“Mary Baker Eddy’s Support for Emancipation”

Mary Baker Eddy Library, The. “Mary Baker Eddy’s Support for Emancipation.” Released 11 February 2022.

Throughout the Civil War, Mary Baker Eddy maintained contact with two Union Army generals: Benjamin F. Butler and John C. Fremont. In her writings and correspondence, she praised their efforts in supporting the emancipation of slaves. For example, the article notes that in 1861, Eddy wrote to Butler in support of his efforts to free the slave workers at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Butler called them contraband of war and thus not to be returned to their Confederate masters. After her correspondence with Butler, Eddy’s interest shifted to Fremont who was inspired by Butler’s successes. Eddy was moved to write a poem to General Fremont in support of his failed efforts to free the slaves of Confederates in his state of Missouri. Along with maintaining this correspondence throughout the Civil War, Eddy also drafted a petition and collected the signatures of other women who supported the cause of emancipation.

View this article on The Mary Baker Eddy Library website.

See also annotations:

“Four American Prophets Confront Slavery: Joseph Smith, William Miller, Ellen G. White and Mary Baker Eddy” by Newell G. Bringhurst

“Mary Baker Eddy’s Convictions on Slavery” by The Mary Baker Eddy Library