As a young child, Mary Caroline felt the presence of God within nature and relished her time spent in quiet exploration. Her God was a very personal God at an early age. The religious beliefs of her parents were not entirely congruent with the God she experienced. Her father was strict, and followed the doctrines of the Methodist Church, insisting his children attend services. He did not insist Mary Caroline join the Methodist Church, and was playful and kind with his children. Her mother was loving, yet persisted in her belief in a punishing God. This modeling did not prevent Mary Caroline from developing her own beliefs about a kind and loving, very present and benevolent God.
Mary Caroline’s independent and strong character was apparent in her youth when she would borrow her brother’s school books in secret and study the sciences on her own, subjects not considered appropriate for girls. She was exhibiting her thirst for knowledge, which extending beyond what was considered acceptable or proper. This radical behavior would bode well for her in later years, as she opened herself to consider aspects of God that were not mainstream; a God of wellness and healing, a God of perfection. She later developed the belief that all of God’s creatures carried within them the perfect pattern of perfection and could return to expressing that inner pattern through thoughts and prayers.
Personal responsibility was paramount in the belief system of Mary Caroline. She stressed the paramount importance of child-rearing and the creation of a supportive and nurturing environment. She consistently urged mothers to leave room for children to play, to be creative, to enjoy life within boundaries of safety. She did not believe in being overly-strict with children, but in allowing them to discover their inner talents and wisdom and succeed in their endeavors, thereby developing confidence and self-worth. Further, she encouraged mothers to create and maintain a harmonious home. Without peace and harmony in the home there would never be peace and harmony in our world. So she urged mothers to start where they had the greatest impact – within their own home. Often she suggested this work began by changing the thoughts held about their home, their spouse and their children.
Mary Caroline used this same approach, addressing one’s thoughts, when seeking solutions to health or financial issues. She taught to look for the good in every situation and to express gratitude for whatever that good was, and then watching that good grow as good, positive thoughts were consistently held. This was the expression of a benevolent God, a kind Universe, and a very personal and direct connection with the source of all Life.
The Truth’s that Mary Caroline experienced and taught were to be shared with everyone. Once someone learned the truth, it was their responsibility to share it. Action was a part of the process. She did not have tolerance for like-minded people gathering together and setting up their own, comfortable prayer group as an end goal. They were to expand their circle to include the hurting, the seeking, and to share what they had learned. God-knowledge was not to be hoarded, but to be shared openly and generously.
