March 21 Saturday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Edward Day in Springfield, Mass., clarifying his stance against Christian Science’s founder, Mary Baker Eddy.
No, it would not be fair for me to let you think I am interested in that wing of the subject, for it would be a deception. To me, the respectability of a religion does not depend upon the religion’s authenticity but only upon the sincerity of the disciple’s belief in it. These people are sincere; & so, to me, who am not exacting, that is sufficient. I like several features of their religion, & dislike the rest; but I have no strong feeling about it, hostile or otherwise. My interest in the matter is confined substantially to its putative discoverer, Mrs. Eddy, the queen of frauds & hypocrites. She has a powerful interest for me, because I think that in one way or two ways she is the most extraordinary woman whom Accident & Circumstance have thus far vomited into the world. She is the monumental Sarcasm of the Ages; & it seems to me that when we contemplate her & what she has achieved, it is blasphemy to longer deny to the Supreme Being the possession of the sense of humor [MTP].
Henry C. Griffin, attorney, wrote to Sam. “In reply to your favor of the 20th, the check for taxes should be made payable either to myself, or to the tax receiver, Bertrand F. Tompkins.” Griffin also explained the various village, school and town taxes that made up the total due [MTP].