away had planned to come en masse to the service ahead of time and take all the seats so that when the loyal ones arrived, there would be no room, and the disloyal ones would have a chance to embarrass her. What but divine wisdom guided her to make this move that was so needed to outwit the enemy.

Gilbert C. Carpenter, Jr. and Gilbert C. Carpenter, Sr.

An interesting set of circumstances led me to become close friends with Gilbert C. Carpenter Jr.

Gilbert had long been familiar with the Mrs. Eddy his father had observed daily at Pleasant View. When some of the incidents which had at first puzzled the father began to find their way into print, both Carpenters wanted to prepare answers to the ill-informed attacks on Mrs. Eddy they foresaw.

The Board of Directors in Boston saw it otherwise. They preferred the method of suppression. The Board of Directors bought up works by early Christian Scientists, like Adam Dickey, Samuel Bancroft, Bates, Dittemore, and others; and they pursued the Carpenters for preparing books to answer, rather than ignore or evade, the false interpretation of the facts the books brought out.

The Board in Boston had refused permission to the Carpenters to circulate their book, and consequently I was asked not to broadcast the fact that I was being given a set of the book’s galley proofs.

I wrote to Gilbert Jr., “I believe we are meant to accept as true or not whatever is written or said, according to our own inspiration. If something is helpful to our progress we shall have it from one source, whatever other channels appear to be willfully blocked. . . . Inspiration is a better judge than arbitrary decisions on what is authorized or unauthorized.”

When Mrs. Eddy proclaimed in No and Yes 45:24: “Let the Word have free course,” she reminded readers that “Jesus said: ‘I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes.’”

By 1945, Gilbert Jr. formed a foundation under the laws of Rhode Island, and items given to the Carpenter Foundation became legally protected by State law. This cost him his Christian Science teacher’s job, and his practitioner’s card in the Christian Science Journal, and that of his father. Towards the end of 1950 he was summoned to Boston. The Directors then proposed, if he would surrender all of his material to the Archives, he would be permitted access at any time he wished. Gilbert found the offer tempting — there was much in the Archives he wanted to examine.

“You mean I’ll have access to the Archives?”

“Just your own collection.”

“What’s the advantage? I have access to it now.”

“Ah, but you will be fully reinstated.”

Reinstated — this meant that Gilbert would have the right to teach again. But he saw no way to accede to their request. In fact, for the first time he felt it was hopeless to expect them to see things his way. He believed that the interview was really leading up to the question of the suppression of this book, much as two years before they had prevailed on Bliss Knapp to destroy the plates and all copies of his “The Destiny of the Mother Church.”

Gilbert said he came away from the meeting convinced that nothing was to be gained. He decided that the time had come for wider distribution of his and his father’s book. The following day he put it on sale, whereas previously the books and compilations were sent out privately on a very restricted basis.

The Directors, under pressure by the “sixth Director” Miss Warren (corresponding secretary), then made a determined effort to put an end to the damage they felt that possession by the Carpenters of all their things might mean. Accordingly, she came down to Providence and was told by Gilbert Carpenter Jr. that if she found anything which the Board felt they ought not have, she should take it away. She took the lot, offering payment, which was refused.

On her return to Boston, she prepared documents for the Carpenters to sign, declaring that they had surrendered all their “unauthorized” material and retained no copies; but before the documents were ready she died, and with her died the attempt to deprive the Carpenters further of the material they possessed.

I reminded Gilbert Jr. that he had given me such of his own copyrights as I needed for my own work in England. I asked if he would care to confirm his assignment of copyright. Without hesitation he signed the following: “By letter sent to Richard F. Oakes, of Hook, Surrey, England, in the latter half of 1949, Mr. Carpenter stated that his compilations of material by and about Mary Baker Eddy were not specifically copyrighted in the United Kingdom but that in so far as his permission was required for reproducing such items in the United Kingdom it was hereby granted to said Richard F. Oakes.” As he handed it back to me after signing, I said I wanted to be sure he knew what he had done: he had provided a perpetual second outlet for the items he was preserving for the world beyond the reach of his heirs or assigns. He replied simply: “That is why I have done it.”

The work Gilbert Carpenter Jr. did in helping to rescue for the world the hundreds of items which Truth alone can assess, will never be hidden. Mrs. Eddy wrote: “Discerning the rights of man, we cannot fail to foresee the doom of all oppression . . . God made man free.”

There is an old saying which goes, “the proof [test] of the pudding is in the eating.” And there is a ton of truth to this saying.

Most people today would not dispute the point that Jesus was the promised Messiah. And how do we arrive at this conclusion? By all the healing works he did. Likewise, with Mrs. Eddy. No one else, with the exception of Jesus, exhibited the healing power of God like Mrs. Eddy. So the claims to who these individuals are in history is clearly shown in the “pudding,” or through their works.

Although Gilbert Carpenter Sr. is not someone specifically named in prophecy, he did work in Mrs. Eddy’s home and was greatly loved. He was given the name “Dad” Carpenter while there, and this name stuck. There was a wonderful practitioner in my childhood named Mrs. Seckel. She knew Gilbert Carpenter Sr. personally and called him “Dad” too. She was in awe of his spiritual understanding and loved his writings. She privately published some of his writings, such as 500 Watching Points, Footsteps Fadeless, Visions of Mary Baker Eddy, Items, etc. I was fortunate to be given copies of these books. How privileged I have been to have had all this in my experience.

Not much is said of Mr. Carpenter’s own healings, but he “taught” those who were ready to listen. The thought always was, as Mrs. Eddy said, to heal by teaching and to teach by healing. So for those naysayers who think one should avoid these books, let me share some powerful healings that are part of his legacy.

Mrs. Seckel was my mother’s practitioner and she was part of her inner circle, learning much. As the “the proof of the pudding,” I would like to share four testimonies that speak to the quality of work, and of Mr. Carpenter’s legacy.

1. My family lived in south Jersey when I was a child. My mother had a little subcompact car that made a VW beetle look big. It didn’t go very fast, but she was grateful to have it. One day she was driving on a three-lane highway, traveling in the middle lane. There was a big tractor trailer truck on either side of her car, and she was midway between the front and back of these trucks. Suddenly, the one in the left lane started to make a lane change right into her lane. She realized that he did not see her and that she and her car were about to be crushed. Her car did not have the acceleration to zip ahead of both trucks, nor was there time to step on the brakes to avoid a collision. She only had a second to pray, so she closed her eyes and did so. She felt no impact, so she opened her eyes to find that the trucks had moved beside each other, but she was 25 feet in front of both of them, and she had not tried to accelerate. Something clearly defying the laws of physics happened here. She and her car were untouched.

2. Another time, my mother was in the kitchen. She reached for a drinking glass on the top shelf of a cabinet, when it slipped and shattered on the counter below. One of the shards of glass flew into her eye. There was a great deal of fear, as the piece was sharp, and she was alone, and she was unable to remove it. She prayed, and the glass shard changed consistency from hard, sharp glass to something the consistency of Jello. It then came out of her eye on its own with no damage to the eye. Again the laws of physics were defied here.

3. Another time she was studying upstairs in a bedroom and heard a commotion across the street. There was an EMT vehicle there, and the men were just leaving. The people across the street were not Christian Scientists, but mom decided to go over and see what was going on. Apparently, the youngest child had fallen into a baby pool and drowned. The EMT people were unable to revive him, so were leaving. Mom asked to hold the child, and while doing so, she prayed; and the child came back to life.

