0.0 – Christian Science Teacher and Author – Frances Thurber Seal – Publication Index

FRANCES THURBER SEAL, was a divinely inspired practitioner and teacher in the early years of the Christian Science movement. She is best known for her book. Christian Science in Germany, first published in 1931. She came from a family that had been deeply religious for many generations. Her father was a missionary, who traveled throughout Texas and New Mexico, preaching the Gospel. Her experiences with many tragedies in her family, beginning in childhood, caused her to search the Bible for some purpose for man's existence. Finding no answers, she felt that there was no hope or reason for living.

      She was in a feeling of utter futility, when she felt impelled to attend a Wednesday night testimony meeting at First Church in New York City, and found Christian Science. She wanted to know more and was referred to Mrs. Laura Lathrop, a practitioner and teacher in New York, who loaned her a copy of No and Yes by Mrs. Eddy. Mrs. Seal found that she was completely healed of several very serious and seemingly incurable physical problems after reading this little book through. She asked if there were any classes where she could learn more about Christian Science. Mrs. Lathrop immediately accepted her in a class, and she became a member of the Christian Science Church.

     It was during this time that Mary Beecher Longyear, while spending the winter in Germany, had found that there were many in that country who would like to know more about Christian Science. Mrs. Longyear requested that Mrs. Lathrop consider sending someone to establish the Cause there. Mrs. Lathrop asked Mrs. Seal to do this missionary work. She left New York in 1897 and returned in 1906, having done phenomenal healing and teaching work that brought patients and students to her from all over Europe. Her pioneering work led to the establishment of Christian Science in Germany. Her experience is recorded in her book, which has been a great inspiration to readers over the years. It has been recently republished and is again available to inspire today's pioneers in the Christian Science movement. 

     She became Journal listed upon returning to America after her successful work in Germany. She is listed in The Christian Science Journal as a practitioner and teacher in New York City from 1907 through 1931. Our Journey Toward True Selfhood, includes three of Miss Seal's addresses to her association of students. Her name disappears from the Journal in 1932, a year after publishing her book, Christian Science in Germany. It is not known whether she was forced to resign her listing because she published a book independently of the Church organization in Boston, or had reached a point in her spiritual progress when she had outgrown organization, and wanted to be free of its limitations. Show all