Christian Scientist Association

Mary Baker Eddy organized the Christian Scientist Association on July 4, 1876. Its membership was composed of Eddy’s own students and it was formalized by a constitution the following year. Membership steadily increased as Eddy continued to teach, including classes she taught at the Massachusetts Metaphysical College in Boston, chartered in 1881. The Association’s regular meetings included talks by Eddy about the practice of Christian Science, reports of healings by members, discussions of dealing with opposition to Christian Science, and general Association business.

In May 1884, Eddy traveled to Chicago to teach a class. In the months following, students from this class, as well as Christian Scientists in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas who had traveled to Boston to study with her, formed an organization modeled after the Christian Scientist Association in Boston. Letters from students in those areas began to refer to the Chicago organization as their “Christian Scientist Association” and in time Eddy officially recognized them as a branch of the Boston association. In addition, a By-Law of the Boston Association provided for “visiting cards.” It read: “Members of this Association, on making application for visiting cards, either personally or otherwise, shall be entitled to the same, if no objection is made, and providing their dues are paid up to the time for which the card is granted, including such fee for the card as may be specified in the By-laws” (EOR11). These cards were apparently used by members of the associations to show that they were qualified to attend meetings of an association to which they did not belong. Furthermore, Eddy recommended admitting to membership in branch associations Christian Scientists who had not been taught by Eddy herself, as well as some whose understanding of Christian Science was not yet completely accurate but who showed promise. For example, a medical doctor, Samuel J. Avery, had studied with Eddy in her Chicago class of May 1884 and was attempting to practice and teach Christian Science but was also prescribing drugs. Eddy suggested in a letter (L10996) that his students be admitted to the Association and remarked that Avery “seems sound in the letter and Spirit of science in everything but the use of drugs.” And in another letter (L07863) she wrote: “Is it not wise to keep such working members as Dr. Avery and all he can bring in your Assoc.?”

Eddy began to teach Normal classes at the College in August 1884 to train individuals as teachers of Christian Science. By mid-1885 a Christian Scientist Association was formed in the Oconto, Wisconsin, area, and on January 29, 1886, a meeting was called in Boston to “form a National Christian Scientist Association formed of the various branch Associations. The purpose or object of this National Association is to give… Students an equal footing with others in Christian Science and to promote unity and brotherly love. Charters will be granted by this National Association to the minor Associations” (EOR31). The NCSA held annual conventions in various cities. Papers by Eddy and other Christian Scientists were given and business conducted. In 1889 Eddy gave The Christian Science Journal to the Association and it gave the Journal back to Eddy in 1893, but the first issue of the Journal that did not mention the Association on its cover was the one published in April 1898. (Apparently the Association continued to be responsible for the Journal’s publication until the Christian Science Publishing Society was formed by Deed of Trust in January 1898.) The regular meetings of the Association came to an end at its annual convention held in New York City on May 27, 1890, when Eddy suggested that the Association be disorganized. But it adjourned and met again to conduct the Christian Science Congress at the World’s Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago Illinois in September 1893.