Article February 24, 1923 Issue

In many respects Mary Baker Eddy's book, when taken...

Thomas Bragg, under the heading "Epoch-Making Books,"

New Orleans States

In many respects Mary Baker Eddy's book, when taken in connection with the times in which it was written and the results that followed its publication, is the most remarkable to be found in the libraries of the world. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" is a religious book; not only that, but a book that claims to be the revelation of a new religion. The author does not hesitate to say that the subject-matter of her book is the latest and last pronouncement of infinite wisdom; that it supersedes all previous announcements; and that those who will listen to and obey its teachings will be thereby enabled to live in defiance of all the ills "that flesh is heir to."

The followers of Mrs. Eddy and her book are to-day, a generation after its appearance, to be numbered by the millions; and it is to be noticed that they are nearly all to be found in the most advanced countries of the earth—the United States, the British Empire, France, Holland, and the Scandinavian lands. And the influence of this astonishing book seems to be steadily growing. Magnificent temples dedicated to the new religion are rising up as if by magic on every hand; and, what is more to the point, they are filled to the doors with devout and deeply interested worshipers.

All of this is very wonderful; but the most amazing thing in connection with Mrs. Eddy and her movement is the fact that the book was written and published away down toward the close of the nineteenth century [1875]. The other religious books of the world—the Zend, the Vedas, the Old and New Testaments, the Koran—appeared during periods of general unenlightenment, when the mental conditions were ripe for their acceptance. With the masses of the people ignorant, unacquainted with the facts of history and the laws of nature, inclined to the miraculous, ready to believe any wonderful pronouncement, it was easy to found a religion. But things were radically different when Mrs. Eddy published Science and Health. Education was almost universal, knowledge was everywhere, even the school children were acquainted with the facts of history and science; reason and common sense prevailed in the councils of men—and yet midst the glare of this universal enlightenment Mrs. Eddy succeeded in making good in her attempt at founding a new faith! The book has certainly made an epoch.

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