Deidre A. Hill - Writer, Storyteller

about the healer

Proof in practice

A musician demonstrates the beauty of the music he teaches in order to show the learner the way by practice as well as precept. Jesus' teaching and practice of Truth involved such a sacrifice as makes us admit its Principle to be Love. This was the precious import of our Master's sinless career and of his demonstration of power over death. He proved by his deeds that Christian Science destroys sickness, sin, and death.

Our Master taught no mere theory, doctrine, or belief. It was the divine Principle of all real being which he taught and practised. His proof of Christianity was no form or system of religion and worship, but Christian Science, working out the harmony of Life and Love.

— Eddy, Mary Baker. "Atonement and Eucharist." Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 1891. Boston: Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1989. 26:19–32.

 

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Introduction

My awareness and love of God and Christian Science began when I was a child.

My mother's mother, who was sixty-five years old when I was born, was also a Christian Scientist. She passed on when she was in her nineties, having lived a colourful, dynamic, and impressive lifestyle, even to the very end.

After raising her eight children and outliving her husband, Gram (a.k.a. Mrs. [Laura] Bergstrom, nee Breen) lived the rest of her life on her own, and certainly without any loss of her mental faculties.

From as early as I can remember, I had learned that God was everything good, because of my grandmother's explanation to me.

As a child, I regularly attended a diversity of denominational Sunday Schools with cousins and childhood friends (at Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, and United churches); but, when I stayed with my grandmother, I went to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria BC Sunday School classes, where "[t]he first lessons of the children should be the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3–17), the Lord's Prayer (St. Matthew 6:9–13), and its Spiritual Interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, [and the] Sermon on the Mount (St. Matthew 5 to 7)." (See Guide for Bible Teaching I, Ann Putcamp, The Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, 1975, 289.5., p. 4).

When I was six years old, I wanted to be an angel, but a twelve-year-old cousin told me I would never be good enough for that. Many years later, another older cousin said Gram was amazing, "if not for that weird religion of hers!"

Que sera, sera. My understanding and practice of Christian Science continued progressing, although mostly on my own.

The unbiased Christian thought is soonest touched by Truth, and convinced of it. Only those quarrel with her method who do not understand her meaning, or discerning the truth, come not to the light lest their works be reproved.

— Eddy, Mary Baker. "Preface." Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 1891. Boston: Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1989. x:27–30.

Gram was the only Christian Scientist on the Bergstrom side, and was the only Christian Scientist I knew, other than my dad's sister, whom I met when I was fourteen years old, twelve years after he died from leukemia.

My aunt gave me a hardcover edition of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, "the original and only textbook on Christian Science" (which years later I gave to my brother, who is nine years older than me, and who was born almost five and a half years after our parents married on December 15, 1939), plus a matching copy of the Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version.

On the Christmas before the year I graduated from high school, my aunt also gave me a gift subscription to the weekly Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons, which I have continued to subscribe to, although these days, I receive and read them daily, on-line.

That year, Gram gave me a hard copy version of What Christmas Means to Me and Other Christmas Messages, by Mary Baker Eddy (which I love to reread at least once annually); but the year before, she had already given me a soft-covered, light blue copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and it is this book that I have continued to use over the years (even after I bought a new Ruby Red Study Edition in October 2013), filling it with margin notes and underlinings, and even rebounded with clear duct tape!

Inside the soft-covered, light blue copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Gram inscribed the following words:

Dear Deirdre, [sic]

I know you will find much joy and Happiness in the Study of this Book together with the Bible the Way for me has been made so very wonderful in so many ways.

With Love from Grandmother Laura

Inside What Christmas Means to Me and Other Christmas Messages, she wrote these:

With Love to Deirdre [sic]

Christmas 1972.

From Gram.

In January 1980, I inherited Gram's collection of Christian Science books, which I have read and continue to study, including her Church Manual of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy, which has a copy of the acceptance of my grandmother as a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria, BC, dated January 1943.

(All of the hard copy Christian Science literature in my personal library is listed below and organized by the Dewey Decimal System)

I am exceedingly grateful that Gram introduced me to Christian Science. How wonderful the way has been made for me, too.

Dear God, thank you for every step.

I feel especially privileged to have been able to learn more about my grandmother because of this shared understanding, too. If longevity, along with vitality, wasn't considered so weird by so many people back then, I am sure she would still be here, actively going about her life. Perhaps, in new ways, she is.

In the early 1980's, after Gram had passed on, and when I first started writing seriously by calling myself a writer, and for many years thereafter, I usually only travelled to downtown Victoria a couple of times a year, or so.

Those special-to-me "artist date" journeys always included a visit to the Victoria Christian Science Reading Room, when it was still on Broad Street; plus I would get my brows done by Fain (who is now long-retired, and whose memorable salon was filled with his whimsical ceramic artifact caricatures, on Fort Street, located at the top of a narrow and steep staircase, that eventually led to part of Russell Books, and was near the Dutch Bakery & Diner); and then have lunch at the "ever-popular (especially with the local ninety-plus crowd)" Dutch Bakery & Diner, where I would order what the nonagenarian protagonists, Evan and Ertha always ask for, when they meet there in my short story, The Wed Site.

