Did Mary Baker Eddy write it? Application of “Ways that are Vain”

In 1887 Mary Baker Eddy wrote an article titled “Ways that are Vain,” which appeared that May in The Christian Science Journal. In 1913 it was reprinted on pages 210–213 of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany.

Over the years, circulated documents titled “Mrs. Eddy’s application of ‘Ways that are Vain’ ” have changed Eddy’s words into a series of first-person statements. 

At least two variations of these documents exist. One begins, “Animal magnetism, in its ascending steps of evil, cannot entice me by unseen, silent arguments. ” Another begins, “I cannot entertain the notion that Christian Science Mind-healing should be two-sided, and only denounce error in general,—saying nothing, in particular, of error that is damning men.”

Eddy was certainly the author of “Ways That Are Vain.” But she did not write these documents. We do not have any evidence that she ever gave any special directions about applying statements from the article in this manner. Neither do we know who wrote the variations.