The Story
At the end of the hard-fought decade of the 1880s, Mrs. Eddy withdrew from the hectic demands of Boston. A few weeks after leaving Massachusetts in May 1889, she rented this furnished house for herself and her small staff.
From here the now seventy-year-old Leader of Christian Science rallied her followers in June 1891: “My Beloved Students: … I am still with you on the field of battle, taking forward marches, broader and higher views, and with the hope that you will follow” (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings, 135-136).
In this house she revised her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures throughout 1890, until the landmark fiftieth edition was ready for publication in 1891. Later that year Mrs. Eddy summed up the substance of her life and work in another book, Retrospection and Introspection.
This house stands as a reminder of the work Mrs. Eddy carried out for the better part of two decades while living in Concord. In 1892 she moved from this busy downtown location to a home of her own on Pleasant Street on the outskirts of Concord. She named her home “Pleasant View.” There, in the arduous years ahead, she would reorganize her church as The First Church of Christ, Scientist — direct the building of its edifice in Boston — write its Manual of bylaws — ordain the Bible and Science and Health as its pastor — establish its educational system — and handle attacks against herself and Christian Science.
