The Continuing Spirit: The Story of Christian Science since 1910

Beasley, Norman. The Continuing Spirit: The Story of Christian Science since 1910. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1956.

This book constitutes Beasley’s response to requests from readers of his first book, The Cross and the Crown, for the history of the Christian Science movement from 1910 to the book’s 1956 publication. Beasley was not a Christian Scientist; his research was done “wholly outside the Archives of The Mother Church, and no official assistance was requested, or given…” (Foreword). However, his sources were generally authorized by the Christian Science Board of Directors, primarily The Christian Science Journal and Christian Science Sentinel. Additionally, the three year (1919-1921) internal strife later dubbed the ‘Great Litigation’ was printed each day in The Christian Science Monitor so Beasley uses the newspaper as an accurate and thorough source. Court cases centering on health-law, in addition to organizational challenges, dominate the body of the book and are fully recorded in the appendix, from the People v. Cole (1916) to the People v. Vogelgesang (1917). Of the Great Litigation, Beasley concludes: “The financial loss was substantial” (180), and a formal apology from Dittemore is included. Beasley also considers the charity of Christian Scientists related to WWI, the Halifax disaster, WWII, the Pleasant View Home, and two Benevolent Associations. The book concludes by highlighting successful youth programs: Monitor Youth Forums, started in 1946, and a 1955 meeting of Christian Science university and college organizations.

See also annotations:

Proceedings in Equity 1919-1921 Concerning Deed of Trust of January 25, 1898 by the Christian Science Publishing Society

“Report to the Members of The Mother Church” by the Committee on General Welfare