FOR years after her discovery of Christian Science in 1866, and after her first expressions of this religion in writing, Mary Baker Eddy was its only teacher. Then she began to commission her most promising students as teachers. From 1876, she and part of her students (presumably all whom she expected to become teachers) constituted The Christian Scientist Association or were its principal members. In 1884, Mrs. Eddy's students whom she had commissioned as teachers began to form associations consisting of themselves and their pupils.
In 1886, at Mrs. Eddy's suggestion, there was formed the National Christian Scientist Association, of which teachers and their pupils could become members. It was formed, as she has said, "To meet the broader wants of humanity, and provide folds for the sheep that were without shepherds" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 52). The organizers of the new Association voted as follows: "The purpose or object of this National Association is to give students' students an equal footing with others in Christian Science and to promote unity and brotherly love. Charters will be granted by this National Association to the minor Associations."
As she has said (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 382), Mrs. Eddy wrote the constitution of the National Christian Scientist Association, which declared its powers in these words: "This National Christian Scientist Association has exclusive jurisdiction in granting charters. No Students Christian Scientist Association can be formed or continue to exist without its sanction. It possesses the sole right and power of granting charters; of suspending or taking away charters for proper cause; of receiving appeals and redressing grievances arising in Students Christian Scientist Associations; of originating and regulating the means of its own support; and of doing all other acts conducive to the interest of the Order." In the last clause of the foregoing provision, "the Order" meant Christian Science or the Christian Science movement. The entire provision, therefore, assumed or conferred power to supervise teaching and power to do anything else that would contribute to the development of Christian Science.
