Julian Blain (1848-1904) was born in Illinois and died in Chicago, Illinois. In 1869, he married Mary V. Blain (b. Vandewater). He worked as a merchant and later as a building contractor. The couple lived in Kankakee, Illinois, then moved to Chicago in the early 1880s. After Mary was healed through Christian Science treatment by Lucinda Willsie, Julian also became interested and the couple both studied with Mary Baker Eddy. Mary took all the courses between 1886 and 1889 and then taught Julian. She applied for Julian to study with Eddy in 1892, and he eventually took the Normal course in November 1898, achieving the qualification of C.S.B. The Blains were instrumental in establishing First Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago, and were members there from at least 1888, which was also the year Julian joined the National Christian Scientist Association. Mary served on the board of directors of the Chicago church and Julian served on its building committee. They were both in the General Association of Teachers, both joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1893, and both were listed in The Christian Science Journal from about 1886 until their respective passings.

See more letters.