In the early days of the Christian Science movement, public reaction to Christian Science often obscured the quiet but remarkable results of the Christian healing that people were experiencing. These early adherents of Christian Science were making a radical break with conventional religious beliefs and medical practices. And for these deeds of Christian healing, they were often misunderstood and even criticized by those who comprehended little of what was taking place in these people's lives.
At first many people were curious about what Christian Science was. An early report from a group of Christian Scientists in Kansas told of how their hall of about eighty seats was full every night they met. Some weeks the Scientists who organized these church meetings would go into the community and distribute literature that told about Christian Science. "... people seemed pleased to have a chance to investigate" Christian Science, they reported in an 1890 issue of The Christian Science Journal.
But not everyone was pleased to have a chance to investigate this new religious movement. About that time another report appeared in the Journal. In this case a man who had been medically diagnosed as having only a short time to live turned to Christian Science. He improved under the treatment. But, when a minister called upon him and found the man was relying on Christian Science, he called in a physician, who said that the end was near. When the man died shortly thereafter, an inquest was conducted.
