Mary Edmundson (1859-1896) was born and died in Newton, Iowa. She was the daughter of Temperance Edmundson, a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and one of the early pioneers of Christian Science in Newton. The Edmundson family hosted church services in their home, and Mary served as its First Reader. In June 1885 she studied Christian Science with Jennie B. Fenn, a student of Mary Baker Eddy, and later with Valeria J. Campbell. Edmundson, along with her sisters Freda Edmundson and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Edmundson, joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston on December 29, 1894. Her sister Arabella "Belle" Macy (b. Edmundson) joined on June 23, 1903.

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