movement, sect or cult today worthy of the name of Christian Science? Is there any mortal personality to-day worthy of the name of Christian Scientist? Such are some of the problems to be solved. Faithfully yours in Truth and Love, Thomas Hebblewhite. P. S. Has there not "been too wide a departure from the life that Jesus led and advised, and too much forgetfulness of the fact that the only leader to whom we should defer is the indwelling God?" Mr. Thomas Hebblewhite, Dear Sir: Oakland, June 21, 1901. Inasmuch as you failed to comply with our petition embodied in the letter of June 17th, we, the Officers of First Church of Christ Scientist of Oakland, California, do hereby request that you kindly refrain from further attendance at our Wednesday Evening Testimonial Meetings. Clerk of First Church of Christ Scientist, Oakland, In reply to your favor of 21st inst., beg respectfully to say, do not think it would be proper to tolerate such undue trespass upon the right, liberty and freedom of a private citizen or a student of Christian Science as your letter proposes. It does seem to me that the request said to be made by the Officers of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Oakland, is rather un-Christian and unscientific. For me or any one to play the fool by attempting to antagonise truth or boom error, either intentionally or unintentionally would be a sad mistake. If we do not destroy error by the understanding of Truth, then error will destroy itself, and in doing so will destroy the appearance of the mortal body. See 1 Sam. 26:21; 1 Sam. 31: 4-6; Mat. 27: 3-5; Acts 12: 21-25, etc., etc., and mortal history still repeats itself. Before writing this letter, read Romans 1: 14; Rom. 8:28; Mat. 6: 33-34; Rom. 8:38-39; John 14:26-27 and 12th chapter of Romans, this being my chapter in order for today. Thank God there is perfect liberty, rest, peace, harmony, and freedom in Right. In Divine Love there is no fear. I am unconscious of any forfeiture of my privilege to go to or stay away from the Wednesday evening meeting as may seem to me right and best. In Truth and Love. Your obedient, humble servant, Thomas Hebblewhite. 858 Oak Street, Oakland, Cal., June 30th, 1901. Miss Charlotte A. Wheaton, Clerk of First Church of Christ Scientist, Oakland, Referring to the appearance of Mr. Whipple at the door, who said he was a deputy appointed by the Officers of the Church to prevent mé attending last Wednesday evening meeting of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Oakland, Cal., then in process, I beg most respectfully now to say, that I have no redress according to the man-made law of the United States of America and hence from this standpoint do not ask for an apology. I am advised, however, to intimate to you, that viewed from a higher, moral and spiritual standpoint of right, your Officers are thought to have left themselves open to unfavorable comment which appears by honest criticism, and that they have the opportunity of volunteering an apology for the seeming ill-advised course chosen and taken by them, when a more excellent, Christian and scientific way was open to them, as shown by the teaching and spirit of the New Testament, and recommended by Mrs. Eddy in her writings. As in the past, so it is now, mistakes in the premise will reflect mistaken conclusions. A little child shall lead them. Your obedient, humble servant, Thomas Hebblewhite. 858 Oak Street, Oakland, Cal., Jan. 23, 1902. William B. Johnson, C. S. B. Clerk, Dear Brother: Permit me most respectfully to tender my resignation as a member of The First Church of Christ Scientist, Boston, Mass. I will thank you to be so kind as to mail for me to my address here, a letter of transfer to the Rev. Benjamin Fay Mills of The First Unitarian Church, Oakland, California, or to whom it may concern, and greatly oblige, Cordially yours, Thomas Hebblewhite. 858 Oak Street, Oakland, Cal., Jan. 23, 1902. William B. Johnson, C. S. B., Clerk, Dear Brother: I have to beg your acceptance of my resignation as a member of The First Church of Christ Scientist, Boston, Mass., which I now most respectfully convey to you. Will you be so kind as to enclose to my husband for me, a letter of transfer to the Rev. Benjamin Fay Mills of The First Unitarian Church, Oakland, California, or to whom it may concern, and very much oblige, Yours truly, Elizabeth Hebblewhite. 858 Oak Street, C. D. Holcombe, Secretary, Buffalo, N. Y., Dear Brother: Oakland, Cal., Jan. 23, 1902. Permit me most respectfully to tender my resignation as a member of the Students' Christian Science Association, No. 15, Buffalo, N. Y. With kind regards and good wishes, Cordially yours, Thomas Hebblewhite. The Buffalo Institute of Christian Science, Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Elizabeth Hebblewhite, Beloved Students: I have today received a letter from Mr. Johnson, Clerk of The Mother Church, stating that he is in receipt of a letter from you in which you ask to sever you connection with the Boston Church, that you may unite with the Universalist Church of Oakland. I can hardly believe that he has understood your request, for when you left us I felt that a bond united us which neither time nor environment could annul, you seemed so happy in the thought of our beautiful Truth, you seemed to realize so truly that God is Principle, Life, Truth, Love; you were so glad that God had called you from the old thought of error and given you the blessed privilege of working for Him, "to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind." My dear children what has touched you? What has changed your thought? Is not God the same to you now as then? God has not changed, He is the same-no not the same but infinitely more to me, now as then; if God has not changed you must have, and I would like to know the reason. Mortal mind tries very hard to win a good student away from Truth and I am a little fearful that it has touched you. You see you were babes in the understanding when you left the home nest and went forth to battle alone with belief. I knew at the time it was a big undertaking but children, you seemed so strong, and my mother love saw so much of the glory in you that it made me forget that you had just learned to walk in the new way. I am sorry that I have not realized your need. I know it is hard to stand alone in thought and constantly meet the misunderstanding and persecution that follow Christian Science, but the bitterness dies of its own nothingness when we realize that we are meeting it for Him, meeting for His Cause and for Him what He met for us long ago. I wish before you do anything about withdrawing from our dear Church, you would write to me and tell me all that is troubling you, perhaps I can make some dark places light, or explain away some thought that has troubled you, anyway let me try. With much love to you both, and the earnest wish that God will lead you into His dear kingdom by the path of Divine Love. Yours in Christ-love, Annie V. C. Leavitt, C. S. D. 858 Oak Street, Oakland, Cal., Feb. 8, 1902. Mrs. Annie V. C. Leavitt, C. S. D., Principal,: 222 North Street, Buffalo, N. Y. Dear Mrs. Leavitt: Your letter of exquisite kindness and of love is just received, and I am at a loss to find language in which to adequately express my appreciation of your untiring patience, kindness, forbearance, love, and good will, which to me has characterized you ever since it was my good fortune to make your acquaintance and up to the present time. Whatever may appear to be the merely mortal and mythical conditions, -in Truth and Love as you well know, there is no separation or inferiority of personality. Referring to the resignation and letter asked for, I have briefly to say, it is the outcome of a growth through study of the Bible as my text-book and with God my Teacher, being always in His holy presence. This special study commenced Nov. 15, 1899. I regret to say there have been to mortal sense unpleasant |