At the beginning of 1899, Mary Baker Eddy received a letter from a student she had taught eleven years earlier. He wrote that he had served as Reader in his branch Church of Christ, Scientist, and recounted how much time and effort since his class instruction in Christian Science under Mrs. Eddy had been devoted to healing—and how he was "still working for that great Prize to be able to have on the wedding garment." Church History document: Walther 583CH007, Church History department of The Mother Church He also hoped to be taught further by her. In reply Mrs. Eddy wrote about that "wedding garment":
Mary Baker Eddy:
a lifetime of healing
It is first the desire above all else to be Christlike, to be tender, merciful, forgetting self and caring for others' salvation. To be temperate, humble, pure, whereby appetite and passions cease to claim your attention and you are not discouraged to wait on God. To wait for the tests of your sincere longing to be good, and seek through daily prayer for Divine teaching. If you continue to ask you will receive,—provided you comply with what you must do for yourself in order to be thus blessed. Reading, or listening to my teaching the truths of C[hristian] S[cience] will not do for you what this earnest seeking and knowing and following can do for you. ... Be of good cheer, you cannot seek without finding. Church History document: L07610
