There is no shortage of stories about religious innovation, enthusiasm, and awakenings in the history of the United States.
Other postcard stories have touched on several utopian and communitarian groups or sects, and some stories have noted the religious disputations that are reflected in surviving institutions.
This postcard, published circa 1920, shows the “Mother Church” of the Church of Christ, Scientist.
The Church was incorporated in Boston in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, the author of “Science and Heath with Key to the Scriptures”.
Eddy wrote this volume after an experience of her own healing through prayer, and she dedicated herself to restore the emphasis on physical healing which she saw as a critical element of the Early Church.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Baker_Eddy
The new Church spread rapidly; Christian Science “Reading Rooms” were established in towns and cities across the US.
Due to the centrality of the new Church’s emphasis on the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, many Christian denominations regarded Christian Scientists as heretical.
The Christian Science reliance on non-medical forms of healing also contributed to led to some scandals and legal challenges.
Nevertheless, Christian Scientists largely avoided the Modernist/Fundamentalist divisions that ravaged mainstream Protestant Churches in the early 20th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ,_Scientist
Sometime around 1920, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Adams were visiting Boston.
The Adams sent this postcard photograph of the Christian Science Church to Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Steinhauser of St. Louis.
We do not know if the senders or the recipients had any connection to the Christian Science movement.
The postcard was printed by Tichnor Brothers of Cambridge, Mass.
On the reverse, the Mr. and Mrs. Adams report that “we are having a very delightful time”.
One hopes that Mr. and Mrs. Steinhauser were pleased by this sight of Boston and that Mr. and Mrs. Adams returned safely from their trip.