4. When I was a kid I had a tree fort that I built. It had a wooden ladder propped up to the front. One day I was coming down the ladder facing away from the ladder, and I fell a good distance, landing on my hands. One of my elbows was knocked out of joint, and I was not able to straighten it. Any attempt to do so caused extreme pain. Plus it is physically impossible for the one with an out-of-joint arm to straighten it on their own. Medically, someone must perform a painful procedure to pull the arm back into its rightful place. I remember wearing a sling my mom created out of one of her scarfs for about five days. On the fifth day, my mom was once again upstairs studying in her bedroom. I climbed up on the end of her bed and soon fell asleep. I had a very vivid dream that I was falling down the steps in this same house. There were walls on either side, and in my dream I reached out with both arms, one to each wall, to break my fall. As one sometimes does in a dream, my body was making the same movements. This was happening as I was waking up, so I remember it clearly. This reaching out of my arms caused my arm to go back into place, and to do so with no pain. I have never had any problem with either arm since that time. Again the laws of physics were broken.

So, I’d say that some impressive “proofs of the pudding” are right here. And these healings were only some experienced in my own family. I have to believe there are equally impressive ones from others in Mrs. Seckel’s group. I was always told that the one who does the best healing is the one who has the best understanding of Christian Science. So how can the Carpenter stuff be off base or lack the truth needed for understanding when this kind of healing has resulted? Well, my friend. “the proof of the pudding” is pretty obvious!

Many years ago the Boston Christian Science organization filed a lawsuit against Plainfield Church for not pledging allegiance to the Board of Directors, and tried to prevent us from using the name “Christian Science.” One of the things that gave us the spiritual strength and conviction to successfully stand during that trying time, were the Carpenter books: Spiritual Footsteps, Spiritual Precepts, and Watches, Prayers, Arguments. They came to us at a time when we needed the spiritual ammunition to defeat error’s attempt to destroy our church and forever crush Mrs. Eddy’s pure Christian Science.

Spiritual Footsteps instilled in us a love for Mrs. Eddy that enabled us to stand for her precious Science, no matter what. It gave us a deep appreciation of life in her home, and the Divinity Course that those, who were receptive, received there, and inspired us to demonstrate likewise within our own homes and work. And most importantly, it taught us the inestimable value of Godly rebukes when taken in the spirit of humility and unselfed love.

Spiritual Precepts gave us the appreciation and understanding of Mrs. Eddy’s selfless establishment of her church, in her turning to God in every detail. All during this law case, it taught us, also, to turn to God for guidance, “precept upon precept, line upon line,” so that we could retain the name of Christian Science for our church – in title and in Spirit.

Lastly, Watches, Prayers, Arguments gave us the spiritual weapons, inspiration, and encouragement to handle the relentless assaults of error, and to see them as powerless against Truth. We learned to watch and pray — in unity, and individually around the clock, to protect and preserve Mrs. Eddy’s true Christian Science. As a result, the church grew, the members grew, and Mrs. Eddy’s pure Christian Science continues to prosper here to this day. Our church can never be grateful enough to the Carpenters for this spiritual legacy and treasure which they gave us.

Image by Carl Miller

We struggle by day and we dream by night,

       And we fight against pain and sin;

Till we turn our gaze to the Soul for light,

       And seek our heaven within.

Then with eyes of faith and a deep relief,

       We begin our task sublime,

To put out fear and a false belief,

       And to say, “Not mine, but Thine.”

Oh, hasten that day when within each heart,

       Pure trust and a love shall shine

Far out to the world, and we see our part

       In God’s universe divine!

For the light that comes drives away all doubt,

       As we cling to the real and the right;

For the light within lights the world without,

       And the way becomes joyful and bright.

Back to the top of the page

From Mrs. Eddy

Christian Science Journal June 1888

“Truth has fallen in the street and equity can not enter.” — Isaiah 59:14.

When the press is gagged, liberty is besieged; but when the press assumes the liberty to lie, it discounts clemency, mocks morality, outrages humanity, breaks common law, gives impulse to violence, envy, and hate, and prolongs the reign of inordinate, unprincipled clans. At this period those quill-drivers, whose consciences are in their pockets, hold high carnival. The news dealer shouts for class legislation; and decapitated reputations, headless trunks, and quivering hearts are held up before the rabble, in exchange for money, place, and power! The vox populi is suffocated, individual rights are trodden under foot, and the car of the modern Inquisition rolls along our streets besmeared with blood. Would not our Master say to the chief actors in scenes like these, “Oh ye fools and blind!” Oh tardy human justice, would you take away even woman’s trembling faith in divine power? Who can roll away the stone from the door of this sepulchre? Who, but God’s avenging angel!

In times like these it were well to lift the veil on the sackcloth of home, where weepeth the faithful but stricken mother, and the bruised father bendeth his aching head, where the bereft husband, silent and alone, gazes in dull despair at the vacant seat, and his motherless little ones, wondering, huddle together, and repeat with quivering lips words of strange import.

Father, we thank Thee that Thy light and Thy love reach earth, open the prison to them that are bound, console the innocent, and throw wide the gates of Heaven.

The Springfield Union, which I have not read, is alleged to have published in substance this falsehood: “Mrs. Eddy habitually employs a physician in Boston, but is not willing to have his name known.” I have neither called nor consulted a physician for myself for over twenty years, and have averaged, for the past twenty years, twelve hours’ work per day, with only two weeks’ vacation during this time. With few exceptions, when I have called on students to help bear the burdens laid on me, — even the burdens they themselves have imposed,— I have found my task increased, and my only remedy was to help those students, and seek my rest in God. It has reminded me of this Scripture: “They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

The doctor in Springfield, alluded to as one of my physicians, has not the degree of M.D. He was a student of mine, but may at present be figuring under one of the many cognomens belonging to the mind-traffic, which are obsolete in Christian Science. This item could be published with authority, namely, that I healed him instantaneously of a severe chronic bronchial affection, which he said had afflicted him for more than twenty years, and was growing rapidly worse. His expectoration was of such an alarming nature that he told me he emptied his spittoon daily, to prevent his daughter from seeing the discharge from his throat. Might not this doctor do some good by instancing this scientific cure? What is he trying to accomplish by the report aforesaid, good or evil? Christian Science is not demonstrated by seeking to injure one’s neighbor.

The Boston Herald recently informed the public that a Mrs. Rogers came under my treatment for a cancer, and that I failed to cure it. I never treated Mrs. Rogers, and do not know that I ever saw her. I take no patients, and advertise in my books that I have no time for medical consultation.

The fullness of the earth belongs to the free circulation of honesty, virtue, and progress in the footsteps of truth.

Blue Book p. 283

Back to the top of the page

History Corner

Proper Credit to Mrs. Eddy in our Church Services

(Excerpted from William Lyman Johnson’s History of the Christian Science Movement, Vol.1, p. 174-177)

Many visitors to Christian Science churches have wondered at, and sometimes complained about the frequent repetition by the First Reader of the title of our Textbook, Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. To many it has seemed advertisingly intrusive, and even an exhibition of bad taste. And when they learned that Mrs. Eddy requested this, they often objected more vigorously. However, there was a definite reason for her demand, one that was logical and best for the Cause.

During the years from 1885 onward, students who had left Mrs. Eddy began writing pamphlets and books on what they called Christian Science. To some of these former students there was more profit and glory in selling and using their own books than in recommending Science and Health. As they drifted away from Mrs. Eddy, they found it increasingly difficult to teach pure Science, so they used and suggested books that were the easiest for their students to understand, books that represented in most cases their own thought, which was not Mrs. Eddy’s pure Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy’s writing was not freely circulated among the pupils of these so-called teachers, and therefore, she was not recognized as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, or as the Leader of the movement.

At this time, practically all of the writers of mental healing were drawing directly from Mrs. Eddy’s works, or paraphrasing her statements. Thousands were reading, being treated, and taught, who afterwards realized that something was not true in what they had been given; or else in a reaction of disgust, they turned bitterly against anything that was called Christian Science. Therefore, Mrs. Eddy safeguarded not only her own writings, but the whole foundation of Science, by requiring that when quotations were made from her writings, the work and her name should be given. This was like throwing a bomb into the camp of the enemy; for to the honest seeker and wanderer, the proper placement of, and credit to, quotations in our Christian Science churches made many pause and think, and ultimately led them to Divine Science, the fountain of Truth.

