In making a thorough and systematic study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, my husband, Albert F. Conant, often wished that there was a concordance to aid him, instead of the incomplete index then in the back of the book. Gradually it occurred to him that he might be the one to make such a concordance, although he had never before done any work of that kind. He was a musician by profession, holding the position of organist of The Mother Church for many years, and composing musical settings for several of Mrs. Eddy's poems at her request.
Mr. Conant was, however, admirably fitted for the work of compiling a concordance because he loved work that called for patient attention to detail. So he went to the public library and studied concordances. Then he made a sample page, and sent the manuscript to Mrs. Eddy, telling her that he had felt the need of a concordance to Science and Health, and that if she approved of it, he would be very happy to make it. He immediately received an answer to his letter, stating that she was revising Science and Health, and that it would take several months to finish it, but as soon as she had completed her work, she would like him to make a complete concordance according to his plan. Nearly a year passed before he heard anything further. Then one day Mrs. Eddy sent word for him to start making the Concordance.
Mr. Conant devoted himself to this task, at times working eighteen hours a day. It was largely a work of love, for from the time Christian Science healed him of heart trouble after the doctors had given him up, his gratitude knew no bounds, and he longed to do some lasting work for our Cause.
