Dr. Hammond, the pastor, came to Baltimore about three years ago to organize this movement.  Miss Cross came from Syracuse, N.Y., about eighteen months ago.  Both were under the instruction of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of the movement.

Dr. Hammond says he was converted to Christian Science by being cured by Mrs. Eddy of a physical ailment some twelve years ago, after several doctors had pronounced his case incurable.  He says they use no medicines, but rely on Mind for cure, believing that disease comes from evil and sick-producing thoughts, and that, if they can so fill the mind with good thoughts as to leave no room there for the bad, they can work a cure.  He distinguishes Christian Science from the faith-cure, and added:  “This Christian Science really is a return to the ideas of primitive Christianity.  It would take a small book to explain fully all about it, but I may say that the fundamental idea is that God is Mind, and we interpret the Scriptures wholly from the spiritual or metaphysical standpoint.  We find in this view of the Bible the power fully developed to heal the sick.  It is not faith-cure, but it is an acknowledgment of certain Christian and scientific laws, and to work a cure the practitioner must understand these laws aright.  The patient may gain a better understanding than the Church has had in the past.  All churches have prayed for the cure of disease, but they have not done so in an intelligent manner, understanding and demonstrating the Christ-healing.”

* * * * *

[The Reporter, Lebanon, Ind., January 18, 1895]

[Extract]

DISCOVERED CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

REMARKABLE CAREER OF REV.  MARY BAKER EDDY, WHO HAS OVER ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND FOLLOWERS

Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, author of its textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” president of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, and first pastor of the Christian Science denomination, is without doubt one of the most remarkable women in America.  She has within a few years founded a sect that has over one hundred thousand converts, and very recently saw completed in Boston, as a testimonial to her labors, a handsome fire-proof church that cost two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and was paid for by Christian Scientists all over the country.

Mrs. Eddy asserts that in 1866 she became certain that “all causation was Mind, and every effect a mental phenomenon.”  Taking her text from the Bible, she endeavored in vain to find the great curative Principle—­the Deity—­in philosophy and schools of medicine, and she concluded that the way of salvation demonstrated by Jesus was the power of Truth over all error, sin, sickness, and death.  Thus originated the divine or spiritual Science of Mind-healing, which she termed Christian Science.  She has a palatial home in Boston and a country-seat in Concord, N.H.  The Christian Science Church has a membership of four thousand, and eight hundred of the members are Bostonians.