Books by Mary Baker Eddy

MESSAGE TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MOTHER CHURCH, BOSTON, 1896
page 69

MESSAGE TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MOTHERCHURCH, BOSTON, 1896

Beloved Brethren, Children, and Grandchildren: -
Apart from the common walks of mankind, revolving
oft the hitherto untouched problems of being, and
oftener, perhaps, the controversies which baffle it,
Mother, thought-tired, turns to-day to you; turns to
her dear church, to tell the towers thereof the remarkable
achievements that have been ours within the past few
years: the rapid transit from halls to churches, from unsettled

MISC 126

questions to permanence, from danger to escape,
from fragmentary discourses to one eternal sermon; yea,
from darkness to daylight, in physics and metaphysics.
   Truly, I half wish for society again; for once, at least,
to hear the soft music of our Sabbath chimes saluting the
ear in tones that leap for joy, with love for God and
man.
   Who hath not learned that when alone he has his
own thoughts to guard, and when struggling with mankind
his temper, and in society his tongue? We also
have gained higher heights; have learned that trials lift
us to that dignity of Soul which sustains us, and finally
conquers them; and that the ordeal refines while it
chastens.
   Perhaps our church is not yet quite sensible of what
we owe to the strength, meekness, honesty, and obedience
of the Christian Science Board of Directors; to
the able editors of The Christian Science Journal, and
to our efficient Publishing Society.
   No reproof is so potent as the silent lesson of a good
example. Works, more than words, should characterize
Christian Scientists. Most people condemn evil-doing,
evil-speaking; yet nothing circulates so rapidly: even gold
is less current. Christian Scientists have a strong race to
run, and foes in ambush; but bear in mind that, in the
long race, honesty always defeats dishonesty.
   God hath indeed smiled on my church, - this
daughter of Zion: she sitteth in high places; and to deride
her is to incur the penalty of which the Hebrew
bard spake after this manner: "He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in
derision."

MISC 127

   Hitherto, I have observed that in proportion as this
church has smiled on His "little ones," He has blessed
her. Throughout my entire connection with The Mother
Church, I have seen, that in the ratio of her love for
others, hath His love been bestowed upon her; watering
her waste places, and enlarging her borders.
   One thing I have greatly desired, and again earnestly
request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and
elsewhere, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor
on bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and
importunately. When a hungry heart petitions the divine Father-Mother
God for bread, it is not given a stone, - but
more grace, obedience, and love. If this heart, humble
and trustful, faithfully asks divine Love to feed it with the
bread of heaven, health, holiness, it will be conformed to
a fitness to receive the answer to its desire; then will flow
into it the "river of His pleasure," the tributary of divine
Love, and great growth in Christian Science will follow, -
even that joy which finds one's own in another's good.
   To love, and to be loved, one must do good to others.
The inevitable condition whereby to become blessed, is to
bless others: but here, you must so know yourself, under
God's direction, that you will do His will even though
your pearls be downtrodden. Ofttimes the rod is His
means of grace; then it must be ours, - we cannot avoid

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