On a spring morning in 1899 a Christian Scientist, Calvin Hill, met Mary Baker Eddy for the first time. His purpose for going to Mrs. Eddy's household was to help her select some carpeting, but the meeting turned out to be much more than he expected. After they discussed business, Mrs. Eddy spent some time with Mr. Hill talking about Christian Science. At one point in their conversation he said to her, "I wish you would point me to some place in your book that will enable me to overcome the thought of lust and sensuality." She replied emphatically, "I will!"We Knew Mary Baker Eddy (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1979), p. 163;
What an example of Christly love! There was no self-righteousness or self-consciousness in her response to this student's wish for help, a man whom she had just met that day. Mrs. Eddy was not embarrassed by the subject of human sexuality. She wanted to help this person overcome problems that were bothering him. Not only did she spend some time with him that day; she initiated another interview later. She also wrote him a letter encouraging him in his struggles with sensuality.
What gave Mrs. Eddy such compassion? A study of her major work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, will give us the answer. (This was the book referred to by Calvin Hill.) In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy makes clear that sin, no matter how mild or how hideous, is no part of man. Man, as the pure, innocent idea of God, is never for an instant governed by debased thinking but forever reflects the deific Mind.
