Page:The Life of Mary Baker Eddy (Wilbur).djvu/139

Rh the struggle and for the failure could only be made known to her by the extraordinary and impressive circumstance of an original discovery.

As the deviation of the needle from the true North caused mariners to investigate for centuries the cause of deflection until the eminent scientist, Lord Kelvin, successfully insulated the compass, so, though she subsequently discovered the principle of mind healing, it was not until Mary Baker learned what “Quimbyism” really was, namely magnetism, that she came to understand why she so long strove in vain to have Quimby unfold to her that which was not his to give, why she so long sought for principle where there was no principle. Quimby was navigating without a compass, and his zigzag course could only fetch home by accident.

But Quimby believed in his own course as the true one. While he acknowledged to other patients that he was delighted with Mrs. Patterson’s enthusiasm and asserted that her perception of truth was keener than that of any other of his patients, it is not in evidence that he ever gave her credit for a scope which exceeded his, save in religious apprehension, which to him was not authoritative. He received from Mrs. Patterson manuscripts to which she unselfishly and unguardedly signed his name. These manuscripts in Mrs. Eddy’s handwriting, interlined with Quimby’s emendations, may still be in existence.

Lest the implied reason for not publishing the alleged Quimby manuscripts — the fear that their authorship would be disputed — should be