Biography
MARIA COOMBS NEWCOMB, a native of Massachusetts, came into possession of a copy of Science and Health shortly before her husband’s passing. Later, she began to study it, hoping to learn how to live a useful life. A letter from Mrs. Newcomb to the author, Mary Baker Eddy, resulted in an invitation to enter a class at the Massachusetts Metaphysical College. Maria did this in January 1887. In 1891, she was invited to join Mrs. Eddy’s household, and she spent 16 months caring for her teacher’s personal needs during Mrs. Eddy’s residence at 62 North State Street in Concord, New Hampshire; in Roslindale, Massachusetts; and at Pleasant View. On her return to her former home in Taunton, Massachusetts, Maria Newcomb pioneered the establishment of Christian Science by bringing the few Christian Scientists in the community together to read the Lesson Sermon. In time, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Taunton, was organized and she served as its First Reader. She received the degree of C.S.D. in 1904.