James A. Neal (1866-1930) was born in Bedford, Indiana, and died in Brookline, Massachusetts. When he was twenty years old, he worked as a cashier for Joseph Armstrong, a banker and eventual student of Mary Baker Eddy, in Irving, Kansas. Neal learned about Christian Science in 1886 from Armstrong's wife, Mary E. Armstrong, and Christian Science practitioner Fannie E. W. Wilkins after Mary was healed.
In 1888 he left his work at the bank to take up the practice of Christian Science, performing healings as he traveled the Midwest. That May he studied Christian Science with Janet T. Colman in Wichita, Kansas. Neal was one of the earliest practitioners in Nebraska, and helped organize the first Sunday School in Kearney. He became a student of Eddy, completing the Primary class in February 1889 and the Normal class in November 1898. In 1889 he became a member of the Christian Scientist Association and The Christian Science Dispensary Association. He was also a member of the National Christian Scientist Association.
He married Mary M. Neal (b. Metcalf) in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1903. Her father, Albert Metcalf, was a student of Eddy and President of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, from October 1898 to May 1899. Neal joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, on December 31, 1892, and became a First Member on January 2, 1897. His wife became a member on April 4, 1896.
Neal moved to Boston at the end of 1892 to work as a Christian Science healer. Upon Eddy's request, he joined The Christian Science Publishing Society in January 1893 to help publish her writings. In 1895 Eddy assigned the copyright of the Church Manual to Neal and another student of hers, Thomas W. Hatten. It was in their trust for more than seven years until Eddy assumed the copyright in 1903. In 1898 Neal became one of the Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society. He became a member of the General Association of Teachers in 1904. Towards the end of her life Eddy called on Neal to assist her in various ways, such as acquiring her carriage horses, arranging for one of her stays in Boston, and locating suitable bronze paint for the fountain at Pleasant View.
In June 1912 Neal was elected President of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, but resigned a month later when he was elected a member of The Christian Science Board of Directors. In November 1913 he became Chairman of the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy, eventually resigning from the position in 1917. Other trusteeships served by Neal included the Christian Science Benevolent Association in 1916 and the Pleasant View Home in 1925. Neal remained a Director for seventeen years before retiring in 1929 to spend more time teaching and healing. He was listed in the directory of The Christian Science Journal as a Christian Science teacher and practitioner in Ohio from 1890 to 1891, in Kansas in 1892, and in Boston from 1893 until his passing. He belonged to various clubs throughout his life, including the Brae Burn Country, Tedesco Country, and Boston Curling.
See more letters.
James A. Neal (1866-1930) was born in Bedford, Indiana, and died in Brookline, Massachusetts. When he was twenty years old, he worked as a cashier for Joseph Armstrong, a banker and eventual student of Mary Baker Eddy, in Irving, Kansas. Neal learned about Christian Science in 1886 from Armstrong's wife, Mary E. Armstrong, and Christian Science practitioner Fannie E. W. Wilkins after Mary was healed.
In 1888 he left his work at the bank to take up the practice of Christian Science, performing healings as he traveled the Midwest. That May he studied Christian Science with Janet T. Colman in Wichita, Kansas. Neal was one of the earliest practitioners in Nebraska, and helped organize the first Sunday School in Kearney. He became a student of Eddy, completing the Primary class in February 1889 and the Normal class in November 1898. In 1889 he became a member of the Christian Scientist Association and The Christian Science Dispensary Association. He was also a member of the National Christian Scientist Association.
He married Mary M. Neal (b. Metcalf) in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1903. Her father, Albert Metcalf, was a student of Eddy and President of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, from October 1898 to May 1899. Neal joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, on December 31, 1892, and became a First Member on January 2, 1897. His wife became a member on April 4, 1896.
Neal moved to Boston at the end of 1892 to work as a Christian Science healer. Upon Eddy's request, he joined The Christian Science Publishing Society in January 1893 to help publish her writings. In 1895 Eddy assigned the copyright of the Church Manual to Neal and another student of hers, Thomas W. Hatten. It was in their trust for more than seven years until Eddy assumed the copyright in 1903. In 1898 Neal became one of the Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society. He became a member of the General Association of Teachers in 1904. Towards the end of her life Eddy called on Neal to assist her in various ways, such as acquiring her carriage horses, arranging for one of her stays in Boston, and locating suitable bronze paint for the fountain at Pleasant View.
In June 1912 Neal was elected President of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, but resigned a month later when he was elected a member of The Christian Science Board of Directors. In November 1913 he became Chairman of the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy, eventually resigning from the position in 1917. Other trusteeships served by Neal included the Christian Science Benevolent Association in 1916 and the Pleasant View Home in 1925. Neal remained a Director for seventeen years before retiring in 1929 to spend more time teaching and healing. He was listed in the directory of The Christian Science Journal as a Christian Science teacher and practitioner in Ohio from 1890 to 1891, in Kansas in 1892, and in Boston from 1893 until his passing. He belonged to various clubs throughout his life, including the Brae Burn Country, Tedesco Country, and Boston Curling.
See more letters.