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In
the spring of 1879, a little band of earnest seekers after Truth
went into deliberations over forming a church without creeds,
to be called the "CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST." They
were members of evangelical churches, and students of Mrs. Mary
Baker Eddy in Christian Science, and were known as "Christian
Scientists."
At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association, April 12,
1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was voted,--To organize a church
designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which
should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element
of healing.
Mrs. Eddy was appointed on the committee to draft the Tenets
of The Mother Church--the chief corner stone whereof is, that
Christian Science, as taught and demonstrated by our Master,
casts out error, heals the sick, and restores the lost Israel:
for "the stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner."
The charter for the Church was obtained
June, 1879*, and the same month the members, twenty-six in number,
extended a call to Mary Baker Eddy to become their pastor. She
accepted the call, and was ordained A. D. 1881. Although walking
through deep waters, the little Church went steadily on, increasing
in numbers, and at every epoch saying,
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
On the twenty-third day of September, 1892, at the request of
Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, twelve of her students and Church members
met and reorganized, under her jurisdiction, the Christian Science
Church and named it, THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.
At this meeting twenty others of Mrs. Eddy's students and members
of her former Church were elected members of this Church,--those
with others that have since been elected were known as "First
Members." The Church Tenets, Rules, and By-Laws, as prepared
by Mrs. Eddy, were adopted. A By-Law adopted March 17, 1903,
changed the title of "First Members" to "Executive
Members." (On July 8, 1908, the By-Laws pertaining to "Executive
Members" were repealed.)
THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, IN BOSTON, MASS., is designed
to be built on the Rock, Christ; even the understanding and demonstration
of divine Truth, Life, and Love, healing and saving the world
from sin and death; thus to reflect in some degree the Church
Universal and Triumphant.
*Steps were taken to promote the Church of Christ, Scientist,
in April, May and June; formal organization was accomplished
and the charter obtained in August, 1879.
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