In Seattle there are several prominent historic landmarks that were inspired by Mary Baker Eddy, and whose history is associated with Thanksgiving. 

Originally built as Christian Science churches, these structures now serve a variety of uses. Recently I have been researching some of these buildings, who built them, why, and how. I am learning more about the branches of Mary Baker Eddy’s church, the first of which was built in Boston in 1894.  

In the histories of these building projects, certain dates that are meaningful in Christian Science history tend to come up again and again as significant milestones in the Seattle branch churches: July 4, Independence Day, a day that Mary Baker Eddy chose to first advertise her new healing system back in 1868; October 30, the day Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health was published in 1875, and also the day before Reformation Day, a significant Protestant Christian holiday; and Thanksgiving, a Puritan Christian tradition now an American national holiday that is the only day a special church service is held in Mary Baker Eddy’s church.

As an example, Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Seattle, announced its formation on July 4, 1909, held its dedication service on the Sunday before July 4, 1937, laid its building corner-stone on October 30, and first began holding services at the building during one phase of the multi-phased project the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Many other Seattle Christian Science churches either held their initial services around Thanksgiving or their dedication services. After such a focused effort by so many members over the many years, or even decades, it took to build these churches, and the astronomical costs they were able to afford, they certainly had much to be thankful for.

The church that Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Seattle, built a century ago is now taking on new life as a venue for civics and cultural activities called Town Hall Seattle. The building is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar restoration and remodel that will ensure it continues to stand and serve a vital purpose while other buildings around it are torn down and replaced with high-rise buildings. This is certainly a lasting tribute to Mary Baker Eddy’s legacy, and something to be grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend. 

Cindy Safronoff is the author of Crossing Swords: Mary Baker Eddy vs. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the Battle for the Soul of Marriage which is available on Amazon, by special order from your favorite local bookstore, or through public libraries, including Seattle Public Library. 

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Mary Baker Eddy and Victoria Woodhull discussion at Daystar Retirement Village

Today Cindy Safronoff held a book talk for Crossing Swords: Mary Baker Eddy vs. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the Battle for the Soul of Marriage at Daystar Retirement Village in West Seattle. It was an intimate audience of about 9 people — a mix of residents, staff, and visitors — in the homey atmosphere of a meeting room with the feel of a living room.  

With Election Day looming large this coming Tuesday, Safronoff’s began her introduction by holding up her very own mail-in ballot.  She explained that when state legislatures first started giving women the right to vote in the 1870s it trigger an American marriage debate. What would happen to the institution of marriage if women were given full civil rights (including the right to vote)? Mary Baker Eddy and Victoria Woodhull had very different views on this question. Woodhull wanted to abolish legal marriage, and Eddy believed giving women full civil rights would improve legal marriage.

Safronoff selected readings featuring Victoria Woodhull’s November 20, 1871 launch of her Presidential campaign lecture tour at Steinway Hall in New York City when, going off-script, she spontaneously made her most famous statement:

Yes, I am a free lover! I have an inalienable, constitutional, and natural right to love whom I may, to love as long or as short a period as I can, to change that love everyday I please! And with that right neither you nor any law you can frame have any right to interfere. And I have further the right to demand a free and unrestricted exercise of that right, and it is your duty not only to accord it, but, as a community, to see that I am protected in it.

Safronoff read a section that showed how Mary Baker Eddy focused on women’s rights to serve in the holy profession of the Christian ministry — in short, the right to the job title “Reverend.” Eddy completely disagreed with Woodhull’s views and figuratively crossed swords with her in the civic dialog. But even so, around the time of Woodhull’s second Presidential run for the 1892 election, Eddy made one of her most famous statements:  

In natural law and in religion the right of woman to fill the highest measure of enlightened understanding and the highest places in government, is inalienable, and these rights are ably vindicated by the noblest of both sexes. This is woman’s hour, with all its sweet amenities and its moral and religious reforms.

Both Victoria Woodhull and Mary Baker Eddy were far in advance of their day. As to whether woman’s hour is come for the United States Presidency, we will find out this coming Tuesday.

Crossing Swords: Mary Baker Eddy vs. Victoria Claflin Woodhull and the Battle for the Soul of Marriage by Cindy Peyser Safronoff is available on Amazon, by special order from your favorite local bookstore, or through a growing number of public libraries, including Seattle Public Library. 

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