The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor is a daily newspaper published by The Christian Science Publishing Society. On July 28, 1908, Mary Baker Eddy requested that The Christian Science Board of Directors start a daily newspaper. (See L00596Click link to view L00596 document in new window.) Her object in founding the Monitor was “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind” – to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. The mission of the Monitor is “to spread undivided the Science that operates unspent.”

The idea of a daily paper had been under consideration for some time. In a letter dated March 12, 1908, John L. Wright, who was at that time the First Reader of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, wrote Eddy that he “felt a growing desire to have a part in establishing a Scientific daily newspaper.” Eddy replied, “I have had this newspaper scheme in my thought for quite a while and herein send my name for our daily newspaper The Christian Science Monitor This title only classifies the Paper and it should have departments for what else is requisite”(See L06998Click link to view L06998 document in new window.)

On May 3, 1908, Eddy directed Archibald McLellan and Allison V. Stewart that “The time has come when we must have a daily paper entitled Christian Science Monitor. Allow no hesitation or delay on this movement.” (See L07146Click link to view L07146 document in new window.) Eddy then requested The Christian Science Board of Directors start a daily newspaper once the debt for the Publishing House was paid and she directed them to call it The Christian Science Monitor.(See L00596Click link to view L00596 document in new window.) Then, in August, Eddy wrote to the Board of Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society asking them to start a daily newspaper at once and that they could consult the Board of Directors, who had already been notified of her intention. (See L07268Click link to view L07268 document in new window.)

After several months of preparing, the first edition was published November 25, 1908. Global news is still being delivered via the Monitor’s website and mobile site, app, daily newsletter, weekly print magazine, and free newsletters.