Early in the first century of the Christian era, groups of individuals gathered together for prayer, discussion, and the reading of the Scriptures. Many of these individuals had witnessed, and many had experienced, the glorious healing works of Christ Jesus. In time they were known as Christians, and their frequent, or regular, meetings constituted the beginning of the Christian church. There is no doubt that this righteous collective effort to accomplish good, serve God, and bless mankind was prospered and blessed by God, for it is recorded in the second chapter of Acts that in a single day about three thousand persons were added to the steadily increasing group in Jerusalem.
The beloved Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, was from childhood deeply religious, an earnest student of the Bible and a firm believer in Church. At the age of twelve years she united with the church of which her parents were members. Years later, under the divine guidance of her heavenly Father, she utilized spiritual intuition, perceived and accepted the revelation of Spirit, reasoned scientifically and practically on the truth of being, with the result that she discovered Christian Science, known today by unnumbered thousands of people throughout the civilized world as the Comforter, which Jesus promised. Knowing the inestimable value of her discovery for all mankind, Mrs. Eddy cherished the hope that the Christian churches would gladly and immediately accept Christian Science. Such acceptance did not result, and the revelator of Truth to this age was faced with the necessity of establishing the Church of Christ, Scientist, in order that all nations and peoples of the earth might learn and experience the complete salvation of God.
Christian Science was discovered in 1866 by Mrs. Eddy; the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," was published in 1875; and in 1879 the Church of Christ, Scientist, was organized. In 1892 The Mother Church was organized and was called The First Church of Christ, Scientist. In the Manual of The Mother Church is a statement of great significance which reads as follows (p. 19): "The First Church of (Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., is designed to be built on the Rock, Christ; even the understanding and demonstration of divine Truth, Life, and Love, healing and saving the world from sin and death; thus to reflect in some degree the Church Universal and Triumphant." This statement clearly reveals the fact that the goal of the Church of Christ, Scientist, is no less than the complete salvation of the world. It is indisputably true that religions and various churches throughout the world have done much, and are endeavoring to do more, to save mankind from sin and to make this world a better place in which to live; but not since the advent of Christ Jesus has there been an organized Christian church which has taught and demonstrated a practical salvation from evil of every name and nature, including disease and sin, until the Church of Christ, Scientist, came into existence.
