In celebration of Women's History Month in the United States, the Journal presents a perspective on the reformatory work of this magazine's founder. This article is adapted from a talk given at the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York, in March 1998.
An Incident that happened when Mary Baker Eddy was still a student is prophetic of the role she was later to play as a reformer. One day in 1842, when she was at Sanbornton Academy in New Hampshire, an insane man escaped from a nearby asylum and came into the schoolyard. He was violently waving a club and scaring the students. Everyone but Mary ran back into the schoolhouse. While the others watched through the window, Mary walked straight up to the man whose club was raised over her head, took his free hand, and walked him to the gate, and he left peacefully. Sybil Wilbur, The Life of Mary Baker Eddy (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1976), pp. 33-34
A sister offered her
financial security
if she would give up
this healing method.
Instead, Mrs. Eddy
gave the world
her discovery.
