Joseph Cook (1838-1901) was born and died in Ticonderoga, New York. He was an author and lecturer who graduated from Harvard University in 1865. After graduation, he attended Andover Theological Seminary for four years and then served briefly as Assistant Pastor of First Congregational Church in Lynn, Massachusetts. Cook is most famous for his "Monday Lectures," given at Tremont Temple in Boston. This series of lectures began in 1877 and ran for nearly twenty years. Cook was noted for his ability to combine the hot topics of the day with religion and the Bible. On February 23, 1885, at one of these lectures, Cook made derogatory comments about Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy. After she asked for the right to reply, Cook allowed her ten minutes to respond to his comments at his lecture on March 16, 1885. Cook's criticism also prompted Eddy to write Defence of Christian Science (1885) which was later revised and expanded into No and Yes (1892). Cook's popularity wasn't limited to Boston. He lectured all over the United States and the world.

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