Conference Papers, Report, and Manuscript Annotations

This report attempts to explain why Christian Science has failed to grow as its founder predicted. It claims that a faulty Church organization has been improperly governing since the death of Mary Baker Eddy, primarily because of the assumption of complete authority by the self-perpetuating Board of Directors, their interpretation of the Church Manual, and the presumed need for a church organization at all.

Robert Indiana, a preeminent American artist of the 20th century, is most widely known for his 1966 painting “LOVE,” which embodies the four capital letters stacked foursquare. Thomas explores the “connections to mysticism, religion and spirituality” in Indiana’s life. In particular, Thomas adduces several points of congruence between the doctrines of Christian Science and Indiana’s art.

This Commission is the city of Boston’s report recommending the Christian Science Publishing Society Center complex as a designated landmark. The Report includes a comprehensive description of the physical site and its uses, history of The Mother Church, history and development of the Fenway neighborhood, the Center’s architectural history and significance, property and zoning issues, the assessed value of the property, etc.

​​To aid scholars interested in researching primary source materials on the life of Mary Baker Eddy, the Mary Baker Eddy Library provides a summary of its vast holdings, including approximately 20,000 letters, articles, sermons, and other manuscript materials written by Eddy, nearly 8,000 letters written by her secretaries on her behalf, letters by approximately 7,000 different correspondents, and over 800 reminiscences.

Johnsen lamented one-dimensional portraits of Eddy either eulogizing her (Church’s sycophantic authorized literature), or demonizing her (attacks from ministers, physicians, press, disaffected students) because they were prone to report gossip as gospel. Due to the heavily guarded Church archives before the opening of the Mary Baker Eddy Library, perceptions of scholars were ruled by a tyranny of preconceptions.

Swanson’s paper applies a social science lens to the social and power structure of the Christian Science Church, seeing the existing organizational structure as not succeeding in 1) generating member trust and solidarity; 2) communicating its beliefs; 3) negotiating power through its rules; and 4) legitimizing a Church belief system so antithetical to the traditional worldview. His conclusions uncover Church weaknesses but miss out on the blessings of membership.

Johnsen presents a Christian Science point of view in the context of Rita Swan’s work with the CHILD organization. He clarifies that he has no intention to rebut Swan’s painful personal experience, nor does he represent an official church line on health choices, but speaks from his personal experience of  healing which brought about a close relationship with God.

Williams presents a history of the evolution of the Christian Science hymnal from its 1892 first edition through to its 1932 sixth edition which contained 143 new hymns. He highlights key contributors to each edition and examines the changes made in tune and lyrics, often to bring them in conformity with Christian Science concepts.

The Committee on General Welfare, created in 1919 by the Christian Science Board of Directors, addressed concerns of Christian Scientists during the ‘Great Litigation’ between the Christian Science Board of Directors and the Trustees of the Christian Science Publishing Society. The issue being litigated was whether the Christian Science Board of Directors had authority over the Trustees and Publishing Society activity.