The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-06
Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy.

The death in her ninetieth year of Mrs
Mary Baker c. Eddy. founder and leader
of the Christian Science Church and sys-
tenn OF faith, is an event that will pro-
foundly stir practically every city and
community throughout the United States.
so universal was She spread OF her doc
trines and the congregations OF her fol-
lowers. Already from her adherents have
come expressions of regret and outpour-
ings of love-all of these tinctured with a
beautiful faith of the orthodox Christian
kind which allows the believer in the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to say over the
bier OF "a beloved one: "She is not dead,
but sleeping
AS to the doctrines of Christian Science
which Mrs. Eddy promulgated with such
success. there is still wide diversity OF
opinion. but we think that all viii agree
that there is much that is inspiring ana
helpful even 10 the most orthodox, in
Mrs. Eddy's teachings: and the unpreju-
diced. those not Of her faith. but OF open
mind. must in justice admit that her
work. through long years of trial and dis
eouragement. was always for the better
ment and the uplift of mankind.
The religious system she taught was a
system of optimism; her promulgations
agreed closely with the teachings and
practices Of Jesus Christ She taught the
gospel OF right-thinking. of right-nving
she taught, in other words and phrases.
the gospel that "a mans work lives after
him." and that. so far. there is no such
thing as death. And We shall find, we
think. that her own career will exemplify
this teaching for though Mrs. Mary
Baker Eddy is dead In the flesh, we know
that she shall live in the spirit: that the
work to which she put her hand shall so
on. informed always with the soul of love
and charity and hopefulness and faith. TO
comfort many to whom the old creeds
and forms no longer have appeal.
For. without going into the minute par
ticulars of the forms of Christian
science-and Of these there are but few
the fact s-mains that fundamentally the
faith Of Mrs. EGdy and her followers was
the faith of Jesus Christ. It was faith
in the eternal goodness of things; the
faith that destroys evil and works brave
" for the good
God is my life" are reputed TO be her
last written words; words of strong faith
that, could they be re-eehoed by every
man. would make the world a happier
and better place to live in. Hers was the
prayer and perhaps the one point on
which those outside of her church were
unable TO follow her was in her positive
belief IN the efficacy Of prayer 10 resolve
all human doubts and cure all human ills,
But even in our inability 10 follow Mrs.
Eddy thus far. We are, after all, but con-
Tossing that our faith in Gods Word was
less than hers.
For it is true. as Tennyson phrased it.
that
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams Of. Wherefore let thy voice
Rise Ike fountain for me night and day.
For what ara men better than sheep or goats
That noursh blind life within the brain
IT, knowing God they lift not hands Of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend
For 50 the whole round earth IS every way
Bound By gold chains about the feet of God"
If justice has any sense Of fitness, those
people who propose a tax on Christmas
trees need not hang up their stockings.