In the month of May, 1903, the good news of Christian Science was first brought to Pretoria by a lady who had been healed of a chronic complaint through reading the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. It may be of interest to note that she obtained the book through a friend, who in turn had heard of Christian Science through one who had ordered a copy of Science and Health from Boston after reading in the Review of Reviews an article containing an exposition of Christian Science as given at the World's Fair held in Chicago many years ago.
This lady and her husband quietly studied the textbook by themselves, and ordered the literature from Boston, but they did not succeed in getting in touch with any other persons interested in Science until early in 1904, when they saw in the Christian Science Sentinel a testimony given by an American lady then residing in Johannesburg, a town about forty-five miles distant from Pretoria. This testimony was the means of bringing these students together, and the proper method of studying the Lesson-Sermon as given in the Quarterly, which until then had not been understood, was explained.
About this time a Pretoria resident, who had been healed in Science while visiting Berlin, Germany, wrote to The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston for the names and addresses of persons interested in Science, if there were any such, in Pretoria. The Publishing Society courteously replied that while it was not customary to furnish the addresses of its subscribers, they had written to persons in Pretoria who were getting Christian Science literature, asking them to communicate with the inquirer, if they wish to do so. As a result of this, five young students of Christian Science in this town were brought together. At first they met once a week in a private dwelling house for the purpose of studying the Lesson-Sermon. Toward the end of 1904 a lady from London, who had been healed of paralysis and had received class instruction, arrived in Pretoria, and through her enthusiasm and unselfish work the movement was given a new impetus. Shortly thereafter a suitable hall was hired, regular Sunday services were inaugurated, and a reading room was established.