What follows is a testimony letter from Laura Sargent supporting the proper acknowledgement of Mrs. Eddy in our services:

In compliance with a request from our beloved Teacher, I submit the following testimonial for truth.

Yours in the truth, Laura E. Sargent

Our church can never be grateful enough for Reginald Kerry. When the Boston Board of Directors filed a lawsuit against the Plainfield Church to keep us from using the name “Christian Science,” Reg’s courage, joyous good humor, and faithful support helped us through a very difficult time.

We first heard of Reg Kerry when one of Mrs. Evans’ out-of-town patients found what later became known as the “Kerry Letter” in the waste basket of his church. About 25 members of Plainfield Church gathered one evening in the Evans’ living room, while this patient, Walter Lockwood, read the letter to us over the speaker phone. Even though many of us suspected something was wrong in the movement, it was still an incredible awakening to the corruption that was going on in the Boston organization.

Reg had sent out this letter en masse to Reading Rooms and Churches, but it was ultimately Plainfield Church that awoke, and took action on it to preserve Mrs. Eddy’s pure Christian Science. Reg soon followed this up with additional letters to the field, and our church was actively involved in the preparation and mailing of them. Reg often said that he blew the trumpet, but Mrs. Doris Evans established the first Independent Christian Science Church that has stood the test of time — no small feat!

Reg served as head of security for the Mother Church for several years and witnessed firsthand the activities of the Board of Directors. Early in his career there, he was recruited by the Board to persuade the Carpenters to give all their books to the Board and to relinquish their copyrights to them as well. Reg was successful in doing this, but he always regretted his role in this atrocity.

The first time we all met Reg was when he came to a Wednesday evening testimony meeting. In his testimony, he spoke of the incident in Luke 10:20, where Jesus told his disciples “rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” In thinking back on this, he was preparing us all for what was to come in the struggle for our church independence.

During the litigation with the Board of Directors, Reg provided us with the Carpenters’ book, “Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Footsteps.” This volume, perhaps the greatest contribution by the Carpenters, proved to be an invaluable source of encouragement and guidance for us. Since that time, he returned often to our church. His deep love for Mrs. Eddy and her Science, his unfailing sense of humor, and his unwavering stand for Principle, encouraged us during that long – and historic – law case. On one occasion, he even came to the courtroom with us, praying with us to know God’s presence and power were in complete control. Ultimately our church won the right to use the name “Christian Science” and to practice it as Mrs. Eddy intended.

We were blessed to have known Reg Kerry, and are grateful that God sent us such a fearsome and faithful “archangel.”

Back to the top of the page

In Support of Our Nation, Our World

Liberty is the birthright of every man, the heirloom of all the sons and daughters of God. But where do you find liberty unaccompanied by religion? It is true that all men have a right to liberty, but it is equally true that you do not meet it in any country save where you find the Spirit of the Lord. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (II Cor. 3:17)

There was a time when men could not speak their sentiments freely, when kings were despots, when Parliaments were but a name. Who won our liberties for us? Who have loosed our chains? Under the hand of God, I say, the men of religion! And if we are ever to maintain our liberty, it shall be kept by religion. The Bible has snapped our fetters, and they never can be riveted on again while men with God’s Spirit in their hearts go forth to speak its truths. He is the free man, whom the truth makes free. He who has grace in his heart is free.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins… not through strength, but through persistence.

Back to the top of the page

Painting by Luanne Tucker

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins...
not through strength, but through persistence.

A Watch to Work with Often

Protection from the Storm

I would like to express my gratitude in both word and deed for the Unity Watch on August 30. For a few days before this, Hurricane Dorian was forecast to intensify and make landfall in the middle of the state of Florida, and to proceed directly across the state. Then that evening there was the special Plainfield Unity Watch. The next morning the forecast abruptly changed to one that would not have it making landfall, but would have it making a right-hand turn and skirt the coast of the U.S.

As a property owner on the west coast of Florida, I am extremely grateful to all the Unity Watchers who unselfishly and lovingly gave their prayers that evening. One of my Christian Science friends in Florida, who is not associated with Plainfield but who has seen the effects of prayer on weather, e-mailed me and noted that some pretty powerful prayer must have been going on. I mentioned to her the Plainfield Unity Watch, and indicated that I felt this must have been a big factor, if not the deciding factor, in this weather change. In addition to Florida being spared a direct hit by a category 4 hurricane, another benefit was that the outer bands of rain brought gentle showers to a property I own in another state that had been experiencing a bit of drought lately, thus providing a second blessing.

Keep up the great work!

I’m so thankful for the inspirational Roundtable discussion Sunday, September 1, 2019, on Christ Jesus. With all the chaos in the world, it is comforting to know that in Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy has given us instruction on how to handle these predicted tumultuous times by choosing Science and peace instead of discord and fear.

Living in central Florida, with the threat of hurricane Dorian mounting, I gained peace by remembering that God is ever-present and there is no power but God that can act. I began to work on knowing that God is Love, that Love is reflected in the water, the wind, the earth, and the sun. Love is harmonious. I began to hold thought to God’s Love in the trees, the birds and animals. “If it’s not harmonious, it’s not of God and has no power.”

Chapter 62, “Handling the Weather,” in the Carpenters’ book, Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Footsteps, helped my husband and me claim dominion over the storm, especially with the beautiful passage, “When I take it up, I face the clouds and see God’s face, Love, shining right through; then the clouds scatter and there is no storm to break upon any one.”

Psalm 91 helped me to focus on abiding in the shelter of the “secret place of the Most High,” and to remember the unseen forces, the angels who guide and protect — legions of angels protecting the East Coast.

I will admit that there were bouts of great fear at times, as animal magnetism worked hard, sending negative scenes for the East Coast, based on the weather forecast. I knew the work was to yield to scientific thoughts of Truth and keep it there. I recalled Christ on the boat with the disciples when the storm came and they were afraid they would perish, as discussed at the Roundtable. That helped me to breathe easy, knowing Christ is with me always. There is nothing to fear. There is only one reality, God’s Love.

I also was thankful for “A Treatment for Every Day” by Mary Baker Eddy that I read aloud each morning. After almost two years, these powerful truths come automatically during times of need, and so I repeated often: “God is my strength. God is my life. God is my health. God is my understanding. Your life is in Him. No power can bind you. God is the only life. Spirit is the only substance. Love is the only cause. Harmony is the only law. Now is the only time.” A Christian Science practitioner at Plainfield Church had guided me to this powerful daily discipline that has changed my life.

What I learned from this hurricane has been helpful. Whenever I am in deep fear, I must be willing to shift my thinking by choosing love over fear, not just quoting what I have read intellectually, but really going within. The recognition that in this harrowing moment, whatever I am facing must be met, so don’t try wishing it away or running from it, but embracing this eternal harmonious “now” as perfect.

Before long, a lifting of dread and doom was changed into such a loving, peaceful awareness of God’s presence and tender care that absolutely nothing can destroy. Our area had some rainfall and subtropical winds, but this morning I woke up with joyful, thankful tears, feeling such a peace of heaven for all — the garden, the trees, and even our feral feline who showed up for a late breakfast.

I am so thankful to Mrs. Eddy, Christian Science, the Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, and all the Light you shine to dispel the illusion.

I am beyond grateful once again to testify to God’s complete protection during hurricane Dorian. This is the third time during the past four years that our property has been in the direct path of a hurricane, and each time the area where we are located has had little to no damage.

After it caused destruction in the Bahamas, weather models suggested that it would continue to the U.S., and dire scenarios were predicted. Models showed it first plowing into Florida; but then when that didn’t materialize, they showed it skirting the Carolina coast. Weather and news reports talked about severe damage to be expected due to the storm surge of five to eight feet, much rainfall, and the fact that it came right at king tide, which happens a couple of times a year when tides are at their highest.

