A comment (or two) to my recent reference to Emma Shipman has prompted me to repeat some recommendations of inspired and uplifting writers for the periodicals from, with a few exceptions, 1900 to about 1960. It is obvious from recurring comments that the writing in the periodicals these days is for many "a little lacking in sparkle" ("Kind Hearts and Coronets"--a guilty pleasure).
Many of the early standouts were editors: William P. McKenzie, Archibald McLellan, Annie M. Knott, Ella Hoag (a possible primus inter pares), and Violet Ker Seymer. Samuel Greenwood, Emma Shipman, Martha Wilcox, and Milton Simon are, for me, the creme de la creme, though there isn't much available from Emma Shipman and most of Martha Wilcox is her association papers. Ms Wilcox served in Mrs. Eddy's household for a couple of years, so her metaphysics obviously come directly from the source. Also top drawer are Dr. John Tutt, Paul Stark Seeley, and the more recent Geoffrey Barratt. Add to them L. Ivimy Gwalter, Arthur Wuth, and Alan Aylwin.
I've no doubt overlooked someone's favorite, but this isn't intended to be a definitive list. Many Scientists would doubtless recommend very highly Bicknell Young, but for some reason I have read very little of his, and much of what is available are his voluminous association papers, letters, etc. Until recently I would have placed Blanche Hersey Hogue very high on the list. She is one of only two or three writers Mrs. Eddy recommends in her published writings (Miscellany), but she wrote a lot over many decades and often for the Journal. The Journal articles especially seem intended for some official archive or a church cornerstone. They are often heavy, Victorian, overstuffed furniture--antimacassars everywhere--and have at times a stilted style. Still she has much to say, though trekking through her complete writings would be a major undertaking.
Ditto the equally prolific Louise Knight Wheatley/Cook/Hovnanian. She is the Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch of writers for the periodicals. She needed, but didn't apparently always get, the best of the defensive backs (editors) put on her, because when she breaks into the secondary unimpeded it can be an exhausting chase. She had very "happy" feet. Still, she shouldn't be overlooked since her "Problem of the Hickory Tree" and "Teach Me To Love" (poem), for example, were frequently reprinted. And there are other articles worth perusing. Articles of Wheatley, Seeley, and Simon should be available from The Bookmark. Tutt had one collection there as well, but it may no longer be available.
Mary Baker Eddy is obviously sui generis, but these writers are indeed, with the noted exceptions, the quill. I got to know them while serving in a Reading Room with all those bound volumes of the periodicals, so here is a good, if slightly self-serving, reason to sign up for duty. All these writers will repay munificently the time one spends with them.
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20 comments:
Well, your blog certainly doesn't lack sparkle. Thanks for all the tips on solid metaphysicians, many of whom I already have been blessed by reading.
Keep up the blogging!
You are so original. First, I laughed at the crazy legs, then I went to the dictionary to look up that "sui" word.
Thanks for the education you are giving us.
Very well crafted blog post. But then, yours always are this way. You mentioned the Bookmark here in my state. I've been helped beyond words by many of those writers you list, which are available there. Thank God they are, I say.
And thank you, blogger.
Well, your title sure drew me in. So creative what you are doing. I agree with so many of the powerhouse writers you've listed, and have been tremendously blessed by Dr. Tutt's deep metaphysics, especially. Always have to work at what he brings out, but well worth the effort required.
Very interesting the way you think and write. I used to delve into early writers, especially when I served in our local reading room. But I found as I stayed with the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, this was enough for me. A lot more than enough actually. Why not focus on what the "experts" have given us, is my thought.
While I mostly agree with your premises, you've lost me on "crazy legs". She was a marvelous writer in my opinion. Found her almost at a professional writer level. In fact, though I don't know much about her background, wouldn't surprise me if she hadn't been a novelist before becoming a practitioner, then teacher.
But to each his own.
Otherwise, I like your blog, all considered.
How do you come up with these essays? A thoroughly enjoyable read, I consistently find.
Aren't we CS's blessed to have had the inspired writings we've had through the years from those who loved Christian Science, and lived it in everything they did.
And I think we're blessed to have someone like you willing to use your talent to inspire and inform CS's today.
Love your lively website. A pleasure to read something so well thought out and ably presented.
Best to you,
I've been thinking about your latest since I read it last night, and probably not many will agree with me but I think as we go along in our study of the Bible and Science and Health especially, we mature beyond the need for what others have written. I think of something a sunday school teacher who was a wonderful practitioner once said when asked if she read the Sentinel articles. She said, dear, if I got much from those, i would feel I wasn't growing very much. Interesting comment, and something I've thought a lot about in the years since.
I think you surely must be a creative writing teacher somewhere! Very fresh blog.
Thanks for giving us helpful tips a la Christian Science.
Being that our religion reiterates, reinforces Christ's sayings and doings, all speed to anyone (like yourself, blogger) who works to help students understand and demonstrate CS better.
God bless you for giving us such high-level blog postings. You may never know how far-reaching your efforts are.
Just love visiting your website. I always come away with inspiration. And education, I might add.
Thanks much,
So you served in a reading room, eh? We're finding out a bit more about you as we go along. One of these days I hope you'll reveal yourself fully, I mean, your name.
And a crackerjack blog post, in my opinion. You do put your thoughts into the most interesting pieces. A real pleasure to read.
Interesting blog post and comments as well. One of them is what I agree with, that as we mature in our understanding of divine metaphysics, some of us prefer to delve more deeply into the Bible, and the writings of our Leader. Speaking for myself, I have just begun to tap the infinite resources of these two treasures. Don't feel I should waste my time with lesser writings.
It's clear to me that it is your deep love for God, for our Way-shower and for the teachings of Christian Science that impel your blogging, and I want to say how much I appreciate all the good you are giving out.
I had the honor of working at the CSBA in Chestnut Hill in the 1970's. Some of those mentioned were my Sunday school teachers. An incredible experience that I was not aware of at the time. During that time, TMC sponsored a short cycle of talks in the original edifice. Of all the speakers I listened to, Miss. Gwalter has remained in my thought all these years. It was because of her talk and CS treatment that I took the next step and asked Corinne LaBarre, CSB, to accept me as a student. And she did. Those days are golden in my memory, despite some of the problems TMC went through in those years. Thank you for helping me remember!
Thanks for the list of truly helpful scientific thinkers. May I add: Hendrick J. DeLange, Doris Henty, Clarence Steves, John Hargreaves, and William D. Kilpatrick. All are thinkers worthy of our time and consideration. How these writers cause us to expand our consciousness and grow in spiritual understanding. Giving time to these students of Science enables us to fulfill the admonition found in Isaiah 54:2-4: "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
"For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
"Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more."
My take on these verses is this: "Enlarge the place of thy tent (your consciousness), and let them stretch for the curtains of thine habitations:" (again, consciousness); then, "spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes" (let your concepts be expanded, lengthened, strengthened). Then, "thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left (you will experience proof, demonstration); and thy seed (new ideas, new experiences) shall inherit the Gentiles (the manifestations of reality), and make the desolate cities (limited concepts) to be inhabited" (broken open, burst free from). "Fear not (be not timid, shy, afraid); for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame" (you won't fail of demonstration. With the realization of Truth, with the enlargement of consciousness, comes the demonstration, the manifestation of power. These never fail us, but we do need to get personality, human will and human limitations out of the way).
Presently..., Anonymous
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