The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-15
FROM MRS. EDDY
Prof. Lovewell of Topeka Gets
a Personal Letter
Written in Her Own Hand and
Concerns Ancestry.
FROM ONE FAMILY
Head of Christian Science
Church a L0yewel.
She Says History Inaccurate
Is Not History.

A personal letter from Mrs. Mary
Baker G. Eddy, written presumably in
her own hand on June Z. 1907, from
Concord, N. H. to Joseph T. Love-
we'll of Topeka, goes a good ways to
prove that Mrs. Eddy, the head of the
Christian Science church, is neither in
sane nor dead, both of which charges
have been made against her recently.
Mrs. Eddy's letter bears every evil
dence of being the genuine article The
writing is bold and scrawling, with
dashes of heavy shading and resem-
bles closely the facsfmilies of Mrs. Ed
dy's writing which have been printed
from time to time in various maya
zines. The envelope in which the let
ter was received was addressed in an
entirely different hand, apparently that
OF one of Mrs. Eddy's secretaries. The
envelope was sealed on the back with
a large blue seal embossed with the
Eddy coat of arms. At the head of the
note paper on which the letter is writ
ten is an elegantly embossed coat of
arms in gold, and the words, Pleasant
View, Concord, N. H." similarly en-
seal and letterhead consists of various
medieval monsters, rampant and the
two inscriptions, "Tria juncta in uno"
(Three Joined in one) and ''Vincere aut
MORT (To conquer or die). This is the
coat of arms of the Mcneil family of
Marlborough, Scotland, with which
family Mrs Eddy supposed for a time
she was related, but which relation
ship she has since substantially repu-
dated.
Mrs. Eddy's letter to Prof. Lovewen
had to do with the genealogical his
tory of her family, and is in response
ago by Prof. LoveweL. In telling how
he happened to write to Mrs Eddy
Prof. LoveweIl says:
Some time ago friend, who is a
-
member of the Christian Science
church, gave me a number of copies
Of Alfred Henry Lewis magazine,
Human Life containing an extend
ed article by Sibyl Wilbur entitled
The story of the real Mrs. Eddy
This article seems to be endorsed
and authenticated to a certain extent
by Mrs. Eddy herself, and 1 was espe-
cially interested in one paragraph Of
the opening article of the series which
said, in speaking of. Mrs. .Eddy's pa
rentage: F4ss
The earliest ernigrant ancestor of
the Sanbornton Bakers was undoubt-
edly John. who was a freeman in
Mass. In direct descent
comes Joseph (Baker), born in 1714,
who was a deacon of the Congrega-
tional church. held a captains COM
mission, and was the surveyor of sew
eral towns in that part of the colony
of New Hampshire which was claimed
by Massachusetts, among the rest, of
Pembroke, where he afterwards set |
tied. He married Hannah Loveweu, |
only child of Captain John LovewelI, |
the celebrated warrior who lost his life |
in the severe battle with the Indians at |
Pigwacket, now Fryeburg, Me, called |
Lovewell's fight. April Is, 1725. Han
and his sole heir inherited tn |,
lands assigned to her father in Penn
broke. This Joseph Baker and Han
nah Lovewell were the grandparents
IN her fathers side of Mrs Eddv'
Being thoroughly familiar with the
Lovewen ancestry, knew that the
statement concerning Hannah Love-
we'll was an error. Hannah was not
the only child of Captain John Love-
we'll. He also had two sons, John and
Nehemiah. Johns son married Nehe-
niah's daughter, and their son Neha-
niah was my father. Mrs. Mary
Baker G. Eddy is therefore the great
great granddaughter of Captain John
1ovewen. while I am the great great
grandson of Captain John Lovewell,
descended equally from his sons Ne
lemiah and John.
81 wrote to Mrs. Eddy a brief note,
merely calling her attention to this
error, and without thought of receiv-
ng a reply. Her reply frankly admits
hat she was mistaken in the matter
The following is Mrs. Eddy's letter
Pheasant View. Concord, N. H, June
Mr.. ]. T. LovewelI. Phi. D., Academy
of Science.
Dear Sir: You will please to ac-
ept my thanks for your correction of
the only child History Inaccurate is
10 history. L would have Informed
myself before writing that as history
tut as hearsay 1 said it. Very truly
ours.
MARY BAKER C. EDDY"