A letter from Boston, published in the Congregationalist, May 1, 1884, had rather a sad ending, and to show my sympathy for the author I take this opportunity to express it. "Now that the Easter lilies have faded, the echoes of Easter carols have died away, policemen required to perform extra duties to prevent the strange crowd trespassing upon the rights of worshippers, what good has come of all this apparent inconvenience and expense?" Let me answer for my individual self. I held my position as best I could among the throng that nearly filled the aisles at Rev. Mr. Savage's church. All whom I took for home worshippers at that temple seemed happy as they walked through the narrow passages that led to their pews ; their faces looked radiant, and I think all the strangers felt welcomed on that particular day. In due time we were all kindly seated, and if I had suspected I was looked upon as an intruder I should not have enjoyed the imposing services that took place during that morning. The beautiful thoughts presented by the pastor, as he called our attention to the significant associations connected with the arrangement of the floral offerings—this, with the sweet flowing melody, gushing strains, deep harmonious chords from the organ, so filled my soul with rapturous love and harmony that God and heaven seemed nearer to me than ever before.
This is what I understand to be Metaphysics, Divine Science, our thoughts to be at peace, our minds to grasp the higher understanding of God (good), Life, Love, and Truth ; to live a Christian life, by forgetting self, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Flowers and music never injured poor suffering humanity; they are not made worse by them, they are made better. Do not think the money wasted ; remember that after the flowers are faded their beauty and fragrance remain in the memory and stimulate us on and upward to better results.
It grieves me to hear that good people are misunderstood. I now refer to Mrs. M. B. Glover Eddy, pastor of the Church of Christ, and teacher of Metaphysics, or Christian Science. I have been one of her students, so know what I say, and do not state simply a belief. Had I strayed into her Church before studying, I think I too should have been much surprised, and perhaps disappointed ; but not more I think than a person would be to sit through a classical concert who had never studied music, and afterwards tried to explain what he had heard and wished to understand. The paraphrasing, or Spiritual translation of the Lord's Prayer, by Mrs. Eddy, is the most perfect rendering I have ever met. Its parallel, in majesty of thought and emotion, can only be found by me in a favorite Sonata of Beethoven, "When the supremacy of Spirit shall appear this dream of matter will disappear." " Most of the practitioners being women," and I one them, let me say, that since I listened to Mrs. Livermore's lecture on "Superfluous Women" I have not regretted my sex, nor do I even after the caustic of the Boston letter above referred to on the religious order to which I belong, regret that I have enlisted under its banner of Truth and Love and Christian healing. The class I studied in was equally divided as regards the sex. There I learned practical Truth ; and to-day I am healing, through Mind alone, consumption, deformity, nervousness, rupture, and cataracts on eyes.
