Julia smiled.  “Well, ordinary gratitude might come in there.  Most of us feel that she has led us to the living Christ, and helped us to all we have attained of health and happiness; but one very general mistake that error makes use of to blind people is that Mrs. Eddy exacts this gratitude.  How willing everybody is to admit that actions speak louder than words; and yet who of our opposers ever stop to think how Mrs. Eddy’s retired, hard-working life proves the falsity of the charges brought against her.  She does wish for our love and gratitude; but it is for our sakes, not hers.  Think of any of the great teachers from St. Paul down to the present day.  Who could benefit by the truth voiced by any of them, while he nursed either contempt or criticism of the personality of the teacher?”

“Yes,” returned Mr. Evringham, “there is strength in that consideration; but this blind following of any suggestion your leader makes looks to me too much like giving up your own rationality.”

Julia regarded him seriously.  “Supposing you were one of a party who had, for long years, searched in vain for gold.  You had tried mine after mine only to find you had not the ability to discriminate between the priceless and the worthless ore, or to discern the signs of promise that lead to rich discovery.  Now, supposing another prospector had proved, over and over again, that he did know the places where treasure was to be found.  Supposing he had demonstrated, over and over again, that his judgment and discernment never led him astray, and that reward followed his labor unfailingly.  Now, what if this wise prospector was willing to help you?  Supposing he stated that in certain places, and by certain ways, you could attain that for which you longed and had striven vainly.  When his advice or directions came to you, from time to time, do you think you would be likely to stop to haggle or argue over them?  No; I think you would hasten to follow his suggestions, as eagerly and as closely as you were able, and with a warmly grateful heart.  Would that prospector be forcing you? or doing you a kindness?  What are the fruits of Christian Science?  What are the results of the directions of this wise, loving leader who can come so close to God that He teaches her to help us to come, too.  Oh, father, this obstacle, this foolish argument, meets nearly every one in the path you are treading, and tries to turn him back.  I do hope, for your sake, you will decline to give that very flabby error-fairy a backbone, or let it detain you longer.  It is marvelous how, without one element of truth or reason, it seems able to hold back so many, and waste their precious time.”

Mr. Evringham was regarding the speaker with close attention.  “You are a good special pleader,” he said, when she paused.

“It is easy to speak the truth,” she answered.

He nodded thoughtfully.  “You have given me a new light on the situation.  I see it now from an entirely new standpoint.”