This church, its members and practitioners have been such a support at times like this. There was a Unity Watch for the hurricane that was very helpful, and during last Wednesday’s Testimony meeting, a testimony from a member in Florida was read which also had many helpful and powerful ideas to work with. She mentioned gaining peace by remembering that no power but God can act. I worked to see God’s face and love everywhere on the coast, the island, the beaches, the cities — also that God holds the wind in His fist, and the wind and waves obey Him. Mortal mind could not damage or create havoc because evil goes back on itself with accelerated force.

On Thursday the hurricane, a category 2 at the time, stayed about 40 miles off the coast where we are located; and while there was much wind, none of the dire consequences occurred which were forecast. The forecast all week warned of a high tide joining with a hurricane storm surge to inundate the city. The National Weather service in Charleston called for surges to reach six feet and possibly up to a foot of rain before the storm moved northward; however, the seas at Charleston harbor were quite the opposite at high tide. Off-shore winds pushed the water back, making the water around the battery’s walls like glass. In fact, the report from some people who stayed on our island said it was one of the lowest high tides they had seen.

While some of our neighbors experienced minor roof and water damage from ripped off shingles, the shingles on our roof stayed intact. Nothing was out of place except a torn screen that has since been fixed. The island was spared severe damage. I know people here and elsewhere were praying. Although the storm has passed, I hear mixed comments — some thank God and acknowledge Him, many others express how lucky we were. Once again I am grateful not to fall into that trap to believe that it was luck. I know how important it is to acknowledge God’s protection. As it says in a recent Lesson on Substance, “Remember His marvelous works that He has done.”

Thank you to everyone who worked to see the magnificence of God’s kingdom, and my practitioner who stood steadfastly with me. I am deeply grateful.

Past Elijah the “strong wind” roared

       And “rent the mountains” through,

And “brake…the rocks”; yet he faltered not;

       His place on the mount he knew.

“An earthquake” next, and then “a fire.”

       Did not your brave heart quail,

Oh “man of God” when you sought to find

       The Lord and seemed to fail?

Oh Father, may our faith be strong

       To know that Thou art near!

To stand until the “still small voice”

       Has silenced every fear.

Back to the top of the page

From the Early Workers

Why are you well? Because the Life manifested through spiritual man, and hence through your genuine self, is God, a Life which knows no pain, obstruction, deformity, or limitation of any kind. And how is it that you know you are well? Because Mind equips you with a vision that sees through the shadowy illusions of disease and recognizes the perfection in which the Eternal has clothed you.

These sublime truths may at first seem dim and remote. But as you meditate on them, and discern their reason and significance, they become transparent and vital. More than this they become operative in the affairs and conditions of everyday experience and transform your life for the better, supplanting weakness with strength, wavering with purpose, failure and discouragement with confidence and usefulness. Then is the Word made flesh.

Meditation upon spiritual truths and realization of their power is prayer, for prayer consists not so much in asking God for help as it does in realizing that already He has supplied everything needful. Such prayer tends to awaken us from the dream of lack and suffering and limitation to the boundless plenty and opportunity and freedom that the Almighty has showered on all hands. Then we begin to realize that heaven is here and now, awaiting our recognition of it; begin to realize that eternal Life is here and now and that we have already entered upon it.

Christian Science Journal 1884

The courage of right convictions is not to be despised, neither should the boldness of bad ones be overlooked. We should always carefully discriminate between the two. Truth requires no argument to make itself felt, but error is bombastic, and needs to carry on a noisy warfare in asserting its claims, or else it would sink into oblivion at once, for its claim is but an assertion.

But what is the warfare? Something more mythical than all the pagan lore; something wherein error seeks to decrown Deity, and shouts, “I wear the insignia of Truth! That which was Truth was not Truth. I, the lie, am greater than God!”

The test of Truth is severe. Who can distinguish between that and error? There is no sophistry about Science. Apparently it is not always pleasant or acceptable to the mortal sense; yet we should always remember that there is no reality in the mortal sense of things. Our reasons are as substantial as the sand hills blown about by the wind, when they seek to pervert Truth.

Driven by our own fears, driven by others’ fears, we are miserable creatures. If our ark of safety is Truth, we shall not be driven. There is great need to set a watch over our thoughts that no thief or robber shall enter therein. Our citadels should be fortified, and the guards stationed at the outposts; and let everyone who approaches be hailed, and if he be an enemy the power of Truth is as great as in the olden time when “He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies, and there was not one of them left.”

Let us be true to our convictions. No matter how great the carnival of error without, let us hearken for the still, small voice, “Lo, I am with you alway!”

Then buckle on the armor bright,

The breastplate fasten sure;

‘T will glisten in the morning light

Of that blest day secure.

The shield of Truth our guard shall be;

The Spirit’s sword, this hour

Will make the claims of error flee,

And give Truth’s mighty power.

The helmet of salvation crowns

Intelligence with might;

And heavenly sunlight deeply drowns

The Pharaoh hosts of night.

Then shall we stand on Life’s bright shore,

Our sense of Truth complete,

And earthly fears forevermore

Will lie beneath our feet.

The Truth must banish every fear,

When we our God behold;

Again our Master’s voice we hear:

One Shepherd and one fold.

Back to the top of the page

Current Articles

In Acts 4, verse 31, it says, “and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” The word “boldness” caught my attention, so I looked it up in Webster’s 1828 dictionary, the edition used by Mary Baker Eddy. Part of the definition is “courage, bravery, spirit, fearlessness; the quality of exceeding the ordinary rules of scrupulous nicety and caution; freedom from timidity; confident trust, fearlessness.”

The Bible mentions that Christ Jesus spoke and taught “as one having authority.” (Matthew 7:29) Certainly this was even more than boldness, at least as I had previously thought of it, because the rest of that verse is “and not as the scribes.” If the scribes, having human authority, couldn’t speak or teach with the bold authority of Jesus, then where is the difference?

In my youth, a lot of Christian pastors and evangelists my mother listened to spoke loudly, but left no real mark on me. Today it feels like the internet allows people to state their opinions in a bold way, but a closer look reveals the words are without any bedrock of Truth, and the result can be sleepy numbness from the noise.

When I hear my practitioner or others in Plainfield Church speak with that real boldness and authority, it has a much different effect. First, I can tell they have been living Christian Science and have proved the point in question; and second, it instills a feeling that with effort and study and prayer on my part, I can get there as well. Instead of feeling numb afterward, I am awake and alert, and energized to get back to work. Such a profound difference between the real and the counterfeit!

As I have been learning here, “In Science we can use only what we understand. We must prove our faith by demonstration.” (S&H, p. 329) To really prove these things for myself has allowed me to have that “confident trust” and “freedom from timidity” Webster mentions, at least in accord with those demonstrations. There seems to be this moving mark, where on the near side I can speak with authority on the healing and saving power of Science because I have worked those portions out, and on the far side of that mark is where I have not proved, and on which it would be unwise for me to speak.

I am grateful to this church and practitioner support for helping me to continue moving that mark, to continue “in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free”! (Galatians 5:1)

There was a quote recently on our church’s daily calendar, which read, “Never forget what God has done for you.” I’ve found that to be wonderful advice.

Thanks to the study of Christian Science in this church, I now understand that good is going on constantly, and blessing me. I’ve been taught here that every bit of good I receive comes from God, and that I need to remember that and thank Him for it! Before, I didn’t fully recognize the good in my life; sometimes it would slip by unnoticed. But now I find that it’s hard for me to keep track of all that God does for me.

And how wonderful that we have the Wednesday meetings which allow us the opportunity to share what good God has done in our personal experience, and to thank Him again for it. I’m learning that sharing helps me to better remember all God’s blessings, and this is a blessing in itself.

The Roundtable discussion on July 7, 2019, was about children, how to best care for them, and included the fact that children are starving for God’s Truth and presence.

