COLLEGE AND CHURCH
1 In 1867 I introduced the first purely metaphysical sys-
tem of healing since the apostolic days. I began by
3 teaching one student Christian Science Mind-healing.
From this seed grew the Massachusetts Metaphysical
College in Boston, chartered in 1881. No charter was
6 granted for similar purposes after 1883. It is the only
College, hitherto, for teaching the pathology of spiritual
power, alias the Science of Mind-healing.
9 My husband, Asa G. Eddy, taught two terms in my
College. After I gave up teaching, my adopted son,
Ebenezer J. Foster-Eddy, a graduate of the Hahnemann
12 Medical College of Philadelphia, and who also received a
certificate from Dr. W. W. Keen's (allopathic) Philadelphia
School of Anatomy and Surgery, — having renounced his
15 material method of practice and embraced the teach-
ings of Christian Science, taught the Primary, Normal,
and Obstetric class one term. Gen. Erastus N. Bates
18 taught one Primary class, in 1889, after which I judged
it best to close the institution. These students of mine
were the only assistant teachers in the College.
21 The first Christian Scientist Association was organized
by myself and six of my students in 1876, on the Centen-
nial Day of our nation's freedom. At a meeting of the
24 Christian Scientist Association, on April 12, 1879, it was
Retrospection and Introspection --- College and Church 44
1 voted to organize a church to commemorate the words
and works of our Master, a Mind-healing church, without
3 a creed, to be called the Church of Christ, Scientist, the
first such church ever organized. The charter for this
church was obtained in June, 1879,¹ and during the same
6 month the members, twenty-six in number, extended a
call to me to become their pastor. I accepted the call,
and was ordained in 1881, though I had preached five
9 years before being ordained.
When I was its pastor, and in the pulpit every Sunday,
my church increased in members, and its spiritual growth
12 kept pace with its increasing popularity; but when obliged,
because of accumulating work in the College, to preach
only occasionally, no student, at that time, was found able
15 to maintain the church in its previous harmony and
prosperity.
Examining the situation prayerfully and carefully, noting
18 the church's need, and the predisposing and exciting cause
of its condition, I saw that the crisis had come when much
time and attention must be given to defend this church
21 from the envy and molestation of other churches, and
from the danger to its members which must always lie in
Christian warfare. At this juncture I recommended that
24 the church be dissolved. No sooner were my views made
known, than the proper measures were adopted to carry
them out, the votes passing without a dissenting voice.
27 This measure was immediately followed by a great re-
vival of mutual love, prosperity, and spiritual power.
The history of that hour holds this true record. Add-
30 ing to its ranks and influence, this spiritually organized
¹Steps were taken to promote the Church of Christ, Scientist,
in April, May, and June; formal organization was accomplished and
33 the charter obtained in August, 1879.
Retrospection and Introspection --- College and Church 45
1 Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, still goes on. A
new light broke in upon it, and more beautiful became
3 the garments of her who "bringeth good tidings, that pub-
lisheth peace."
Despite the prosperity of my church, it was learned
6 that material organization has its value and peril, and that
organization is requisite only in the earliest periods in
Christian history. After this material form of cohesion
9 and fellowship has accomplished its end, continued organi-
zation retards spiritual growth, and should be laid off, —
even as the corporeal organization deemed requisite in
12 the first stages of mortal existence is finally laid off, in
order to gain spiritual freedom and supremacy.
From careful observation and experience came my clue
15 to the uses and abuses of organization. Therefore, in ac-
cord with my special request, followed that noble, un-
precedented action of the Christian Scientist Association
18 connected with my College when dissolving that organiza-
tion, — in forgiving enemies, returning good for evil, in
following Jesus' command, "Whosoever shall smite thee
21 on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." I saw
these fruits of Spirit, long-suffering and temperance, ful-
fil the law of Christ in righteousness. I also saw that
24 Christianity has withstood less the temptation of popularity
than of persecution.SHOW ALL