The age-herald., 1897-09-18
BY MRS. GEORGE C. BALL.


Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy is on= of the interesting personalities of today. What ever is written of her is eagerly read by those who subscribe to her peculiar religious tensts and those who reject and denounee them. What she has accomplished, whatever success has come to her has been wrought so gently and silently that while her nama is now a household word in almost all parts of Christendom, very little is really known of the personal characteristics of this celebrated woman. Mrs. Eddy is th= originator the promoter, and the or acle of that rapidly increasing sect, the Christian Scientists, which numbecs among its members many of the most thoughtful and religious men and wo- men of America.
 Christian science has grown with as- tonishing rapldity within the last de- cade, in all sections, and the absolute faith of the believers in this compara- lively new cult, is one of the many strong point which attracts the atten- ton of outsiders and compels respect and admiration from all who have given serious and unbiased considera- tion of the subject. In this day of abso- 1ute religious freedom, a mans or wo- mans faith Is an individual personal matter beyond the criticism and cavil
 
 established by Mrs. Eddy only few years ago, has grown and grown rapidly cannot be denied and when it is remem- bered that its canons and tenets are taught with singular gentleness, ths increase is the more remarkable. Mrs. Eddy is a widow. whose husband, Dr. Asa Eddy died many years ago. Her home, a quietly elegant one, is at Con- cord, N. H. She lives in semi-retire- msnt, among her books and flowers. The grounds surrounding her New England home are kept very carefully by expert enced and artistic gardeners. She is described as bsing especially spiritueIle in appearance, with masses of white, wavy hair about her face; clear-cut feat ures, wonderful, soulful eyes. and a smile of unusual swe. e.tness constantly Illuminating her face. Mrs. Eddy has the supervision of 400 churches; very extensive correspondence from all parts of the world, and superintsnds the revi- sion of her books, and pamphlets. In July 5000 Christian scientists visited her at her Concord home, and this remarka- ble event was made more unusual by the honor paid hsr on the occasion by the municipal authorities of Concord. Whather one accepts or rejects Christian science need not enter into the consid- eration of Mrs. Eddys wonderful per sonality; she is one of the notable wo- men of this century of wonderful women and will go down in the history of the times.
 Brooklyn women are trying a new ex- pertinent" says Harpers Bazar. .It is the formation of mothers associations in connection with the public schoo-s It is an outgnowth of public meetings of parents held during the winter, and an attempt to overcome the indifference, not to say hostilcy, which Is sometimes shown in the attitude of parents and teachers towards each other.
 '-The first mothers associat ton was formed some months ago, but it is quite too early to look for results, except the results of the enthusiasm and active in- terest of those who are it's members It is viewed eenta lively, perhaps doubt fully, by the board of education. who naturally fear that such an assoda ation may not be wise in its doings-may be too aggressive, too theoretical, to be of any practical value. First of all, it must be understood that the association is not an attack on the teachers Ut ex- isis to further the best interests of the child, who stands between che parents and the teacher, the common interest of both. Its membership is practically un- limited, for it includes all the mothers and friends of the children in fifty classes in one of the public schools. Every mother is urged to come and help in the work The associa lion is particu- qarly desirous of including mothers of every social condition, and to that end she only requirement. of membership is an interest in it's plans,- and the pay ment of the small dues of 10 cents per month, no. including the summer. It has few ofIicers--a president and two vice-presidents, two secretaries and treasurer-and ,.he greater share of the work will be done by standing commit tees. The meetings arc held in :he pub aic school building, through the courtesy of the local board of education and of the principal of the school. At present 'sha meetines are fortnigh.ly, but 1t Is