Sunday, March 22nd, 2020 Roundtable

Be Silent, O All Flesh, Before the Lord

This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Matter

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Morning Prayers

May the divine light of Christian Science that lighteth every enlightened thought illumine your faith and understanding, exclude all darkness or doubt, and signal the perfect path wherein to walk, the perfect Principle whereby to demonstrate the perfect man and the perfect law of God. In the words of St. Paul: “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned;” and St. John says: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” May the grace and love of God be and abide with you all.

— from Miscellany, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 187

Discussion points

291 — WATCH lest you forget that the body, or material sense, only echoes one’s own belief. Matter seems to have conversational powers, but it has none. If mortal mind says, I will kill you, as a mere suggestion that does not frighten you as much as when the body echoes this assertion, and says, I will kill you. Yet the second should not frighten you any more than the first, since an echo is no more dangerous than that which produces it. Pain is only an echo, or an ache-o, since in reality it never is in the place where it seems to be!

In the 16th edition of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy quotes from a sermon by William Ellery Channing as follows:

“The philosopher… has often been led to question whether anything really exists in the universe, beyond Mind and Spirit; whether matter and the body have any substantial being; whether apparently external nature be not an actual creation of our own thought; or, in other words, whether, in believing in an outward world, we do anything more than ascribe reality to our own conceptions.”

— from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter




Golden Text — “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord.”” — Zechariah 2 : 13




Science reverses the false testimony of the physical senses, and by this reversal mortals arrive at the fundamental facts of being. Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the subject of health. The Science of Mind-healing shows it to be impossible for aught but Mind to testify truly or to exhibit the real status of man. Therefore the divine Principle of Science, reversing the testimony of the physical senses, reveals man as harmoniously existent in Truth, which is the only basis of health; and thus Science denies all disease, heals the sick, overthrows false evidence, and refutes materialistic logic.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 120


Health is safe and secure in God. Focus on God.

— Plainfield Roundtable




First thing in the morning, “before your feet hit the floor” repeat:

God is Mind. God is my mind. God is the only pure Mind.

God is Life. God is my life. God is the only Life.

— Plainfield Roundtable




Let us reassure ourselves with the law of Love. God never punishes man for doing right, for honest labor, or for deeds of kindness, though they expose him to fatigue, cold, heat, contagion.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 384




Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses, Science, still enthroned, is unfolding to mortals the immutable, harmonious, divine Principle, — is unfolding Life and the universe, ever present and eternal.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 306




Pay attention to that still small voice.

— Plainfield Roundtable




At a time of contagious disease, Christian Scientists endeavor to rise in consciousness to the true sense of the omnipotence of Life, Truth, and Love, and this great fact in Christian Science realized will stop a contagion.

— from Miscellany, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 116




There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

— John 4: 18 from the King James Bible




When you go out it is a mission of Love. Do not go out with fear or suspicion.

— Plainfield Roundtable




Our enemy is the carnal mind – hate, envy, bitterness, polorization, jealousy, division, etc.

— Plainfield Roundtable




Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.

— by Alexander Pope, 1709




Take God, Good, at His word and follow the teachings of my books, and I promise you that you can demonstrate what they teach. No bank note is half as sure as these promises, no business transactions can equal God’s integrity and sure reward for doing rightly.

— Mary Baker Eddy Christian Healer, Amplified Edition by Yvoune Cache von Fettweis page 398




The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

— Isaiah 9: 12 in the King James Bible




For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

— Esther 4: 14 in the King James Bible




And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

— Acts 16: 26 in the King James Bible




Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

— Psalm 62: 8 in the King James Bible

Those that trust in God truly will trust in him only.

— Matthew Henry Commentary


God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

— Psalm 62: 11 in the King James Bible

Though God spoke it but once, I heard it twice, heard it diligently, not only with my outward ears, but with my soul and mind.

— Matthew Henry




Diligent: to esteem, love; characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic application and effort.

— Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1981


Diligently: with steady application and care; not carelessly, not negligently.

