Christmas and Christian Science

As these busy Christmas season days go by, I thought it might be of interest to see some items on Christmas in Christian Science history.

One is this telegram that Mrs. Eddy sent out to Emma McLauthlin, inviting her on December 24, 1895, to her Christmas dinner the next day.

Of course, one book that comes to mind is Christ and Christmas, which was  issued in December, 1893. Here are images of the front cover and title-page of this rare first edition below:

Christ and Christmas, A Poem, by Reverend Mary Baker Eddy [author] and James F. Gilman [illustrator]. Boston: Edward N. Pearson, Printer, 1893. 11 illustrations. 

Another production by Mrs. Eddy for Christmas was this pamphlet:

What Christmas Means to Me, by Mary Baker Eddy. Chicago: The Book & Art Exchange, [ca. 1908].  

(This pamphlet in its first issue is extraordinarily rare. This is a separate printing of this article, which first appeared in the Ladies’ Home Journal of December, 1907. This was reprinted in the Christian Science Sentinel of December 7, 1907. Later it was included in Miscellany, pp. 261-263.

The first issue has the address of the publisher listed as 6 Madison Street, whereas the second issue has the address listed as 81 E. Madison Street. Note: minor typographical differences exist between the two issues. The Mary Baker Eddy Library has a “sixth edition” of this pamphlet, from 81 E. Madison Street, with an aquamarine color rather than the earlier green color.)

Here are images of the front cover and title-page of the rare first issue:

Although the word “Christmas” did not appear on this 1888 Christmas address title by Mrs. Eddy, it was nonetheless a Christmas message from her and is called a "Christmas Sermon" in her Miscellaneous Writings:

Finally, Calvin Augustine Frye and I wish all of you a very Merry (and old-fashioned) Christmas:

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Linda Bargmann]

Thanks Skip (and CAF) for the old-fashioned Christmas wish. Don't think too much of my Christmas will be old-fashioned but my kids and grandkids make all their gifts which is pretty special. Have a wonderful week!

[Craig Beardsley]

Thanks, Keith. Perhaps my favorite Christmas Message from MBE was her contribution to the New York World-sponsored December 1905 symposium that was reprinted in the Sentinel, Journal, My., and the 1949 CSPS compliation What Christmas Means to Me and Other Christmas Messages, entitled "The Significance of Christmas."