No single person has influenced me more than Mary Baker Eddy. Although she died in 1910, her writings are sharply relevant for today’s world. Along with my Bible, I read from Science and Health every day and have done so for the past 50 years.
Born in an age when women could not vote, own their children free from interference nor enter legal contracts, she nonetheless rose from the ashes of poverty to become the founder of a world-wide church and a highly respected news organization.
Referring to ” Historic Characters and Famous Events” Vol.XII, published in 1905, Mrs. Eddy is described as “the recognized leader of the most remarkable religious movement of modern times”. (p.295) In this volume, her biography is included with that of the czars of Russia, Alexander and Nicholas, as well as presidents Johnson, Cleveland, Harrison and McKinley. In her time she was a person of international renown.
Her writings have influenced countless thinkers in her day as well as ours, including Mark Twain and Albert Einstein. But that is not why I love her. I love her religious philosophy, based as it is on the teachings of Jesus. In her writings Mrs. Eddy doesn’t identify man by race or age, by color or sex. She makes it clear that the real man of God’s creating is entirely spiritual.
Further, that Jesus, yes the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, was truly a scientist, demonstrating to all mankind for all time the healing laws of God. In a small way I have tried to follow her guidance and have seen healings in my family of four children and numerous pets by relying solely on Christian Science.