A Statement

Doorly, John W. A Statement. Trustee for the Writings of John W. Doorly. London: Peggy M. Brook, (1945) 1977.

Doorly’s active practice of Christian Science ranged from 1902 through the late 1940s. He lived in England, having taken formal Christian Science instruction with Lady Victoria Murray and the class for authorized teachers with Bicknell Young. He was appointed to the Christian Science Board of Lectureship in 1914 and lectured throughout the world until his resignation in 1929. After his resignation, he wrote voluminously on “The Pure Science of Christian Science” and the “Science of the Bible,”—resulting in an extensive series of talks and books. A popular teacher and lecturer, he disagreed with the Christian Science Board of Directors over his interpretations of Eddy’s writing and teaching, as well as his views of the Church’s lack of candor. Ultimately excommunicated, he wrote the small book, A Statement, to explain both his loyalty to Eddy, her writings, and, for his students, his view of the disagreement with the Church. His two concerns, arising from his direct contact with Christian Scientists around the world through his lecturing, are [1] “signs of great and growing danger to the future of Christian Science, due to the increasing tendency to substitute belief and religious sentiment for exact spiritual understanding and demonstration; also [2] to a lax sense as to the ‘essentially democratic’ government of TMC” (1).

This reference is written by an ‘independent’ Christian Scientist and is included in the bibliography because of its historical value. For further explanation, click here.