It may be here remarked that, at the outset, Mrs. Eddy especially deprecated the giving to Quimbyism, or Christian Science, a religious character, as I shall hereafter show in more detail, and she goes so far as to criticise the disciples of Jesus for founding, as she says, religious organizations and church rites.
Thus, at first, healing was the only phase of Christian Science. The religious feature was a subsequent invention.
Quimbyism, as contained in Mrs. Wentworth’s copy of Mrs. Glover’s copy of Dr. Quimby’s “Science of Man,” as revised and corrected in Mrs. Glover’s own handwriting, is compared with Mrs. Eddy’s Christian Science as contained in her “Science and Health” in the following parallel passages from the two. A glance will show Dr. Quimby’s system of mental healing, as taught by Mrs. Glover, later Mrs. Eddy, in 1870, to be no other than the “Science of Metaphysical Healing” that Mrs. Eddy, formerly Mrs. Glover, now says was revealed to her in 1866:
Quimby: From Quimby’s “Science of Man,” as Expounded by Mrs. Eddy at Stoughton, 1868-69-70.
“If I understand how disease originates in the mind and fully believe it, why cannot I cure myself?”
Disease being made by our belief or by our parents’ belief or by public opinion, there is no one formula of argument to be adopted; but every one must fit in their particular case. Therefore it requires great shrewdness or wisdom to get the better of the error.” ....
Eddy: From Mrs. Eddy’s “Science and Health,” the Text-Book of the “Christian Science” She now Claims to have Discovered in 1866.
“Disease being a belief, a latent delusion of mortal mind, the sensation would not appear if this error was met and destroyed by Truth.”—Page 61, edition of 1898.
“Science not only reveals the origin of all disease as wholly mental, but it also declares that all disease is cured by mind.”—Page 62, edition of 1898.
Quimby:
“I know of no better counsel than Jesus gave to His disciples when He sent them forth to cast out devils and heal the sick, and thus in practice to preach the Truth, ‘Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves.’ Never get into a passion, but in patience possess ye your soul, and at length you weary out the discord and produce harmony by your Truth destroying error. Then it is you get the case. Now if you are not afraid to face the error and argue it down, then you can heal the sick.”
Eddy: