C. A. (Cyrus Augustus) Bartol (1813-1900) was born in Freeport, Maine, and died Boston, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College (1832) and Harvard Divinity School (1835). In 1837, he was ordained as the assistant-pastor of the West Church (Unitarian) on Cambridge Street in Boston, becoming pastor in 1861 and serving until his resignation in 1889. In 1884, Bartol preached three sermons at the West Church on mental healing. "Mind Cure" was preached on May 4 and "Mind in Medicine," comprised of two sermons, was preached on October 5th and 12th. "Mind Cure" featured a defense of Christian Science, which drew praise from the Christian Scientist Association. The Association passed a resolution giving "heartfelt thanks for the liberal manner in which he [Bartol] so wisely indicated the Science of mental healing." A copy of the resolution was gratefully received by Bartol, who gave the Association a copy of "Mind Cure" for them to publish and circulate. There is no record of Bartol studying with Mary Baker Eddy or uniting with the Church of Christ (Scientist).

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