I work with children in an elementary school, teaching them music; and I also pray for the school and the children each day. The work that I am doing there seems to be having a positive effect on the school, because the school has improved drastically in the two years that I have been there.

As an aside, although I have qualifications in music education, I am really an opera singer, song recitalist, and voice teacher. This job came to me two years ago out of the blue at a time when I needed it for many different reasons. I found out about the job and signed the contract in four days.

At the time, I was living in Vienna and the job was in Berlin. I knew nobody in Berlin and had no housing when I said yes, but God provided for me every step of the way. I feel that God literally dropped me into this job to help these children. I bless the school every day and I pray to know that the children are receptive to God and all that is good. In the coming year I will also add the simple prayer that was shared in this same Roundtable by Mary Baker Eddy that says, “I thank Thee, dear Father, that there is nothing between Thee and this little child.” (Course in Divinity and General Collectanea, Blue Book page 268)

I want to share an experience that I had with the 5th grade class this year, which was a demonstration in the children’s receptivity to God’s goodness. I was working with the chorus, and I made a song book for them that included, “A Coat of Many Colors” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

I always give a background to each song that I teach them, so I explained the Bible story of Joseph. As I began to tell the story, these children listened with every fiber of their being. I had never seen these children so focused and silent. Even the boy who is the comedian of the class and always trying to get attention by making a joke of everything was looking at me with his eyes and mouth wide open. I was actually quite surprised and taken aback, but it was a clear confirmation and encouragement that the power of God is working, and proof to me that, whether they know it or not, children are hungering for “the enduring, the good, and the true.” (S&H)

Wonderful things are happening to me, and I would like to share with you. I am so happy I cannot keep it to myself.

I listened to the recordings of The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond on the church website, and I decided to follow the advice of reading I Corinthians, chapter 13, every day for three months. Well, it’s been about one month now and I am learning more of the truth about myself, and what God is requiring of me.

I have to mention also that I came across something very important that Martha Wilcox had said. I love Mrs. Wilcox, by the way. She said in her article “I Am,” “When correctly understood, we stand for something far greater than just good personalities. In our actuality, we are radiant spiritual characters making up the Christ. The I AM is self-revealing, and is forever revealed to Himself as all individual men and women, the Christ. When correctly estimated, each one of us is the revealed Christ.” Isn’t this wonderful! It is so amazing to know this now.

I have not finished the three months. I am so looking forward to learning even more. During a recent Roundtable the question was asked, “Are you grateful for your life?” I now can say, “Yes I am so grateful for my life, as I am learning who I am!”

In the Saturday, May 11, 2019 Bible Study class we discussed prayerful watching, as taught by Mary Baker Eddy, and as we practice here at Plainfield. These classes are available to all and are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Bible and the correct way to practice true Christian Science. In doing a watch we sit quietly and pray to support a particular topic, and deny reality to any negativity that would oppose this right idea, thereby purifying the air so God’s will has free course.

When I heard this discussion I thought of the oysters that we help raise and how they work at purifying our waters. At our home on a river running into the Chesapeake Bay we help with a program to raise oyster babies or seeds into mature oysters in order to help cleanse the water of the Bay. The oysters, when ready, are picked up from all the participating neighbors by volunteers and brought to various sand bars and oyster reefs where, just by following their God-given nature, they purify up to 50 gallons of water per day! They cleanse the water as they glean the nutrients. Imagine — one oyster will filter 35 to 50 gallons of water each day. The Chesapeake now has these oyster reefs and sand bars in abundance, and we’re growing them all the time. What a natural way to clean up our environment and at the same time nourish themselves.

This lesson from the oysters is an example of watching our thoughts in order to strain out the impure ideas and to keep the pure thoughts from God ever present. It’s also a reminder to be diligent and persistent in watching to secure our own protection, and at the same time, be a help to our world.

I did a little gardening the other day, and I am very happy to say that I had more strength and stamina than I’ve had in years. This is the result of regular contact with a Plainfield practitioner and what I have been learning here. I have been learning to work on the garden of my thought, if you will.

There were many spiritually neglected areas in my life that needed tending, and I wasted much time and energy on worldly things rather than on a relationship with God. It is taking patience, diligence, hard work, and using the practical teachings of pure Christian Science to change many ungodly habits and thoughts. I’ve been learning to put God first, gain moral courage, let go of a false sense of responsibility, learn true forgiveness, and gain a right sense of giving. It helps to have the right gardening tools, and the teachings of Christian Science have provided them. Attending to the things of God has brought many blessings, and renewal in thought and body. It is very fulfilling work and satisfies the heart like nothing else.

A recent Lesson contained citations from the first chapter of Genesis. My Sunday school students and I counted the number of times it says that what God created is “very good” or “was good,” and that appeared six times! This Truth of God’s goodness, that He is the only creator and everything that He has created is good, helps me when I feel bad or if anything negative is going on.

One night after working all day on a Lesson and other work I had to do, my computer just went blank. Something came on the screen that I have never seen before. I had no clue what to do and I could not access the internet for help. Previously I would have panicked and gone into a worried mode, along with all the thoughts that go with that. But, instead, I thought, “God is with me so how could I lose all this.” I listened for what to do. The few clicks I tried did nothing. I walked away, and as I did a citation came to my thought which says, “The real jurisdiction of the world is in Mind, controlling every effect and recognizing all causation as vested in divine Mind.” (Science and Health, p. 379) After that, the words, “all-knowing” came to thought. God is all-knowing so of course He knows the answer.

Shortly after that I was led to click something that said recover, and in about five to ten minutes everything was back. This is a big deal for me and affirms to me the presence of God and His control over everything. I am sharing this for someone, somewhere, who may be intimidated by computers.

I am so grateful to have learned not to panic when things happen, but to stay calm, and go to God — the right concept of Him, His power, His allness, His everywhereness. To live in fear and anxiety, which I used to do, is not really living at all. It is wonderful to have this healing Truth that we can apply whenever we need it.

Many adults and children seem to find themselves easily distracted, and find it difficult to concentrate. When I first came to the Plainfield Church years ago, I would often get easily distracted by every thought that popped into my consciousness, and I was also quite hyper. I probably would have been diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Disorder.

In working with a good old-time practitioner here, the practitioner encouraged me to take time each day to talk to God. He told me to talk to Him like a friend, and said to do this several times during the day. It was something I had not really thought about doing before, so I gave it a try. I found wonderful things taking place in my life as a result of beginning this discipline.

When I started actually opening my heart to God, talking out loud to Him, big changes began to take place in my life. I became much more peaceful, much more disciplined about my thinking, and much more productive in things that God had for me to do.

To talk to God as a friend established a relationship with God that I had never known, a real and practical relationship. Before then, I thought I knew a little about God, but it was always God up there and me down here. I would reach out when I felt like I needed to; sometimes the connection would be there and sometimes it wouldn’t.

I think the reason why I am so grateful for this is that it really was the beginning of a real and practical relationship between me and God, and through that relationship, I found my thoughts and my actions becoming more and more peaceful, disciplined, and under God’s control.

So, I encourage anybody who wants to have a better relationship with God, and to have a more fulfilling, disciplined, and peaceful life, to do the same. Take time out each day. It is amazing the kind of conversation you can have with God in just a few minutes. It can make a huge difference in anyone’s life.

There are some very beautiful verses in the Bible, in the book of Colossians, chapter 1, verses 9-13, that have meant a lot to me. I was alerted to them years ago and was told that this was a perfect prayer for anyone that you love, or it can be used for people that you don’t even know.

It states, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

At one time someone close to me was experiencing depression. I wanted to pray impersonally and was told about this prayer. When you think about it, what really do you want for anyone but that they become closer to God.

It is very easy to tailor our prayers because we want specific things, such as a fine education, a successful business, a happy marriage, or similar kinds of prayer. These are personal prayers and not a really pure, righteous prayer. This prayer from Colossians is a righteous prayer.