— Webster’s 1828 Dictionary




A description of a representative day at Pleasant View might interest future generations, as exemplifying the guidance of divine Love over Mrs. Eddy and her home. Breakfast was at 7:30 a.m. The assistant secretary sorted the mail, with the specific instructions from our Leader to withhold all letters which would be possible for her secretaries to answer, giving her only that which was imperative. There could be no mistake in keeping mail from her, but there could be in giving it to her. The morning Watch Hour was from nine to ten, when each student returned to his or her room to do the mental work to destroy fear, and to recognize the presence and power of God as supreme in the home, as well as in the whole universe. This work did not vary from day to day, except where special instruction was needed and given to us. These watching instructions were written out either by Mrs. Eddy, or by Mr. Frye under her supervision, and were passed around to us. One of these papers that is representative of her specific instruction, as to what line of thought to take up, reads as follows: “No fear; no poison, arsenic, etc.; no suffering caused here by the readers of S. & H.; no evil minds; no feeling the beliefs of patients; no relapse, no reversal of truth. There is but one Mind, God, good. Evil is not mind, it has no power. We can help ourselves and help others, we do. We are not self-mesmerized. God, good, alone controls us. We feel no mind but His. There is no other mind to feel. God gives all the thoughts we have, governs all we do and say and think.” At ten a.m. work on the mail was resumed. At 10:45, the mail that had been selected was carried to Mrs. Eddy. Her dinner was served in her study at 12 noon. After the noon meal, she took a drive that lasted about an hour. During that time all duties were done, including the physical work around the rooms in the home. Each one endeavored to be in his or her place, when she returned between 2:00 and 2:30. After her return, she rested for about one-half hour.

There was another general Watch Hour from three to four, and the last was from eight to nine. Everyone, including our Leader, joined in these periods of watching. In addition to these, each student had an individual Watch Hour. For instance, every night I worked mentally from eleven to midnight.

After the afternoon Watch Hour, Mrs. Eddy read and answered letters, or gave them to her secretaries to answer. Sometimes, she would dictate the answers to us. Supper was at six. Occasionally, after supper she would call the students to her for a period of quiet and peaceful conversation. At times, I went in and talked to her. It was during such a period that she dictated to me some of her own early history, and that of the church. She also dictated articles to me, as, for instance, the one on Christmas on page 259 of Miscellany. At eight, she always went out on the porch and sat in the swing until nine, which was the last general Watch Hour for the day. I always felt that it was during this hour that she worked for the world, and encompassed all humanity with her love, for when she came in to retire, she often called me to her side to say good-night, and the love that she radiated was almost more than I could stand, it affected me to such a degree.

This general program for each day never varied, and there was nothing to indicate that a day was Sunday or a week day. This does not mean that when there was a special need, the whole machinery of the home was not interrupted. There were times, when the whole household worked mentally for hours at a time. Sometimes it would be all night long. I can recall a time, when I did not remove my clothes for seventy-two hours.

— from Mary Baker Eddy Her Spiritual Footsteps by Gilbert Carpenter, Chapter 21




Ages pass, but this leaven of Truth is ever at work. It must destroy the entire mass of error, and so be eternally glorified in man’s spiritual freedom.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 118




Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

— James 4: 7 in the King James Bible




Abiding in God and He in us, our life cannot be less than full, free, joyous, immune from disease, out of danger, and safe from destruction.

— Peter V. Ross




Article — Wonderful Things Are Happening by Dorothy B. Rieke, C.S.




