In December, 1898, the Earl of Dunmore, a peer of the Scottish Realm,
and his Countess, came to Boston to study Christian Science. They were
received by Mrs. Eddy at Pleasant View, and Lady Dunmore was present
at the June communion, 1899. According to the _Journal_, Lady
Dunmore's son, Lord Fincastle, left his regiment in India and came to
Boston to join his mother in this service, and then returned
immediately to his military duties. Lady Mildred Murray, daughter of
the Countess, also came to America to attend the annual communion. A
pew was reserved upon the first floor of the church for this titled
family, although the _Journal_ explains that "the reservation of a pew
for the Countess of Dunmore and her family was wholly a matter of
international courtesy, and not in any sense a tribute to their rank."
Lord Dunmore, at one of the Wednesday evening meetings, discussed the
possibilities of a "Christianly-Scientific Alliance of the two
Anglo-Saxon peoples." Even after his departure to England, Lord
Dunmore continued to contribute very characteristic Christian Science
poetry to the _Journal_. He paid a visit to Mrs. Eddy only a few
months before his death in the summer of 1907.
In 1904 the Earl was present at the convention of the Christian
Science Teachers' Association in London, and sent Mrs. Eddy the
following cablegram:
"London, Nov. 28, 1904.
"REV. MARY BAKER EDDY,
"Pleasant View, Concord, N. H.
"Members of Teachers' Association, London, send much love,
and are striving, by doing better, to help you.
"DUNMORE."
To this Mrs. Eddy gallantly replied:
"Concord, N. H., November 29, 1904.
"EARL OF DUNMORE, AND TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, London, G. B.
"Increasing gratitude and love for your lordly help and that
of your Association.
"MARY BAKER EDDY."
In these prosperous years the Reverend Irving C. Tomlinson, in
commenting in the _Journal_ upon Brander Matthews' statement that
English seemed destined to become the world-language, says: "It may be
that Prof. Matthews has written better than he knew. Science and
Health is fast reaching all parts of the world; and as our text book
may never be translated into a foreign tongue, may it not be expected
to fulfill the prophet's hope, 'Then will I turn to the people a pure
language,'" etc.
In January, 1901, Mrs. Eddy called her directors together in solemn
conclave, and charged them to send expressions of sympathy to the
British government and to King Edward upon the death of the Queen.
Truly the days of the Lynn shoemakers and the little Broad Street
tenement were far gone by, and it must have seemed to Mrs. Eddy that
she was living in one of those _New York Ledger_ romances which had so
delighted her in those humbler times. Even a less spirited woman than
she would have expanded under all this notoriety, and Mrs. Eddy, as
always, caught the spirit of the play. A letter written to her son,
George Glover, April 27, 1898, conveys some idea of how Mrs. Eddy
appeared to herself at this time:
Pleasant View,
Concord, N. H., April 27, 1898.
DEAR SON: Yours of latest date came duly. That which you
cannot write I understand, and will say, I am reported as
dying, wholly decriped and useless, etc. Now one of these
reports is just as true as the others are. My life is as
pure as that of the angels. God has lifted me up to my work,
and if it was not pure it would not bring forth good fruits.
The Bible says the tree is known by its fruit.
But I need not say this to a Christian Scientist, who knows
it. I thank you for any interest you may feel in your
mother. I am alone in the world, more lone than a solitary
star. Although it is duly estimated by business characters
and learned scholars that I lead and am obeyed by 300,000
people at this date. The most distinguished newspapers ask
me to write on the most important subjects. Lords and
ladies, earles, princes and marquises and marchionesses from
abroad write to me in the most complimentary manner. Hoke
Smith declares I am the most illustrious woman on the
continent--those are his exact words. Our senators and
members of Congress call on me for counsel. But what of all
this? I am not made the least proud by it or a particle
happier for it. I am working for a higher purpose.
Now what of my circumstances? I name first my home, which of
all places on earth is the one in which to find peace and
enjoyment. But my home is simply a house and a beautiful
landscape. There is not one in it that I love only as I love
everybody. I have no congeniality with my help inside of my
house; they are no companions and scarcely fit to be my
help.
I adopted a son hoping he would take Mr. Frye's place as my
book-keeper and man of all work that belongs to man. But my
trial of him has proved another disappointment. His books
could not be audited they were so incorrect, etc., etc. Mr.
Frye is the most disagreeable man that can be found, but
this he is, namely, (if there is one on earth) an honest
man, as all will tell you who deal with him. At first
mesmerism swayed him, but he learned through my forbearance
to govern himself. He is a man that would not steal, commit
adultery, or fornication, or break one of the Ten
Commandments. I have now done, but I could write a volume on
what I have touched upon.
One thing is the severest wound of all, namely, the want of
education among those nearest to me in kin. I would gladly
give every dollar I possess to have one or two and three
that are nearest to me on earth possess a thorough
education. If you had been educated as I intend to have you,
today you could, would, be made President of the United
States. Mary's letters to me are so misspelled that I blush
to read them.
You pronounce your words so wrongly and then she spells them
accordingly. I am even yet too proud to have you come among
my society and alas! mispronounce your words as you do; but
for this thing I should be honored by your good manners and
I love you. With love to all