An Historic Pamphlet

An Historic Spot [:] The Birthplace of Christian Science, by Mary Beecher Longyear. Boston: Press of Geo. H. Ellis, 1921.

The above booklet (ultra rare and little-known) is significant for many reasons, one of which is that it provides the first printing in its entirety (with some minor transcription errors) of Mrs. Eddy’s [then Mary M. Patterson] letter to Julius Dresser on February 15, 1866. The booklet focuses on Mrs. Eddy’s home in Swampscott, Massachusetts, where she was healed of the effects of what is known as the “fall on the ice” in 1866, from which healing she credited the discovery of Christian Science.

In order to avoid problems with the Christian Science Board of Directors in the 1920s (during the era of the “Great Litigation” and the later disaffection of John V. Dittemore, who was known to be her friend), Mrs. Longyear was extremely cautious when it came to letting anyone outside of her immediate circle see certain of her publications. See her letter to William Lyman Johnson, December 20, 1923, in my collection:

“Please do not talk about me and my work to any one. I was shocked when you told Judge [Clifford] Smith about my owning the letter of Mrs. Eddy’s with out consulting me first. I gave you a book about the Swampscott house [i.e., this booklet] but no one else. I only let those who go there [i.e., to the Swampscott house] read it and leave it there. Of course the directors want to know of my activities and I beg you to keep a discreet silence in regard to me and my work.”

Mrs. Longyear was a long-time friend of John V. Dittemore, as stated above, and he mentioned this booklet on p. 106 of his biography of Mrs. Eddy in 1932. That is the only recorded reference to this booklet in any history of Mrs. Eddy or Christian Science.

In my collection is a note only (not the original) of an inscription by Mrs. Longyear to Samuel P. Bancroft on a copy of this pamphlet, as follows:

“To Mr S P Bancroft

Who can speak to the

world, with authority

of his teacher and friend

Mary Baker Eddy 

From one who

loves and honors the

same inspired teacher

of the world

Mary Beecher Longyear

February 26th 1922” 

In this day and age of searching on the Internet, it is significant that a Google search for the combined words “Longyear” and “An Historic Spot” only turns up two references to this pamphlet: (1) an earlier reference in this blog, and (2) a catalog of the holdings of the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston.

— — — — — —

For those interested, here is my bibliographic listing of other books produced by Mrs. Longyear and/or her Zion Research Foundation through 1926:

[1901]

First issue of her first book:

THE UNFOLDING LIFE | PASSAGES FROM THE DIARIES, NOTE- | BOOKS AND LETTERS OF HOWARD MUNRO LONGYEAR, AND FROM THE | LETTERS HE RECEIVED FROM HIS | PARENTS AND FRIENDS. ARRANGED | AND EDITED BY HENRY D. NUNN | [Ornament in red design of the Greek letters psi zeta psi surrounded by a red shield and branches with leaves] | PRIVATELY PRINTED AT THE MERRY- | MOUNT PRESS, BOSTON, A.D. MDCCCCI

Second issue of her first book:

THE UNFOLDING LIFE | PASSAGES FROM THE DIARIES, NOTE- | BOOKS AND LETTERS OF HOWARD MUNRO LONGYEAR, AND FROM THE | LETTERS HE RECEIVED FROM HIS | PARENTS AND FRIENDS. ARRANGED | AND EDITED BY HENRY D. NUNN | [Ornament of a woodcut forest scene with the ititials “m.j.n.” (Mary J. Newill)] | PRIVATELY PRINTED BY D.B. UPDIKE | THE MERRYMOUNT PRESS, BOSTON, IN | THE YEAR OF OUR LORD MDCCCCI

(In November 1902 twenty copies of the book (presumably the second issue) were produced in Japan paper with additional illustrations. I have not seen this issue.)

[1910]

First issue of her second book, using a pseudonym:

THE LAW OF A HOUSEHOLD | BY | EUNICE BEECHER | [ornament] | BOSTON | PRIVATELY PRINTED | 1910

Second issue of her second book (ca. 1912):

THE | LAW OF A HOUSEHOLD | BY | EUNICE BEECHER | [Floral ornament with the message “SCIRE ^. QVOD | SCIENDVM” in the middle] | BOSTON | SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY | PUBLISHERS

[1916]

Far Countries was copyrighted in 1916:

FAR COUNTRIES| AS SEEN BY | A BOY | By M. BEECHER LONGYEAR | ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS | AND WITH PEN AND INK SKETCHES | [Sailing ship ornament] | PAUL ELDER AND COMPANY | PUBLISHER ^. SAN FRANCISCO

This book for children has the following introductory message:

“TO ALL GOOD AMERICAN BOYS —

AND GIRLS TOO. 

Wouldn’t you like to join our

trip around the world by reading this book?

It will prove a short cut to history of some nations, and

give you an idea of how things over there

look, today, to a boy.”

