JULY 16TH - The Birth Of Mary Baker Eddy AND the Laying of A Corner-Stone

[RV Roseville]

In Christian Science history, July 16, is an important date.

July 16,1821, is the birth date of Mary Morse Baker, later known as 

Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder, Discoverer and Leader of Christian Science,

the Comforter, promised by Jesus.   

July 16, 1904, on a Saturday, the Corner-Stone for the extension of

The Mother Church in Boston Massachusetts was laid at eight o'clock

in the morning.

Scripture reading, we are told in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany",

was given by the First Reader, Prof. Hermann S. Hering, page 16:-17.

"Isaiah 28: 16, 17, —

"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in

Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious 

corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall 

not make haste. 

 

"Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteous- 

ness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the 

 

Page 17 

 

 refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding 

place." 

 

 Also, 1 Peter 2: 1-6, — 

 

 "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and 

hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 

 

 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, 

that ye may grow thereby: 

 

 "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

 

 "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed 

indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 

 

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, 

 an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, accept- 

able to God by Jesus Christ. 

 

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, 

Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: 

and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." 

The First Reader than read from the textbook.

 

The reading of selections from "Science and Health 

 with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, — 

Page 241, lines 13-30, 

Page 136, " 1-5, 9-14 

 Page 137, " 16-5 

Page 583, " 12-19 

Page 35, " 20-25

This was followed by a few moments of silent prayer 

and the audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer with its 

spiritual interpretation, as given in the Christian Science 

 textbook, after which the following extracts from Mrs. 

Eddy's writings were read: — 

 

 "Hitherto, I have observed that in proportion as this 

church has smiled on His 'little ones,' He has blessed 

her. Throughout my entire connection with The Mother 

Church, I have seen, that in the ratio of her love for 

others, hath His love been bestowed upon her; water- 

ing her waste places, and enlarging her borders. 

 

"One thing I have greatly desired, and again earnestly 

request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and else- 

 where, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor on 

bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and importunately. 

When a hungry heart petitions the divine Father-Mother 

 God for bread, it is not given a stone, — but more grace,

obedience, and love. If this heart, humble and trustful, 

faithfully asks divine Love to feed it with the bread of 

heaven, health, holiness, it will be conformed to a fitness 

to receive the answer to its desire; then will flow into it 

the 'river of His pleasure,' the tributary of divine Love, 

and great growth in Christian Science will follow, — even 

that joy which finds one's own in another's good." (Mis- 

cellaneous Writings, p. 127.) 

"Beloved brethren, the love of our loving Lord was 

never more manifest than in its stern condemnation of all 

error, wherever found. I counsel thee, rebuke and exhort 

 one another. Love all Christian churches for the gospel's 

sake; and be exceedingly glad that the churches are united 

in purpose, if not in method, to close the war between 

flesh and Spirit, and to fight the good fight till God's will 

be witnessed and done on earth as in heaven." (Christian 

Science versus Pantheism, p. 13.) 

The corner-stone was then laid by the members of the 

Christian Science Board of Directors. It contained the 

following articles: The Holy Bible; "Science and Health 

 with Key to the Scriptures" and all other published 

writings of the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer

and Founder of Christian Science; Christian Science 

Hymnal; "The Mother Church;" the current numbers of 

The Christian Science Journal, Christian Science Sentinel, 

Der Herold der Christian Science, and the Christian Science 

Quarterly.

The ceremony concluded with the repetition of "the 

scientific statement of being," from Science and Health 

(p. 468), and the benediction, 2 Corinthians 13:14: 

 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 

God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you

all. Amen."

The above is found in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist

and Miscellany", pages 16-19.

All Scripture reading for the ceremony is from The King James Version

of the Bible, referenced by Mrs Eddy in her works as either "our

common version", or "The Authorized Version".  

Paula 

 

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