Page:The Life of Mary Baker Eddy (Wilbur).djvu/393

Rh inspect it, her heart yearning over this gift which she had so generously shared with her students in presenting to the organization. On April 1, 1895, she went to Boston unannounced, with her companion and her secretary, and spent that night in the rooms designed for her especial use in the church building. These rooms are in the tower of the church and consist of a study, a bedroom, and a dressing-room. They are exquisitely fitted with every necessary appointment, the furnishing being a gift of the children of the church.

On May 26 of the same year she again visited The Mother Church and preached from its pulpit, and in February, 1896, she also preached in The Mother Church, returning the same afternoon to Concord. On Monday, June 5, 1899, Mrs. Eddy came to Boston from Concord and spent the night at her Commonwealth avenue house, then occupied by Septimus J. Hanna, who was the first reader in The Mother Church at that time. The church held its annual meeting in Tremont Temple the following day and in the afternoon she appeared on the platform and addressed the meeting. Judge Hanna escorted Mrs. Eddy to the platform and introduced her, the students arising and quietly saluting her with waving handkerchiefs. She spoke briefly on the text from Malachi, “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven.”

Mrs. Eddy avoided a public reception by withdrawing from the platform before the meeting adjourned and returning the same afternoon to