Marriage and Parentage
The work recounts the author's personal experiences with marriage and motherhood, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual challenges faced throughout her life. It begins with her first marriage to Colonel George Washington Glover, which ended tragically after a year due to his death from yellow fever. The author reflects on the deep bond they shared and the support she received from his friends during her bereavement. Following her husband's death, she returned to her family home in New Hampshire, where she gave birth to their son. However, she faced further hardship when her child was taken from her and placed in the care of a family nurse. This separation caused her profound sorrow, which she expressed through poetry. Her second marriage was fraught with difficulties, leading to a divorce. The primary motivation for this marriage was to regain custody of her son, but her efforts were thwarted by his stepfather, who conspired to keep them apart. The author describes the pain of being misinformed about her son's fate, believing him lost to her forever. Years later, they were reunited when he was thirty-four, having built a life of his own. The author reflects on the transient nature of material existence, suggesting that human history is merely a series of dreams disconnected from true spiritual reality. She emphasizes the importance of spiritual understanding over material concerns, arguing that personal narratives should serve to illustrate deeper truths rather than stand alone as mere historical accounts. The text critiques the limitations of human perception and the need for a spiritual awakening that transcends material existence. It posits that true identity is rooted in a divine origin, asserting that all individuals are connected through a singular spiritual parentage. The author concludes with a hopeful vision of eventual triumph over mortal struggles through divine Science, reinforcing the belief in a higher purpose and the eternal nature of the soul.
By Mary Baker Eddy · First published 1900 · Genre: Autobiography, Spirituality, Memoir · 1,097 words
First lines
In 1843 I was united to my first husband, Colonel George Washington Glover of Charleston, South Carolina, the ceremony taking place under the paternal roof in Tilton.
After parting with the dear home circle I went with him to the South; but he was spared to me for only one brief year. He was in Wilmington, North Carolina, on business, when the yellow-fever raged in that city, and was suddenly attacked by this insidious disease, which in his case proved fatal.
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Marriage and Parentage is listed on Textopian as an essay by Mary Baker Eddy, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Mary Baker Eddy
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Autobiography, Spirituality, Memoir, Philosophy, Historical
- Length: 1,097 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Marriage and Parentage by Mary Baker Eddy
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Genres
- Autobiography — The book recounts personal experiences and reflections on marriage and parentage from the author's life.
- Spirituality — The text explores themes of spiritual existence, divine love, and the nature of being, reflecting the author's beliefs.
- Memoir — It provides a narrative of significant life events, focusing on relationships and personal trials.
- Philosophy — The work discusses deeper philosophical ideas about existence, truth, and the nature of reality.
Tags
Philosophy · Spirituality · Self-Help · Personal Development · Marriage · Parenting · Family · Relationships · Christianity · Theology · Metaphysics · Psychology