Event Info

Longyear Museum Presentation
and Exhibit Opening

Friday, April 23, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in Cox Auditorium
Principia College, Elsah, Illinois

The lives of early Christian Scientists reveal that taking the message of Christian Science to a materialistic world has never been an easy task. How did these early workers do what they did? Join us for a conversation on how these pioneers persevered and achieved— unique stories relevant to today.

Janette Weller

Emma Thompson

Principia College has invited Longyear Museum Director•Curator Stephen Howard and Senior Researcher and Writer Christopher Tyner to present findings from their research on the lives of pioneer Christian Scientists Emma Thompson, Abigail Dyer Thompson, Janette Weller, and Annie M. Knott. Their talk will focus on the courage and determination it took for these four women to practice Christian Science in the late 1800s. The results of their research will appear in a book to be published by Longyear Museum Press in fall 2010.

Abigail Dyer Thompson

Annie M. Knott

Following the presentation, you’re invited to the celebratory opening of “Imparting a fresh impulse: Preparing the next generation,” an exhibit prepared by Longyear and on display in the Principia College School of Government. This display includes photographic portraits of Mary Baker Eddy and eleven young students from Mrs. Eddy’s last class, held in November 1898. Its title is derived from a statement by Mrs. Eddy to the class, found in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany (244:11). According to Irving C. Tomlinson, in his book Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy, Mrs. Eddy herself said that her work with that class “changed the character of the entire Field.” The exhibit is on display at Principia College through spring 2011.

Questions? Please contact:
Leah Eggers, 800.277.8943, ext. 222, or leggers@longyear.org