Through ongoing and diverse stages of learning, including the opportunity to become a member of the Christian Science Organization (CSO) where I met a few more Christian Scientists while attending the University of Victoria, I have continued to experience and observe the practical and healing benefits demonstrated by Mary Baker Eddy's understanding of infinite God, as Divine Life, Truth, and Love, that could, and does, effectively cast out all fear.

Eventually, I also began attending The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, online Sunday services.

In a letter dated November 4, 2011, following my application with the requisite references from two Christian Scientists who could properly vouch for me (which, in my case, included the University of Victoria's Christian Science Chaplain and the Victoria Christian Science Reading Room Librarian), plus one from a Christian Science Practitioner, the Clerk of The Mother Church informed me that the Christian Science Board of Directors elected me to membership of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

In August 2013, with my application to a Christian Science Teacher also accepted, I completed Christian Science Primary Class Instruction, which prepared me to continue my healing work as a well-taught Christian Science Practitioner and to be received as a Christian Science Association member.

Immediately after I returned from taking this intense two-week class, I started to attend the services at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria BC. At the April 27, 2014 service, the congregation accepted my formal application and welcomed me as a new member. However, as it turned out to be logistically impractical, I withdrew my membership at the end of November 2018.

Prior to this, in November 2013, after attending and being inspired by a three-day Introductory Course to Christian Science Home Nursing at Wayside House, Victoria, British Columbia, which had been announced at two of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria BC branch church services, I decided to pursue the opportunity to become a Christian Science nurse.

In February 2014, I began on-the-job training at Wayside House.

In December 2014, I continued training at Lynn House, in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, towards the successful completion of the Christian Science Nursing Arts Training program.

This type of training, more suitable for those starting out with a career in Christian Science Nursing, usually includes four levels of classroom instruction, each followed by further one-on-one mentoring by Christian Science Journal-listed nurses for weeks and months, respectively, at other Christian Science nursing and training facilities, as well as at Wayside House, over approximately three to four years.

However, since then, Wayside House Christian Science Nurses who require it, are being trained via Le Verger method which "is given on a one-to-one basis (with the instructor coming to the student)"; and "offers 3 levels of training: 'Basic', 'Advanced' and 'Extended'", so that "[t]he duration of each course and mentoring is flexible, and adjusted to the individual needs of the student."

Also, as Le Verger instructors are brought to them, students no longer have to go into the USA for their training or on-going professional development.

Nonetheless, formal training as described above is not necessary in order to meet the full requirements to become a Christian Science Journal-listed Christian Science Nurse.

Christian Science Nurse. SECTION 31. A member of The Mother Church who represents himself or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly understands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room, and who can take proper care of the sick.

The cards of such persons may be inserted in The Christian Science Journal under rules established by the publishers.

— Eddy, Mary Baker. "Article VIII, Guidance of Members." Manual of The Mother Church The First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston: Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1895. 49.

Aids in
sickness

An ill-tempered, complaining, or deceitful person should not be a nurse. The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, — receptive to Truth and Love.

— Eddy, Mary Baker. "Christian Science Practice." Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 1891. Boston: Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1989. 395:17.

In any case, healing is always the expectation.

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Quotations

Note: July 2, 2022. The words written by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, should be read in their full context, therefore I have removed my numerous self-selected quotations from this page, other than the few above.

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Resources

Here is a collection of some on-line resources:

The full on-line text of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, "contains the full explanation of Christian Science and its biblical foundation for spiritual regeneration and healing." (The tenets of Christian Science can be found in chapter XIV, "Recapitulation," on page 497).

The full on-line text of the Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) plus other Bible versions can be found at BibleGateway.com.

Some well-known and useful early Christian Science articles include GOD'S LAW OF ADJUSTMENT; POSSESSION; and "TEACH ME TO LOVE."

The Christian Science Daily Lift provides short uplifting audios.

The Christian Science Monitor, a seven-time Pulitzer Prize-winning international newspaper was launched by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, when she was 87 years old, with the goal "to injure no man, but to bless all mankind."

The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, MA, USA, Sunday Services and Wednesday Testimony Services can be listened to at Online services and events..

Full details about Christian Science and how to access further resources can be found on the Christian Science site.

The Mary Baker Eddy Science Institute comprises collections of published works by advanced students of Christian Science, including addresses, such as MONEY, which was made by Mildred L. LeBlond C.S.B. to the students of her Class Association.

 

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My Christian Science Literature

Hard copy Christian Science literature in my personal library.

 
 

Christian Science Books

 

Christian Science Booklets, Pamphlets

 

Christian Science Journal (Periodicals)

 

Christian Science Monitor (Periodicals)

 

Christian Science Sentinel (Periodicals)

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-- DH --

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Updated: July 3, 2022

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