Page:The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy.djvu/431

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Such sentiments as these wrought her audience to a feverish pitch of excitement. A letter to the Boston Traveller, afterward reprinted in the Christian Science Journal, thus described the outburst of feeling which followed Mrs. Eddy's address:

The scenes that followed when she had ceased speaking will long be remembered by those who witnessed them. The people were in the presence of the woman whose book had healed them, and they knew it. Up they came in crowds to her side, begging one hand-clasp, one look, one memorial from her whose name was a power and a sacred thing in their homes. Those whom she had never seen before—invalids raised up by her book, "Science and Health"—attempted to hurriedly tell the wonderful story.

A mother who failed to get near her held high her babe to look on their helper. Others touched the dress of their benefactor, not so much as asking for more. An aged woman, trembling with palsy, lifted her shaking hands at Mrs. Eddy's feet, crying, "Help, help!" and the cry was answered. Many such people were known to go away healed. Strong men turned aside to hide tears, as the people thronged to Mrs. Eddy with blessings and thanks.

Meekly and almost silently, she received all this homage from the multitude, until she was led away from the place, the throng blocking her passage from the door to the carriage.

What wonder if the thoughts of those present went back to eighteen hundred years ago, when the healing power was manifested through the personal Jesus?

Can the cold critic, harsh opposer, or disbeliever in Christian Science call up any other like picture through all these centuries?

What was the Pentecostal hour but this same dawning of God's allness and oneness, and His supremacy manifested in gifts of healing and speaking, "with tongues"? Let history declare of Mary Eddy what were the blessings and power which she brought.

It was while Mrs. Eddy was thus making material for legend in Chicago that "conspiracy" was afoot in Boston, and the enthusiastic writer just quoted was forced to take this into