First it says that you pray constantly, “do not cease to pray for you,” that you “might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” What more can we ask for someone than for them to know the will of God and be filled with “wisdom and spiritual understanding” so that they might “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work.”

To walk with God, to be pleasing in His sight, and “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.” What gives a person strength but God’s power? Then, it says, “unto all patience and longsuffering.” So, even if someone is going through a trial, they can do it with joyfulness and giving thanks. If you do that you will be delivered from the power of darkness, whether that darkness might be a physical problem, a depression or a mental anxiety. Whatever it is, God delivers you from it. I worked with that prayer. I did it unceasingly and it broke the bondage this person was under, the depression. I am so very grateful for that and have never forgotten it. I pray with those lines in Colossians to this day. This prayer can also bring to your life great healing and peace.

Back to the top of the page

Letters of Gratitude

I just love everything about the Plainfield Church. It is the true Christian Science Church, as you well know. The Bible Lessons are always so thoughtfully prepared. “Love is the Liberator” is so good, so helpful, so beautiful. The Bible Studies and Roundtable discussions and the testimony meetings available on the internet are all filled with love to share. Each one contains so many pearls of wisdom from all the participants. I have been learning so much from them. I take notes. The website is flawless, the articles presented are all so appreciated. I print them out and study and ponder them all. The readings are fantastic and so well-voiced that the love and understanding of the readers shines through brilliantly.

I am so thankful for all of this. It has been making life a spiritual joy to be understanding the truth of being more and more. Thanks mostly to the loving presence of the Plainfield Church. It is so heartwarming and comforting to know there are so many others who are finding this church in increasing numbers, and obviously everyone makes a point of living these truths so beautifully expressed day by day.

Every day I thank and bless you all, thank our dear God for this wonderful church, filled with the “new early workers.”

Thank you forever.

I am so grateful for the latest “Love is the Liberator.” It was certainly meant for me!

I continue to be very grateful and amazed at the exceptional quality of the Bible Studies and the Roundtable discussions being held at Plainfield. My daughter called me the other day and said she wanted me to know how much these discussions mean to her. She said, “Mom, they make me want to be a better Christian Scientist.” I was so grateful to know she felt that way.

Thank you again.

I particularly wanted to thank you all for the clear teachings recently about Mrs. Eddy’s place as the woman mentioned in Revelation. I’ve only received very wooly answers on this point in the past, so thank you very much. I also liked the watching point I read about within one of the articles, which Mrs. Eddy gave to one of her workers, stating that she was ‘Christ Mary’ which makes her position so clear. I feel I am getting a better appreciation for her as I read, and listen to your Roundtables and Bible Studies. The more I read about the writings of the early workers having been “buried,” the more astonished I am. It’s very difficult to understand why this happened, and even more why this has continued, to the point that Mrs. Eddy, and even Christian Science, is barely known about now (perhaps this is not true in America, but certainly in England). There must be many sincere Christian Scientists who do not know about this situation. In the light of this, thank you so much for all you and your church are doing to acquire and publish this early material.

Your website is so wonderfully rich with inspiration and healing. I especially love the new addition of “Noteworthy News.” So much of today’s news is negative, and to have a channel for positive, God-focused news is a blessing. Thank you for all this church is doing to preserve Mrs. Eddy’s pure Christian Science.

The following is from one of our enthusiastic translators:

Thank you for your email and for sending me the next lesson and a new project of a book. That is an awesome idea to translate the book 500 Watching Points. I would like to work on it for Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu languages. I have read some of the points and these are really effective and life-changing points to read for our Pakistani Christian community.

Thank you once again for your love. This relationship is really meaningful for me and many other people. May God bless abundantly Plainfield Christian Science Independent Church and the whole family of the Church.

Thank you for the Roundtable session of January 20, 2019, on finding your purpose. It was as if it was directed towards me. There have been times when I’ve been tempted to “compare and despair,” seeing my friends with husbands and children and wondering if it will ever be my turn. I’ve also been frustrated with the seeming lack of direction at work lately—but the reminder that God is my employer and wants only good for me is just the inspiration I needed at this time.

Thank you so much for this timely teaching.

Thank you again for your email and the warmth of God’s Love expressed. I am so happy to be able to receive membership in the Plainfield Church. It is wonderful to find a place where Truth is taught and gladly relayed to others.

Plainfield blesses and heals. That’s what it is doing here and now.

I have been listening for the last year to many lessons from Plainfield on YouTube and find myself turning into a weekly reader. I cannot even begin to tell you how much they help lift my awareness and bring healing love and gentle caring to me.

May I say thank you for all that you have given me, and are giving to all. It would seem your work at Plainfield has reached far and wide and is reaching out to all.

I have been working with the Ten Commandments, most recently, the Ninth Commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” This commandment just freed me from a toxic and stifling social situation which I did not know how to leave. Thankfully, Principle, God, was in control and provided the perfect opportunity for me to separate myself from the group.

This morning divine Mind unfolded to me that my acceptance of illness, disease, and discord in any child of God is bearing false witness against them. I will not be disobedient to God! I feel such a sense of relief and peace. Trust God. His plan is in effect and results in health, peace, love, and joy!

While I had for a long time listened to Christian Science lectures on my phone, at one point I discovered your wonderful website. Thank you!! What was really exciting for me was to see all the old articles written by early workers! They were like old friends because decades ago some church members would now and then share an article with me, and those I treasured.

At one point, I was told that we should not read these, because they were written for a particular time now past. That made no sense to me, but thinking that perhaps they knew something I didn’t, I reluctantly, but obediently, destroyed my copies.

Thank you for your website. I find the discussions there have a sweetness that I love.

I have been giving a lot of thought lately as to how the Christian Science Church, Independent, has had a major impact on my progress in Christian Science. I have been a student of Christian Science all my life, have had class instruction, have attended meetings at the Mother Church including the college meetings they had years ago, have had the support of practitioners over the years and read many articles on Christian Science and have had healings (for which I am very grateful). However, I had not felt in the past few years I was really making the spiritual progress that I should be.

One day a few years ago, I was perusing the Internet for something in particular regarding Christian Science and my eyes fell on a website entitled “Welcome to The Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent.” I had never heard of this church and was immediately interested in finding out what it was all about. The first thing I did was go right to the link on “About This Church.” I wanted to make sure that this church had credibility, because I was already aware of some of the unjustifiable things the Board of Directors at the Mother Church had been doing, such as expelling outstanding teachers for taking a stand on their teaching of Mrs. Eddy’s Place in her fulfillment of Bible Prophecy; there is much more but I will not go into it as it would take pages to list them all.

I found myself going to this website daily and reading everything it had to offer. I would listen to the informative Bible Studies and Roundtable Discussions that teach you how to grow and develop a spiritual sense — how to strictly follow the teachings of Mrs. Eddy and abide by the laws as given in the Christian Science textbook. All of this is there for the sincere seeker wanting to sincerely demonstrate the power of Christian Science — the word of God.

I now find myself throughout the day, checking my thought to see where it is — is it working in the spiritual realm or is it caught up with superfluous matter. I never did a mental check until I starting listening to the wonderful discussions provided by this Church. What you learn is invaluable and a real correcting rod for your thought and actions.

How grateful I am for this Church and all the work and effort that goes into the services, the Bible Studies, the Roundtable discussions, the publications, and finally the website that provides so much to people who may already be in Science and are searching for a deeper understanding of the Truth, or ones who have heard of Christian Science and are searching and wanting to know more about this wonderful Science of Christianity that lifts you out of the nightmare known as matter into Spirit.

As Mrs. Eddy states in Science and Health, “You command the situation if you understand that mortal existence is a state of self-deception and not the truth of being.”

Much, much gratitude to this church for helping me to continue to grow in my understanding of God and staying on track.

