Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science

Christian Science is defined in the Standard Dictionary as "a system of moral and religious instruction, founded upon principles formulated by Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy and combined with a method of treating diseases mentally. Christian Science is based on teachings of Scripture which it interprets, giving the Christ principle and rule in divine metaphysics, which heals the sick and sinner. It explains all cause and effect as mental, and shows the scientific relation of man to God." The full exposition of this science is given in Mrs. Eddy’s book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which was first published in 1875….

Regarding her discovery of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy says in her book, "Retrospection and Introspection": "It was in Massachusetts in February, 1866, that I discovered the Science of divine metaphysical healing, which I afterward named Christian Science. The discovery came to pass in this way. During twenty years prior to my discovery, I had been trying to trace all physical effects to a mental cause; and in the latter part of 1866 I gained the scientific certainty that all causation was mind and every effect a mental phenomenon. My immediate recovery from the effects of an injury caused by an accident, an injury that neither medicine nor surgery could reach, was the falling apple that led me to the discovery." Mrs. Eddy spent the next three years in retirement, studying the Bible and finding there the principle and rule of her healing. She then tested her healing system practically in every possible way, and finally, in 1875, after nine years of preliminary work, wrote the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to Scriptures." Her literary output after that was tremendous, comprizing books, sermons, essays, polemics, poems, magazine articles, editorials….

In 1879 Mrs. Eddy organized in Boston, Massachusetts, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and was ordained as its pastor. This body was composed of twenty-six members. In 1895, sixteen years later, the church, to accommodate its increased membership, erected a handsome edifice on the corner of Falmouth and Norway streets, Boston, at a cost of $200,000. This seats about 1,200 people. In June, 1906, a magnificent new structure, adjoining this and having a seating capacity of 5,000, was completed. It cost about $2,000,000. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston is known as the Mother Church of this denomination.

The Christian Science denomination had, in January, 1911, 1,244 branch churches and socie-ties, holding Sunday services. Chicago has nine large churches with five handsome edifices. Greater New York has twelve churches. In Greater New York there are eight church buildings, First Church edifice having cost over $1,150,000. Concord, N. H., has a strong organization and a beautiful granite church, a gift from Mrs. Eddy, which cost over $200,000. Mrs. Eddy located this church, bought the land, started the building, and paid for it, part of the money having been contributed to her for this especial purpose by Christian Scientists in all parts of the world, who wished to have a share in the work. There are influential Christian Science churches in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland, St. Louis, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Providence, Toronto, and, it may be said, in all the large cities of the United States and Canada. There are firmly established churches in London, England, of which First has recently completed a fine edifice at Sloane Terrace, S.W. The organization in Manchester, England, has its own church edifice, as has that in Edinburgh, Scotland. There are organizations in Australia, Germany, France, Scandinavia. Holland, South Africa, South America, Mexico, Hawaii, the Philippines, and in many of the English colonies….

In 1881, Mrs. Eddy obtained a charter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts—the only one of the sort ever granted—and organized the massachusetts Metaphysical College, in which during the eight succeeding years she taught over 4,000 persons. Many of these were indigentstudents, who received their tuition free. It was her custom to make it possible for all worthy applicants to avail themselves gratuitously of her personal instruction. In 1889 she closed the college, notwithstanding that hundreds of applicants were awaiting admission. Her purpose in doing this was to secure time to revise "Science and Health" and further to extend her field of labor. Later she established a board of education, based on the college, which board is now in active operation.

Mrs. Eddy founded the Christian Science Journal in April, 1883, and was for many years its editor as well as its chief contributor. She founded the Christian Science Quarterly in 1890, the Christian Science Sentinel in 1898, Der Christian Science Herold (in German) in 1902, and the Christian Science Monitor, a daily newspaper, in 1908. She gave these periodicals to her church, together with the plant of the Christian Science Publishing Society. For many years her only income was from the sale of her books and the interest on her investments. She healed the sick and the sinner without price. She contributed a large portion of her means to various charities and public enterprises. She was also public-spirited, and took an interest in the affairs of her State, and in matters pertaining to the betterment of her own city. She was simple in her tastes and habits, punctual and systematic in her work.

The organization, nature, constitution, and government of the Mother Church, its tenets, its church manual, and its special form of public service are all of Mrs. Eddy’s devising. Theyare in most respects unique, without precedent in church economy, proofs of her wisdom, and evidence of her ability as a leader. While the business of the Church of Christ, Scientist, is conducted by a board of directors, the inspiration and fountain head of the series of remarkable steps, which have brought Christian Science to the fore so unswervingly and so rapidly, can be traced to this modest and unassuming, but strong and resourceful woman….

Healing the sick is not the prime mission of Christian Science. Its higher mission is to effect the triumph over all evil. Bodily improvement follows as the natural sequence of spiritual regeneration. It holds that the evil-doer is surely on the road to doom, tho he may not yet have realized this, while the well-doer is in the right path tho he may not yet understand it, for "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall be also reap." Christian Science teaches that true and effectual prayer is the spiritual realization of divine truth and love, and of God’s infinitude and omnipotence, which lifts mortals above the power of sin and disease.