Early in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, press, pulpit, and layman became conscious of a new factor in religious thought and life, but few expected that before the close of the century they would see a large and flourishing denomination of earnest Christian people grow from what seemed such an intangible beginning; but the growth of Christian Science has been as rapid as its history has been simple, and its achievement as great as its purpose is noble.
In the year 1866 a woman born and reared in the religious atmosphere of New England, when seemingly helpless and almost hopeless, turned in her extremity to God and was healed, as thousands throughout all ages have been healed and saved when they have trusted God. This fervent, religious woman, knowing that God is no respecter of persons, entered upon the task of searching out His immutable law, by which she was healed and by which she knew that all mankind might be healed. The fruit of her consecrated labor was given to the world in 1875 in her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." This book is the text-book of Christian Science, and its author, Mary Baker G. Eddy, is the recognized leader of the most remarkable religious movement of modern times—a religion founded upon the sacred revelation of Scripture, and which insistently and persistently declares that Jesus the Christ revealed the Father to all men for all time. Under the wise leadership of this wonderful woman, who but thirty-five years ago stood alone as the one Christian Scientist in all the world, the denomination has prospered and has grown to such proportions as to compel the attention of the civilized world and command the respect of unprejudiced thinkers.
Mrs. Eddy, whose history cannot be separated from the history of Christian Science, was born in Bow, N. H., a little hamlet situated in the beautiful valley of the Merrimac and but a few miles from her present home on the outskirts of Concord. She is of English and Scotch ancestry, and was the youngest child of Mark and Abigail Baker. As a child she was thoughtful and studious, and of a deeply religious nature. Of her early studies she says in "Retrospection and Introspection:" "At ten years of age I was as familiar with Lindley Murray's grammar as with the Westminster Catechism; and the latter I had to repeat every Sunday. My favorite studies were Natural Philosophy, Logic, and Moral Science. From my brother Albert I received lessons in the ancient tongues, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin." At the age of twelve years she was admitted to membership in the Congregational Church, and continued in fellowship with that denomination until she established her own church.