Link to article: — National Day of Prayer at the time of Dunkirk 1940




Hold thought steadfastly to the endur­ing, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 261




The belief that matter thinks, sees, or feels is not more real than the belief that matter enjoys and suffers. This mortal belief, misnamed man, is error, saying: “Matter has intelligence and sensation. Nerves feel. Brain thinks and sins. The stomach can make a man cross. Injury can cripple and matter can kill man.” This verdict of the so-called material senses victimizes mortals, taught, as they are by physiology and pathology, to revere false testimony, even the errors that are destroyed by Truth through spiritual sense and Science.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 294




What do you revere? (Honor, adore, admire)

— Plainfield Roundtable




Forum post — Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord. by Lynda, Parthens, Florecne, Chardelle




Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

— Isaiah 60: 1-2 from the King James Bible


Jesus mapped out the path for others. He unveiled the Christ, the spiritual idea of divine Love. To those buried in the belief of sin and self, living only for pleasure or the gratification of the senses, he said in substance: Having eyes ye see not, and having ears ye hear not; lest ye should understand and be converted, and I might heal you. He taught that the material senses shut out Truth and its healing power.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 38




Forum post — “Reverse It!” by Elizabeth from GA




…the claims of the enslaving senses must be denied and superseded. The law of the divine Mind must end human bondage, or mortals will continue unaware of man’s inalienable rights and in subjection to hopeless slavery, because some public teachers permit an ignorance of divine power, — an ignorance that is the foundation of continued bondage and of human suffering. Citizens of the world, accept the “glorious liberty of the children of God,” and be free! This is your divine right. The illusion of material sense, not divine law, has bound you, entangled your free limbs, crippled your capacities, enfeebled your body, and defaced the tablet of your being.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 227


Mind is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority. Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.

— from Science and Health, 1910, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 393




Surrender: To yield to the power of another; to yield; to give up; to give up; to resign; as, to surrender the breath.

— from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary




Forum post — It Is Our Divine Right by Florence Roberts




Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

— James 4: 7 from the King James Bible




Final Readings

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the following poem shortly after an article was published describing the horrors of the Crimean War. The article told of Florence Nightingale, a compassionate nurse who often worked for 20 hours without a break, visiting the hospital wards alone every night, lamp in hand, to comfort the men. Mary Baker Eddy mentions her on page 385 in Science and Health, where she says, “It is proverbial that Florence Nightingale and other philanthropists engaged in humane labors have been able to undergo without sinking fatigues and exposures which ordinary people could not endure. The explanation lies in the support which they derived from the divine law, rising above the human. The spiritual demand, quelling the material, supplies energy and endurance surpassing all other aids, and forestalls the penalty which our beliefs would attach to our best deeds.”

The poem also calls to remembrance Mrs. Eddy’s tireless dedication in bringing God’s comforting and healing message to mankind in the form of Christian Science. In fact, Mrs. Eddy, herself, chose the second-to-last verse of Longfellow’s poem to engrave on the bases of the statues of the two ladies with the lamps on the cover of the original Christian Science Sentinels, which now grace the cover of our Plainfield Church magazine, Love Is the Liberator.

Santa Filomena by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Whene’er a noble deed is wrought,

Whene’er is spoken a noble thought,

Our hearts, in glad surprise,

To higher levels rise.


The tidal wave of deeper souls

Into our inmost being rolls,

And lifts us unawares

Out of all meaner cares.


Honor to those whose words or deeds

Thus help us in our daily needs,

And by their overflow

Raise us from what is low!


Thus thought I, as by night I read

Of the great army of the dead,

The trenches cold and damp,

The starved and frozen camp,—


The wounded from the battle-plain,

In dreary hospitals of pain,

The cheerless corridors,

The cold and stony floors.


Lo! in that house of misery

A lady with a lamp I see

Pass through the glimmering gloom,

And flit from room to room.


And slow, as in a dream of bliss,

The speechless sufferer turns to kiss

Her shadow, as it falls

Upon the darkening walls.


As if a door in heaven should be

Opened, and then closed suddenly,

The vision came and went,

The light shone was spent.


On England’s annals, through the long

Hereafter of her speech and song,

That light its rays shall cast

From portals of the past.


A lady with a lamp shall stand

In the great history of the land,

A noble type of good,

Heroic womanhood.


Nor even shall be wanting here

The palm, the lily, and the spear,

The symbols that of yore

Saint Filomena bore.











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