[1921]

GATHERED VERSES | OF | MANY YEARS | BY | MARY BEECHER LONGYEAR | BOSTON | Press of GEO. H. ELLIS CO. | (Incorporated) | 1921

AN | HISTORIC SPOT | The Birthplace of | Christian Science | BY | MARY BEECHER LONGYEAR | [Ornament] | BOSTON | Press of GEO. H. ELLIS CO. | (Incorporated) | 1921

[1922]

HEAR, O ISRAEL! | Woman and the Spiritual Seed of Israel | Abraham, the Father of Judah and Israel | United Israel, comprised of the House of Judah and | the House of Israel | Three Prophetic Voices | BY | MARY BEECHER LONGYEAR | BOSTON | Press of GEO H. ELLIS CO. | (Incorporated) | 1922

The Genealogy and Life| OF | ASA GILBERT EDDY | HUSBAND OF | MARY BAKER GLOVER | Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science | COMPILED FROM ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS AND PERSONAL | LETTERS BY | MARY BEECHER LONGYEAR | BOSTON | PRESS OF GEO. H. ELLIS CO. | (INCORPORATED) | 1922

[1923]

MRS. EDDY | AS I KNEW HER IN 1870 | IN TWO PARTS | MRS. EDDY’S LETTERS | MRS. EDDY’S MANUSCRIPTS | BY | SAMUEL PUTNAM BANCROFT | BOSTON | PRESS OF GEO. H. ELLIS CO. | (INCORPORATED) | 1923

[1924]

CATALOGUE | OF THE | Zion Research Library [This is from the front cover. The catalogue does not have a title-page. This catalog is dated 1924]

 [1925]

THE | HISTORY OF A HOUSE | (Built by Squire Bagley, in Amesbury, Massachusetts) | Its Founder, Family and Guests | BY | MARY BEECHER LONGYEAR | Illustrated by photographs of the house and the original furniture | and objects found in the house in 1922 | BROOKLINE, MASS. | THE ZION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | 1925

THE LIGHT OF THE AGES | A Study of the Advance | of Spiritual Ideas, in the Course of which | Christian Science has appeared  | BY | MYRTLE STRODE JACKSON |  PUBLISHED BY |  THE ZION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MASS. | 1925

[1926]

The History of | The Christian Science Movement | BY | CONTEMPORANEOUS AUTHORS |  Written for and Edited at the Request of |  mary beecher longyear | [Zion Research Foundation insignia] | PUBLISHED BY | THE ZION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BROOKLINE, MASS. | 1926 [Two volumes.]

Here is additional information on this important historical work:

AUTHOR:                   William Lyman Johnson

PUBLICATION

INFORMATION:      Brookline, MA: Zion Research Foundation, 1926. Two volumes. Wove paper with watermark “WARREN’S OLDE STYLE.” Volume 1: [iii] – xx, 1 – 444; Volume 2: [iii] – [xi], 1 – 514. Illustrated.

HALF-TITLE:         [Volume 1:] THE HISTORY OF | THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MOVEMENT | Volume The First | BY | WM. LYMAN JOHNSON

[Volume 2:] THE HISTORY OF | THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MOVEMENT | Volume The Second | BY | WM. LYMAN JOHNSON

COPYRIGHT PAGE:   Copyright, 1926 | by |  THE ZION RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BROOKLINE,                                      MASS. | PRESS OF GEO. H. ELLIS (INC.) BOSTON

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Craig Beardsley]

Once again it becomes my pleasure to respond to a post on Affection Crave Legend and Relics. Several random thoughts struck me in contemplating feedback. Regarding THE LIGHT OF THE AGES, a volume I acquired from a Southern California book dealer, Keith once mentioned to me that two prominent Christian Science collections didn't contain this book, which makes its rarity a matter of interest: it hasn't the earmarkings of other suppressed Longyear titles which would suggest its scarcity may be due to nothing other than the fewness of copies issued. Something I didn't know until now is that my copy of THE UNFOLDING LIFE is the second issue; I didn't know about the title page variation.

We owe quite a debt to Mrs. Longyear, who recognized her logical role in establishing a living museum to Mrs. Eddy's life and cause. She had the vision and she had the wherewithal to turn vision into reality. And yet she had to judiciously, even privately, work with those in a position to contribute mightily--notably, men such as Dittemore, Johnson, and Bancroft, whereas it would take the church many decades before opening of the vaults to the public. The entire issue of the secrecy with which these things were enshrouded is something that richly deserves discussion. To paraphrase one writer, imagine that truth should need to be protected!

[Keith]

Thanks, Craig. The historical issue of secrecy in the Christian Science movement is one that needs more historical analysis. To those of us in prior years who grew used to having access to only a small fraction of the holdings of the Church archives, the openness of the Mary Baker Eddy Library is a quantum leap beyond what we knew. Now is not the time to go over all of the historical reasons for that, but perhaps I can go over that in a later post.

[Linda Bargmann]

Thanks, Skip (and Craig)
Reading this, I not only found out about a lot I didn't know, but it pushed me to get out "The Life of Asa Gilbert Eddy" and keep reading. I had put it down right after Christmas and not picked it up again.
So much to read as you both know...
Some day I hope there is more available, especially on the supressions.
Since I'm fairly new to all this, I've had the MBEL the whole time, for which I am extremely grateful!

[Keith]

I do feel like the old timer who tells the young whippersnapper, "I had it a lot tougher when I was your age!" I will try to bring out in the blog more history on some of these books that are lesser known, whether suppressed or not.

Book buying today is a completely different world than even 15 years ago; eBay and the Internet have changed everything, but I miss the old days sometimes about needing to go into a musty old bookstore to maybe find a treasure. Collecting is much easier these days.