Here was the thing that Quimby had never been able to do—nor any other healer who relied on his own charismatic powers. To Mrs. Patterson at this time it seemed a very difficult demand. Alfred Farlow, who in later years talked with her about this and many other matters relating to the historical development of Christian Science, has given an interesting account of her discovery of the how of mental treatment. Referring to her healing in February he writes:
At that time it was not clear to Mrs. Eddy by what process she had been instantaneously healed, but she knew that her thought had turned away from all else in contemplation of God, His omnipotence and everpresence, His infinite love and power. It eventually dawned upon her that this overwhelming consciousness of the divine presence had destroyed her fear and consciousness of disease exactly as the light dispels the darkness. She afterwards “noticed that when she had entertained similar thoughts in connection with the ills of her neighbors they too were benefited and it was in this manner that she discovered how to give a mental treatment.”66
But the problem still remained as to how she could convey this to others. She herself has written:
When contemplating the majesty and magnitude of this query, it looked as if centuries of spiritual growth were requisite to enable me to elucidate or to demonstrate what I had discovered: but an unlooked-for, imperative call for help impelled me to begin this stupendous work at once, and teach the first student in Christian Science.67
She accordingly moved to the plain little Crafts house in East Stoughton, taking along the furniture she had saved from her domestic shipwreck, to furnish their parlor in return for her board. There she began systematically to teach Hiram Crafts by the end of 1866.
66 Alfred Farlow, “Historical Facts concerning Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science,” n.d., Subject File, Alfred Farlow - Manuscript - Historical Facts concerning Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science, pp. 51–52, MBEL.
67 Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings, p. 380.