When the truth of Christian Science was first revealed to our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, she did not intend to establish a new church, but she expected that the Christian churches would gladly accept her discovery. She soon realized, however, that these established churches were not prepared to receive her discovery and that in order to promote the Cause of Christian Science and make its healing and redemptive mission available to mankind, she must found a church for that purpose.
The Historical Sketch on pages 17 to 19 of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy gives the account of the formation of the Church founded by our Leader. The record states (p. 17), "At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association, April 12, 1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was voted,—To organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing."
Since all Churches of Christ, Scientist, are branches of the Church as our Leader established it in 1892, they are each dedicated to this same divine purpose as outlined, and they are based on the spiritual concept of Church as given in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Here Mrs. Eddy gives us the following definition of "Church" (p. 583):
