[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 121 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9048-S9049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 145--RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MARY BAKER 
EDDY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE MARY BAKER EDDY LIBRARY FOR THE BETTERMENT 
                              OF HUMANITY

  Mr. KENNEDY. (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, and Mrs. Hutchison) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 145

       Whereas the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of 
     Humanity will officially open on September 29, 2002, in 
     Boston, Massachusetts, thereby making available to the public 
     the Mary Baker Eddy Collections, one of the largest 
     collections of primary source material by and about an 
     American woman;
       Whereas the namesake of the Library, Mary Baker Eddy, 
     achieved international

[[Page S9049]]

     prominence during her lifetime (1821-1910) as the founder of 
     Christian Science and was the first woman in the United 
     States to found and lead a religion that became an 
     international movement with members in 139 countries;
       Whereas historians compare Mary Baker Eddy to 19th century 
     women reformers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. 
     Anthony, who took leadership roles at a time when women 
     infrequently did so;
       Whereas Mary Baker Eddy founded and served as the pastor of 
     her own church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in 
     Boston, and established a publishing organization that 
     produces numerous publications, including ``The Christian 
     Science Monitor'', an international daily newspaper that has 
     won 7 Pulitzer Prizes;
       Whereas in recognition of the numerous achievements of Mary 
     Baker Eddy, the Women's National Hall of Fame inducted her 
     into its membership in 1995 for having made ``an indelible 
     mark on society, religion, and journalism'';
       Whereas the Mary Baker Eddy Library, a facility of 81,000 
     square feet, provides a place for people to come together to 
     explore ideas and offers on-site and online educational 
     experiences, programs, and exhibits;
       Whereas the Mary Baker Eddy Collections consist of more 
     than 100,000 documents, artifacts, photographs, and other 
     media that chronicle the development of Mary Baker Eddy's 
     ideas and offer an unequalled resource to scholars in women's 
     history and mind-body medicine;
       Whereas the Library's initiative to make the previously 
     unpublished materials in the Mary Baker Eddy Collections 
     available to the public is exemplary of, and in full accord 
     with, the intent of the provisions of title 17, United States 
     Code, relating to the publication of previously unpublished 
     materials; and
       Whereas the Mary Baker Eddy Library will establish an 
     Institute for the Rediscovery and Preservation of the History 
     of Women in Seneca Falls, New York, the birthplace of the 
     first Women's Rights Convention, in order to showcase new 
     research on the forgotten histories of women and offer 
     educational programs for students: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes and commends--
       (1) Mary Baker Eddy for her outstanding achievements and 
     contributions, particularly her contributions to the 
     advancement of women's rights as a public figure and role 
     model in the early stages of the women's rights movement; and
       (2) the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of 
     Humanity, which will open to the public on September 29, 
     2002.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to submit, on behalf of 
myself, Senator Clinton and Senator Hutchison, a concurrent resolution 
to recognize the achievements of Mary Baker Eddy and the opening of the 
Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity. The Library, 
which officially opens to the public on September 29, will provide 
public access to the Mary Baker Eddy papers, one of the largest 
collections of primary source material by and about an American woman.
  The Library will provide invaluable insight to Mary Baker Eddy's 
remarkable life and serve as an important resource for scholars, 
researchers and the public. Its mission will sustain her powerful 
legacy that ideas can inspire individuals, empower them and transform 
their lives.
  The Mary Baker Eddy Library, a facility encompassing over 80,000 
square feet, will be a dynamic meeting place for people to explore 
ideas through its on-sight and on-line educational experiences, 
programs and exhibits. So, too, its unique Mapparium will once again 
available to visitors to the Library. The collections consist of over 
100,000 documents, artifacts, photographs and other media that 
chronicle the development of Mary baker Eddy's ideas and offer an 
unparalleled resource for scholars in women's history, spirituality and 
journalism.
  The Library's effort to release previously unpublished materials in 
the Mary Baker Eddy Collections to the public will enrich our 
understanding of her extraordinary achievements. In conjunction with 
this facility in Boston, the Library will also establish an Institute 
for the Rediscovery and Preservation of the History of Women in Seneca 
Falls, New York, the birthplace of the first Women's Rights Convention, 
in order to showcase research on the forgotten histories of women and 
offer a wide range of educational programs for students.
  I am pleased to submit this resolution to recognize this outstanding 
woman and the richness of her accomplishments. I would also like to 
congratulate Virginia Harris for her efforts to ensure that the Mary 
Baker Eddy Library became a reality and for her tireless energy and 
visionary leadership as Chairman of the Board of the Christian Science 
Church.

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