Upfront March 28, 2011 Issue

I want to take that class!

Ingrid Peschke, Managing Editor

I’ve been reading a new book called Paths of Pioneer Christian Scientists by Christopher L. Tyner (Longyear Museum Press). Based on extensive research from the archives of The Mary Baker Eddy Library and Longyear Museum, Tyner’s book focuses on four pioneer women in the early days of Christian Science, all students of Mary Baker Eddy’s, who went on to be practitioners and teachers themselves after taking a pretty life-changing class on metaphysical healing. They each left behind an amazing healing legacy, as well as laying the groundwork for thriving Christian Science communities and churches in their fields. 

Just a few weeks after taking Primary class with Mrs. Eddy, Emma Thompson returned home to a flourishing practice. She wrote to her teacher: “Your teachings bring all of these truths so clear to me that I cannot see how any one by strictly following you can any way fail of success. Before I had eaten my breakfast—the patients . . . began to come . . .” (p. 8).

These remarkable stories naturally caused me to imagine just what a privilege it must have been to take class with Mrs. Eddy and to have her as a mentor. But I’ve also been more alert to realizing that she, too, must have given that very point some thought. Mrs. Eddy left us with her class book, the chapter called “Recapitulation” in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. And she set up an inspired system of education (read Don Griffith’s article, “An educator’s thoughts on Christian Science class instruction,” p. 12) whereby the Science of Christianity would never be left with just one individual to carry on, but rather be shared broadly through authorized teachers, organized classes, and associations of pupils. And, most important, through a record of healing. 

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