Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-07-29
A Wonderful Woman

announcing IlldJ MIS-. MARY BAKER EDDY,
Founder and Leader Of the Christian
denomination, was quiatiy observing the
eighty-ninth anniversary of Der birth,
surrounded by few friends at her
modest home.
The item itself was characteristic of
the subject. Probably Mrs. EDDY herself
would have preferred that nothing at all
be said about it.
But there is great deal in the plain
fact that this remarkable woman is now
rounding out her ninetieth wear. of
which the people everywhere may we'll
take note.
Seldom do we have presented subject
more replete with valuable suggestion.
enrolling inspiration, or general uplift.
Mrs. Eddy stands among the foremost
women OF her time and generation.
Whether or not we subscribe to the
doctrines which she has founded and
maintained, we cannot take from the
credit which rightfully accrues through
her position as one Of the worlds
workers, as one who has been devoted to
the welfare of others, who has all but
given her life to the cause of humanity.
By the sheer force of her persona lily.
her untirlng energy, and unfaltering
faith in the correctness of her beliefs.
this woman has succeeded in doing what
tens of thousands Of men fail to do.
Under her leadership and wise counsel
a religion which must be classed among
the principal fai tbs Of civilized nations
has taken root, and is in most flourish
ing condition.
Its deVOteeS are as earnest and sincere
and as eager for the advancement Of
humanity toward the ultimate goal as
those Of any other religion.
Hundreds of thousands Of believers
have found comfort in the teachings Of
Mrs. Eddy. Men and women, racked
with physical and mental pain, have
found peace under the soothing influence
Of the Christian Science doctrines.
They have built up great and in
fuential property, they have made tn en-
selves factor in the progress of the
nation, and they have made the world
eager to knew more about the wonderful
woman who has been their inspiration
through it all.
She appears to the observer as one who
has been inspired with a mission to
bring salvation Into a sin-ridden world
To her, self-sacrifice seemed an accept
able portion, and wherever it has been
required OF her she las made it willingly
and cheerfully.
Throughout it all she has been moved
by a single desire to do something for
suffering humanity and to advance the
spiritual welfare Of the people.
Where is it possible to find any greater
work than this?
Mrs. Eddys life has been one of con-
slant effort for her fellow beings. She
had no selfish aims to accomplish, no
unworthy aims to attain, no ulterior
motives to shield with the cloak of re-
ligiOn.
Everything was done for others and
when she has finally passed to her re-
ward those who are left behind will reap
the full benefit of her labor of love.
Mis-. Eddy is stanch advocate of
prayer. She believes in the efficacy of
prayer, and upon this belief the religion
she has founded leans more strongly than
anything else.
Belief in the efficacy of prayer is a
strong pillar in all the best known re-
ligions today.
But Mrs. Eddy and her followers. per
haps, exemplify this belief to a greater
degree than is done by the peO Dle of
other denominations.
From handful of original supporters
Mrs. Eddy increased the number until
the Christian Scientists are now power
in the religious world.
They met with many rebuffs, Critics
were not sparing of the tender-hearted
woman's feelings, and who can tell the
pain she must have felt when the sharp
thrusts OF the public lance often reached
their mark?
But she was resOlute and undaunted.
She was firmly founded in her belief.
and she needed not what her detractors
said of her or her ideas.
Mrs. Eddy worked and prayed on. At
times it seemed that the disbursements
with which she met must in the end be
too severe for frail woman, but she
conquered them all.
1t is Mrs. Eddy's faith that affords the
world the most inspiring exampl in
connection with her career. She could
not acknowledge defeat.
She believed that a Supreme Being
was the rock On which everything else
was founded, and that so long as she
could cling to the rock no harm could
come to her or her work.
That is what has made Mrs. Eddy one
OF the worlds greatest women. No other
attribute is so marked as that of un-
swerving faith in her principles and in
the mission which she was sent into the
world to perform.
Mrs. Eddy will not be classed as
great" in the same manner as other
women of her time. She has not filled
the public mind with those things that
are of earth earthly.
Hers is a greatness Of love, Of heart, of
mind, OF faith. of all the higher elements
that are too often crushed beneath the
overpowering weight Of mundane things.
She will always be known as the CON
temporary of such manifcent women
and worlds workers as Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Queen Victoria, Jane Adams,
Helen Gould and their kind, of which
there are few.
Who can estimate the real value of
such wOman's work? It is as illimit-
able as the universe itself,
Herself the stanchest advocate Of con-
tinued prayer. Mrs. Eddy doubtless will
be the subject of thousands of fervent
petitions to the throne Of grace at this