Pulpit and Press

This book, first published in April 1895, is focused on the activities surrounding the completion and dedication of what is now known as the Original Edifice of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Dedication services were held January 6, 1895, and Pulpit and Press contains Mary Baker Eddy’s dedicatory sermon for the services, as well as other extracts from the services. However, the main content of this book is not from Eddy’s pen, but consists of reprints of newspaper accounts of the dedication, as well as articles chronicling the history of Christian Science, and the movement’s progress over a thirty year period, beginning with Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science in 1866.

As the April 1895 announcement in The Christian Science Journal noted, the book was “dedicated to the Children who contributed for Mother’s Room [Eddy’s room in the church building]. A sermon, hymns and prophecy; the sermon delivered at the dedication of the beautiful church, of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at Boston, Jan. 6, 1895. Clippings from newspapers, describing this grand edifice, and outlining the rise and progress of Christian Science. Withal, it is a unique and interesting book, such as would be expected from the pen, or compilations of its author.”

Pulpit and Press is still published today by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in a number of languages, both as a separate book and as a part of the compilations of Eddy's Prose Works and her Collected Shorter Writings.