Watching Point #27 is such a powerful reminder to me to get “self” out of the way and allow God’s direction to flow through. I so often am stuck in self-blame and then I have two things working against me: blaming myself and not listening to divine inspiration. I appreciate whoever chooses these weekly Watching Points and will be digging in and working on this one.

This letter is one of immense gratitude for which I have enclosed a donation check. Your generous offerings online at your website and on YouTube are Godsends, literally.

In the late 70s or early 80s I was a Christian Scientist in Minnesota. After two years I sent a formal letter to the Mother Church opting out, not so much because of the teachings, but more to seek other things. Having been a seeker with no childhood religious training, I couldn’t be stopped seeking. So perhaps the church took me at my word and I am no longer a member.

Over time, I did not lose my belief in God’s healing power, and I still have no medical insurance or even a doctor. It has truly been God’s blessing, not my formal treatment according to Christian Science ways. After being an evangelical Christian, and lastly a Catholic, in search of the one true church, I’m thrilled to say I am back to the metaphysical approach.

I came back to the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy with new understanding, I believe, than when I was a new member. However, there is no desire to be part of an organized church again. Even if there was, I live in a small rural town about 90 miles from a Christian Science Church. Hearing the old terms spoken is like putting on a glove that fits perfectly. I have purchased another Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and in a real sense, it feels like coming home.

Another reason for sending a letter with my donation is simply to connect with like-minded thinkers fully in touch with the power of Truth, Life, and Love. Thank you, dear ones, for listening. I am already subscribed to your YouTube channel and would love to be on your mailing list if you ever do mailings.

My very best to you and thanks again.

Back to the top of the page

Testimonies of Healing

Severe Cold Healed

The following testimony is from Teresa in Argentina, who records our Lessons for our Spanish website:

I had been suffering from a cold, and it was so aggressive that it exhausted me to even talk. I declared that no suggestion of animal magnetism could prevent me from clearly reading this Lesson. I made several attempts to record it, but only to erase it and start over because of the sneezing and coughing that were in the recording. Then a voice told me to just leave it for now. Then I remembered Jesus’ prayer as stated in John 17 which says, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Then I was free from the shaking and discomfort from the illness. So, I drank some water, prepared myself to read, and was able to record the Lesson without interruptions, and immediately felt much better. This morning I woke up and was completely healed of the cold. So, I have no doubt as to the efficacy of this wonderful Science.

Taking in the Word of God Heals

from P. K. in Oregon

Several weeks ago, I developed a pain in my back, hip, leg and foot so severe I felt I could not bear it a moment longer. I was unable to sleep or rest. This had gone on for about four days and nights. I knew I could go to the Emergency Room at least to relieve the pain, but I was not called in that direction. Each time I reached for the phone to call a practitioner I was held back. A deep sense within asked me if I was sure I had done all I knew to do, in other words had I really done my part?

I was trying to rest on the couch. I turned on Addresses by Martha Wilcox on YouTube. I readily admitted I was going there for the loaves and fishes, as I was looking for physical relief. First, I heard only words, then I began to listen, and then I began to hear. All I was conscious of was that moment. Then I became aware of something else. I had no pain whatsoever. It disappeared in a moment, never to return. I was instantaneously healed. I also realized as I was hearing these truths, I had stopped looking for a healing and was looking for something greater.

Later I was reading the story of Peter and John’s instantaneous healing of the lame man who was lame from his birth. As I read, I thought I really do know how joyous this man felt, as we both were healed by the same Christ.

Thanks to this church for reaching out to the universe and beyond to share your love for all of us. It heals.

Freedom to Enjoy Nature

from L. S. in Pennsylvania

I am grateful for a healing I have had of seasonal allergies. For decades I suffered from severe allergies, making it very difficult to function. Since being at Plainfield, working consistently with a practitioner and learning more about God and His creation, I have been gaining a new appreciation for nature. This has required a change in thinking and behavior and while it did not happen overnight, the healing did come. I have also come to appreciate Mrs. Eddy’s love for nature which can be found throughout her writings.

The other day I went out to my car which was covered with pollen. In the past when I would see this, that would be the end of my day and of my peace. I have been enjoying the outside and the beauty spring has to offer. I am grateful for the healing and freedom; but more grateful for the understanding of God and love for His creation that I have gained.

Right Thinking Brings Peace

from E. A. in California

I am forever grateful to God for all the wonderful things that keep happening to me and my family. I am so grateful to be seeing the goodness of God now in my daily living.

I work for an international airport in the city and it can be extremely busy at times. One night the area where I was working was overcrowded. The lines to exit were extremely long and many people were upset. I had two arguments with two different people. Thank God I was able to catch myself and realize that I had joined the mesmerism!

I gained my poise right away by declaring statements of Truth and, what do you know, the atmosphere changed around me instantly! There were almost 200 people in the area and about 30% of the ones I interacted with were so kind and polite. As I greeted them some people said “Thank you for your assistance, and I hope you have a good evening.” It was beautiful! I had worked at the airport 11 years and this is the first time I had experienced a turnaround like this. Since then I am diligent to keep my poise, and now working when it is extremely busy has become a joy.

I thank God for the divine guidance that is leading me in every situation. I thank God for the article “Wakefulness” by Frances Harris on the church website. It says, “As we learn to be more patient, tender, and alert, we will find our right thinking outshining and destroying the darkness of fear and limitation.”

What Blesses One, Blesses All

from D. W. in Virginia

Some years ago my husband and I were at a guest ranch that we loved. We were looking forward to going on an all-day horseback-riding trip in the mountains; but in the morning of the scheduled trip, I was inexplicably sick with nausea and dizziness. A practitioner from this church was contacted for help, and I spent the day sitting on the porch of our cabin, reading and studying the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

By suppertime I was completely well and refreshed, after spending time in prayer, which included everyone at the ranch, and acknowledging God’s allness and protecting care of His whole universe. I found later that this was very important work, and felt that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and doing what I was supposed to do. As it happens, the trip to the mountains was to a new location; and even though they had scouted out the trails ahead of time, when they were actually there, the group was guided the wrong way, and had quite a scary and challenging time. An old-time cowhand at the ranch who was along to help with the group said that he couldn’t believe no one was hurt! Instead, everyone was well and happy.

My gratitude is unbounded to God for His protecting care, and to the practitioner who was working through the day, knowing the allness of God, good.

All Things Working Together for Good

from K. M. in California

I wish to express my gratitude for an experience I had over the last six months that taught me that God’s plan is the most perfect plan, and how important it is to acknowledge that fact in order to feel the peace and rest that comes when we turn all things over to Him.

My fiance and I had been spending the past few summers in our home on an island in Puget Sound in Washington. The other six months we live in Southern California where I had lived for the past 36 years. Last October it became very clear that the island home was no longer where we were supposed to be and it was time to sell. Shortly before this time I had begun working with a practitioner from this church. She shared with me that God’s plan would bless everyone involved. On page 94 in the Blue Book, Mrs. Eddy says, “God’s plans are going on as best for you and me, whether we know it or not; but in the knowing and in the glad supposition of that fact, there is rest and peace. Reliance on God’s plan unfolds faculties, capabilities, and opportunities heretofore unknown; it overcomes obstacles and removes obstructions.”

When an offer was accepted and escrow opened, my practitioner gave me a quote from Bicknell Young where he says, “A divine idea carries within itself the power to accomplish the divine purpose, and the responsibility of the unfoldment belongs to divine Principle who cares for each detail of its progressive being.” I held on to that fact; and any time I got overwhelmed with all that needed to be done, this statement quickly reminded me that none of this was my responsibility and I could take it off my false sense of responsibility — then peace came. Any time something would come up that would try to cause a sense of worry, I would just hand it over to God and immediately whatever the situation, it would be quickly resolved.

