We Knew Mary Baker Eddy

by Christian Science Publishing Society (Editor), Jennie E. Sawyer (Contributor), Mary F. Eastaman (Contributor)

Mary Baker Eddy, the author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and Founder of the Christian Science Church, was a prominent figure in the late 1800s and early 1900s, gaining attention for reestablishing the promise and practice of Christian healing. This remarkable thinker and religious leader charted a course for her Church, which is uniquely original. Learning of Eddy from those who knew her during this extremely demanding and productive time provides insights about her not only as a leader, but also about the Cause she led.

We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Expanded Edition, Volume II, tells a rich and dynamic story through the lens of 22 individuals who interacted with Mrs. Eddy in roles as diverse as metaphysical healers, secretaries, students, and church workers.

This compilation of reminiscences about Mary Baker Eddy brings to life a dynamic period of nearly 25 years when her accomplishments included establishing a spiritual foundation for the governance of her Church with the Church Manual, and founding a newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor.

Readers will find compelling accounts of interactions with Mary Baker Eddy that shed a new light on her and her life. These early workers share an intriguing perspective on their own lives, and their accounts illustrate the enduring commitment and unswerving loyalty they expressed.

Genres: Womens, History, Biography, Nonfiction

639 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Kiki]

How can I sum up this book? Inspiring.

I've said that about the previous editions and volumes of this series that I've read, so I was hoping to find another word... but that's the one that covers it. Eddy was the best Christian healer to walk this planet since Christ Jesus. No one since the first century has so thoroughly demonstrated the power and presence of God to "heal all our ills" -- from tiny details of daily life up to raising the dead and blessing millions -- as M. B. Eddy. The glimpses these reminiscences provide into how she lived the Science she brought to the world are lampposts on the road each and every one of us walks to a greater understanding of God. It's well worth pulling back the covers of this book and letting those lamps shine.

[Tori]

A group of us began reading this book aloud together in our Reading Room last JUly. Once a week, we'd get together and read and discuss for an hour or so. I have to say, I really enjoyed the experience! It was fun to actually read it more slowly than I would on my own, and find passages that were especially meaningful or awe-inspiring. I read the original We Knew MBE years ago, but don't remember any specifics. There were some excellent contributors in this volume, and I sure got a sense of what it must have been like to have lived and worked with MBE in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Some of the healngs that took place were remarkable (Joseph Mann, for example) and definitely some great quotes. For example: “…we were not individualized outside of our brother but one with him as the Christ…" “home is not a place, it is a power.”
I really appreciated this peek into the life and times of this great woman. My only complaint is that some of the accounts seemed to either almost deify her, or to include too much of the writer's own personality. I think some editing would have been better.

[Kiki]

I'd read an earlier version of this book and found it very interesting as well as inspiring. This new edition, with additional reminiscences, expands the view of life in Mrs. Eddy's house, giving a richer and fuller picture of her home as, well, a HOME -- and not just the center of the budding Christian Science movement. I also found myself inspired and reminded that Oh Yes! This science applies to EVERYTHING, and it's our job to daily put it into practice -- challenging even the smallest of problems and not allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by the largest.

I highly recommend it.

[Kiki]

I read this book back sometime in high school or college. It's very inspiring. A spiritual understanding of God was maintained and applied constantly and consistently throughout the experiences remembered here, reminding us of how simple and powerful the awareness of God's presence is, regardless of the situation.

[David Dickinson]

Very inspiring. Gives an in depth look into Mary Baker Eddy's character, her struggles and successes through the eyes of those who knew her dearly.

I highly recommend this biography!