Chapter X. Inklings Historic
About the year 1862, while the author of this work [1]
was at Dr. Vail's Hydropathic Institute in New
Hampshire, this occurred: A patient considered incur-
able left that institution, and in a few weeks returned
apparently well, having been healed, as he informed [5]
the patients, by one Mr. P. P. Quimby of Portland,
Maine.
After much consultation among ourselves, and a struggle
with pride, the author, in company with several other
patients, left the water-cure, en route for the aforesaid [10]
doctor in Portland. He proved to be a magnetic practi-
tioner. His treatment seemed at first to relieve her, but
signally failed in healing her case.
Having practised homœopathy, it never occurred to the
author to learn his practice, but she did ask him how [15]
manipulation could benefit the sick. He answered kindly
and squarely, in substance, “Because it conveys electricity
to them.” That was the sum of what he taught her of
his medical profession.
The readers of my books cannot fail to see that meta- [20]
physical therapeutics, as in Christian Science, are farther
removed from such thoughts than the nebulous system
is from the earth.
After treating his patients, Mr. Quimby would retire [1]
to an anteroom and write at his desk. I had a curiosity
to know if he indited anything pathological relative to
his patients, and asked if I could see his pennings on
my case. He immediately presented them. I read the [5]
copy in his presence, and returned it to him. The com-
position was commonplace, mostly descriptive of the gen-
eral appearance, height, and complexion of the individual,
and the nature of the case: it was not at all metaphysi-
cal or scientific; and from his remarks I inferred that [10]
his writings usually ran in the vein of thought presented
by these. He was neither a scholar nor a metaphysician.
I never heard him say that matter was not as real as Mind,
or that electricity was not as potential or remedial, or
allude to God as the divine Principle of all healing. He [15]
certainly had advanced views of his own, but they com-
mingled error with truth, and were not Science. On
his rare humanity and sympathy one could write a
sonnet.
I had already experimented in medicine beyond the [20]
basis of materia medica,—up to the highest attenuation
in homoeopathy, thence to a mental standpoint not un-
derstood and with phenomenally good results;[7] mean-
while assiduously pondering the solution of this great
question: Is it matter, or is it Mind, that heals the [25]
sick?
It was after Mr. Quimby's death that I discovered,
in 1866, the momentous facts relating to Mind and its
superiority over matter, and named my discovery Chris-
tian Science. Yet, there remained the difficulty of ad- [30]
justing in the scale of Science a metaphysical practice,
and settling the question, What shall be the outward [1]
sign of such a practice: if a divine Principle alone heals,
what is the human modus for demonstrating this,—in
short, how can sinful mortals prove that a divine Principle
heals the sick, as well as governs the universe, time, [5]
space, immortality, man?
When contemplating the majesty and magnitude of
this query, it looked as if centuries of spiritual growth
were requisite to enable me to elucidate or to dem-
onstrate what I had discovered: but an unlooked-for, [10]
imperative call for help impelled me to begin this stu-
pendous work at once, and teach the first student in
Christian Science. Even as when an accident, called
fatal to life, had driven me to discover the Science of
Life, I again, in faith, turned to divine help,—and com- [15]
menced teaching.
My students at first practised in slightly differing
forms. Although I could heal mentally, without a sign
save the immediate recovery of the sick, my students'
patients, and people generally, called for a sign—a ma- [20]
terial evidence wherewith to satisfy the sick that something
was being done for them; and I said, “Suffer it
to be so now,” for thus saith our Master. Experience,
however, taught me the impossibility of demonstrating
the Science of metaphysical healing by any outward form [25]
of practice.
In April, 1883, a bill in equity was filed in the United
States Circuit Court in Boston, to restrain, by decree and
order of the Court, the unlawful publishing and use of an
infringing pamphlet printed and issued by a student of [30]
Christian Science.
Answer was filed by the defendant, alleging that the
copyrighted works of Mrs. Eddy were not original with [1]
her, but had been copied by her, or by her direction,
from manuscripts originally composed by Dr. P. P.
Quimby.
Testimony was taken on the part of Mrs. Eddy, the [5]
defendant being present personally and by counsel. The
time for taking testimony on the part of the defendant
having nearly expired, he gave notice through his counsel
that he should not put in testimony. Later, Mrs.
Eddy requested her lawyer to inquire of defendant's [10]
counsel why he did not present evidence to support his
claim that Dr. Quimby was the author of her writings!
Accordingly, her counsel asked the defendant's counsel
this question, and he replied, in substance, “There is
no evidence to present.” [15]
The stipulation for a judgment and a decree in favor
of Mrs. Eddy was drawn up and signed by counsel.
It was ordered that the complainant (Mrs. Eddy)
recover of the defendant her cost of suit, taxed at
($113.09) one hundred thirteen and 9/100 dollars. [20]
A writ of injunction was issued under the seal of the
said Court, restraining the defendant from directly or
indirectly printing, publishing, selling, giving away,
distributing, or in any way or manner disposing of,
the enjoined pamphlet, on penalty of ten thousand [25]
dollars.
The infringing books, to the number of thirty-eight
hundred or thereabouts, were put under the edge of
the knife, and their unlawful existence destroyed, in
Boston, Massachusetts. [30]
It has been written that “nobody can be both founder
and discoverer of the same thing.” If this declaration
were either a truism or a rule, my experience would [1]
contradict it and prove an exception.
No works on the subject of Christian Science existed,
prior to my discovery of this Science. Before the publi-
cation of my first work on this doctrine, a few manu- [5]
scripts of mine were in circulation. The discovery and
founding of Christian Science has cost more than thirty
years of unremitting toil and unrest; but, comparing those
with the joy of knowing that the sinner and the sick are
helped thereby, that time and eternity bear witness to [10]
this gift of God to the race, I am the debtor.
In the latter half of the nineteenth century I discov-
ered the Science of Christianity, and restored the first
patient healed in this age by Christian Science. I taught
the first student in Christian Science Mind-healing; was [15]
author and publisher of the first books on this subject;
obtained the first charter for the first Christian Science
church, originated its form of government, and was its
first pastor. I donated to this church the land on which
in 1894 was erected the first church edifice of this denomination [20]
in Boston; obtained the first and only charter
for a metaphysical medical college,—was its first and
only president; was editor and proprietor of the first
Christian Science periodical; organized the first Christian
Scientist Association, wrote its constitution and by- [25]
laws,—as also the constitution and by-laws of the
National Christian Science Association; and gave it
The Christian Science Journal; inaugurated our denom-
inational form of Sunday services, Sunday School, and
so the entire system of teaching and practising Christian [30]
Science.
In 1895 I ordained that the Bible, and “Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures,” the Christian Science [1]
textbook, be the pastor, on this planet, of all the churches
of the Christian Science denomination. This ordinance
took effect the same year, and met with the universal ap-
proval and support of Christian Scientists. Whenever [5]
and wherever a church of Christian Science is established,
its pastor is the Bible and my book.
In 1896 it goes without saying, preeminent over igno-
rance or envy, that Christian Science is founded by its
discoverer, and built upon the rock of Christ. The el- [10]
ements of earth beat in vain against the immortal parapets
of this Science. Erect and eternal, it will go on with the
ages, go down the dim posterns of time unharmed, and
on every battle-field rise higher in the estimation of
thinkers and in the hearts of Christians. [15]