I am so grateful for this proof of God’s presence and power and how comforting it is to know that when we turn everything over to Him and trust Him to care for us, “all things work together for good to those that love God.” I am grateful to God, my practitioner and to all these dedicated members of the Plainfield Church who give so selflessly to share with the world their love for Christian Science. I have been a Christian Scientist all my life but now I am really learning what that means.

Focusing on Truth Brings Relief

from A. B. in England

I would like to express gratitude for a recent experience. In the record-breaking high temperatures we have been having here in the UK, I was finding difficulty in breathing. A couple of days ago during the afternoon this suddenly became much more challenging and seemed to be because of congestion.

By bedtime I was struggling, and felt rather fearful of lying down to sleep. However, I have been reading Arthur Corey’s Christian Science Class Instruction and found this helpful quote in chapter 8: “My mission is to express God, and the acknowledgment of this disposes of any obscuration or obstruction in the way of belief or misinterpretation.”

I had been thinking about this during the day, and continued to claim this as I got into bed. I was surprised how easily I managed to get to sleep and felt much better the next morning. For this I am extremely grateful, as in the past I have had a similar experience which was very frightening and kept me awake for most of several nights.

An Answer to Prayer

from J. O. in New Jersey

Before coming to Plainfield Church, I did a lot of kneeling in churches and heard people say, “God’s will, not mine be done.” When I questioned people, they used to say, “Pray for knowledge of God’s will and the power to carry that out.” I took their advice and prayed for knowledge of God’s will, but I never got any answer. I was lost and in a really dark place unable to find the light.

Then one day I went looking for a Christian Science church listed as established in my town of Westfield, New Jersey, but it wasn’t there. Across the street at the police station, I asked about it and the officer said that the church had been demolished to make way for a new YMCA. Looking on the internet, the officer said there were two other Christian Science churches in my northern New Jersey area — one in Summit and the other in Plainfield. I chose Plainfield, and am I glad I did!

They welcomed me into the Plainfield Church family, and I became a member. It wasn’t long before I heard the words originally spoken, “God’s will be done, not mine.” And so I prayed, “What is God’s will for me?”

Coming to Plainfield certainly felt like GOD, or G.O.D. leading me in a Good Orderly Direction. As I sat at Plainfield Bible Studies, Roundtable discussions, and Sunday services, I learned to listen, and listened to learn about Christian Science from our textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, and from my practitioner. It wasn’t long before my prayer, “What is God’s will for me?” received an answer. For me, God’s will is to:

1. Pray unceasingly
2. Rejoice
3. Give thanks in all things

For example, I used to think finding a parking spot was a matter of dumb luck, but I have learned that God can be found in life’s everyday, little things if we are looking at them through spiritual eyes.

Thank you to Mary Baker Eddy for giving us this Science, and thank you to Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, for being God’s answer to my prayers.

Oh! let us sing unto the Lord

A new and tuneful song

Of gratitude for that new word

Mankind has yearned for long.

A joyful noise then let us make;

Yea, joyful let us be!

Bring hither lute, and timbrel take,

With harp and psaltery.

The Lord has put in every mouth

This grateful song of praise;

Its sound shall echo north and south

Throughout earth’s devious ways.

Many shall see, and some shall fear;

Others be found among

Those few who journey, far and near,

To hearken to this new song.

From this new sunlit song divine

The benefits we reap

Are when its rays so brightly shine

It wakens men from sleep.

The night’s far spent, the day draws on,

Let us cast out of sight

The works of darkness, and put on

The armour of God’s light.

‘Tis error’s night that is far spent;

‘Tis truth that fills the dawn;

No error’s song, with discord rent,

Can face the light of morn.

Sing we this song unto the Lord,

And let all nations see

That TRUTH, LIFE, LOVE, have every chord

Replete with harmony.

Announcements

When Plainfield Church first became independent, we were asked, “How will you survive? What will you read?” As you can see below, through the grace of God, we have survived very well, thank you — and flourished!

We began by writing our own Bible Lessons, and then Independent Christian Scientists from all over the world began sending us writings by early Christian Science workers that were not available anywhere else. And we grew from there — and continue to grow.

Websites in Other Languages

Our missionary work is expanding. We have recently launched websites in the languages of Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi — that makes nine different languages! Our newest translator writes, “your Lessons are really faith strengthening and they enlighten the truths of the real message of the Gospel for me personally.” Someone in India writes, “This is amazing and very nice work you have done. Keep it up to reach plenty of Christians in India and other areas of the world.”

Lectures on Christian Science,
by Peter V. Ross

And, our church book store is growing! We have just published a book of Lectures on Christian Science given by Peter V. Ross. This version is accurate and true to the original, just as Mr. Ross first published it. These lectures are wonderfully inspiring, and cover a variety of subjects. His wonderful “plain talking” reaches people at every level, encouraging and healing. This book is available in paperback version from Plainfield Church for $18.00, postage included.

Our Website

Our church website, plainfieldcs.com, has a wealth of inspiring and healing items to read and listen to, including recordings of past services, Bible Studies, and Roundtable discussions.

You will also find a treasure trove of articles and other literature by early workers in Christian Science, including Bicknell Young, Martha Wilcox, Herbert W. Eustace, and many others. There are also audio recordings of many of these articles and books. Audio recordings of the current week’s Bible Lesson, and a Forum to post comments relating to the Lesson are available, and also a Bulletin Board where you can post comments of a more general nature.

YouTube Channel

Our YouTube channel has over 3,000 videos of church services, classes, readings of books and articles, hymns, and music from our services, which are visited regularly by people from all over the world.

Check out all that we have to offer by going to:

YouTube.com/PlainfieldCS

Our Church Publications

Our church publications are available free on our church website, but sometimes it’s nice to have a copy in your hand to refer back to at your leisure, or during the night when there might be a need for comfort. Descriptions and subscription prices are included below.

Newsletter

In alternate months, our church publishes our church Newsletter, “Plainfield Independent.” This publication contains news about church activities, miscellaneous writings, and other fun things that will make you smile, laugh — and think.

Books by Early Workers in Christian Science

Plainfield Church is the source for many books and writings by early workers in the Christian Science movement, many of whom worked in Mrs. Eddy’s home and were taught by Mrs. Eddy herself. These priceless writings are available for purchase at very reasonable prices, and are listed, along with ordering information, on our church website, plainfieldcs.com. Many articles on our church website are excerpts taken from these books, so to have the complete works is a real privilege!

You can find a list of books we have available for purchase by clicking “Store” on the top menu of our website.

Church Membership

“When one sees that Christian Science is the only way, he is ready for church membership, and there is no other requirement.” — Mary Baker Eddy

This is the only requirement for membership in Plainfield Church. We welcome everyone who wishes to become a member and work for God to send in an application, which you can find under the “Members” tab on our website. Or send an email to our clerk at: clerk@plainfieldcs.com.

Our goal was, and still is, to get the Word of God out to people all over the world who need this pure, unadulterated Science, as we did, and still do. So you will see that much of what we provide on our website, plainfieldcs.com, is free. Please feel free to browse through all that we have there. You don’t even have to tell us who you are — we warmly welcome everyone!

But there are expenses involved in maintaining a website, and in maintaining our church home and our church services. So if you are helped by what you find here, and you wish to show your gratitude, please use the “donate” button on the website. It would be greatly appreciated!

Tenets of Christian Science

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,
by Mary Baker Eddy, pages 496-497

The following is a brief exposition of the important points, or religious tenets, of Christian Science:—

1.     As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.

2.     We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God’s image and likeness.

3.     We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.

4.     We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.

5.     We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.

6.     And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.

A note about the lighthouse sketch by Luanne:

Boston Light — little Brewster Island (outer Boston Harbor), Massachusetts

Boston Light was the first light station in North America and is the country’s oldest continuously used lighthouse site. The original structure, built in 1716, was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. Rebuilt in 1783, it has been called “the ideal American lighthouse.” Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, it is the only manned lighthouse in the United States.

“Publish the Word”

Broadcast the Truth

“Freely ye have received, freely give”