No and Yes

Mary Baker Eddy’s book, No and Yes (initially titled Christian Science: No and Yes), is a revision and expansion of her earlier article/pamphlet, Defence of Christian Science.

Defence of Christian Science was published as an article in the March 1885 issue of The Christian Science Journal (pages 1-4) and also released as a pamphlet in the same month. (See 334A.45.026Click link to view 334A.45.026 document in new window to read a receipt for its printing.) It was a response to several attacks by clergymen who asserted that Christian Science was not Christian, specifically, a letter by Rev. A. J. Gordon read by Rev. Joseph Cook at a lecture on February 23, 1885, at Tremont Temple in Boston. A10373Click link to view A10373 document in new window is a draft of Defence of Christian Science. In addition to publishing the pamphlet, Eddy defended her ideas more briefly in person at one of Cook’s lectures at Tremont Temple on March 16, 1885. What Eddy apparently said on that occasion was taken down by a shorthand reporter and a published version can be found in the April 1885 issue of the Journal under the title “A Strong Reply,” as well as on pages 95-98 in Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, in a piece titled “Christian Science in Tremont Temple.”

Records do not indicate exactly when Eddy began revising Defense of Christian Science. No and Yes covers many of the same theological topics found in Defence, but references to the ministers who originated the attacks Eddy was responding to have been removed, and more extensive introductory material has been added.

Mary Baker Eddy announced the publication and availability of the new book on page 270 of the August 1887 issue of The Christian Science Journal:

This is an invaluable little work of fifty pages, setting forth distinctly the difference between the false and true system of teaching and practice, by Christian Science Mind-healing. Price 25 cents a copy, or $2.50 a dozen.

The same page contained an announcement regarding the earlier Defence of Christian Science:

This pamphlet is now out of print. Its place is more than supplied, however, by the new work, entitled Christian Science: No and Yes by M. B. G. Eddy.

Eventually Eddy dropped the words “Christian Science” from the title of the book, but as No and Yes it remains in print to this day and provides a resource for those interested in the Christian Science approach to various topics in traditional Christian theology.