[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6527-H6528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MARY BAKER EDDY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE MARY 
           BAKER EDDY LIBRARY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HUMANITY

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 458) recognizing 
and commending Mary Baker Eddy's achievements and the Mary Baker Eddy 
Library for the Betterment of Humanity.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 458

       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 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 nineteenth-
     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 seven Pulitizer 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 House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).

[[Page H6528]]

                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 458.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia 
for yielding me this time.
  I think it is appropriate to point out that the acting Speaker pro 
tempore now is the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass), the State 
where Mary Baker Eddy was born.
  Mr. Speaker, I support House Concurrent Resolution 458, recognizing 
and commending Mary Baker Eddy's life and achievements and the opening 
of the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity.
  Mary Baker Eddy was a notable 19th century public figure and role 
model in the early stages of the women's rights movement. Historians 
often compare her to other 19th century reformers, like Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, women who took leadership roles at a time 
when women infrequently did so.
  Mary Baker Eddy was an author, a successful businesswoman, a 
publisher and editor of monthly and weekly magazines, the president and 
founder of a teaching college, and the founder and leader of a 
worldwide church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, which today 
has congregations in 139 countries.
  Remarkably, at age 87, Mary Baker Eddy founded an international daily 
newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor, which has won seven Pulitzer 
Prizes.
  The Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston, which opens on September 29, 
will make available to the public one of the largest collections of 
primary-source material by and about American women. The library will 
provide opportunities to explore the ideas and life of this 19th 
century pioneer and will showcase her previously unpublished writings.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Civil 
Service, Census, and Agency Organization, I am pleased to support H. 
Con. Res. 458, a bill recognizing and commending Mary Baker Eddy's 
achievements and the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of 
Humanity, and I want to commend the gentleman from Texas for his 
introduction of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, Mary Baker Eddy is regarded as a major religious speaker 
and as a notable example of the emergence of women in significant 
leadership roles.

                              {time}  1800

  When Mrs. Eddy was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 
1955, it was noted that she had made an indelible mark on religion, 
society, and journalism.
  Born in 1821 on a farm in Bow, New Hampshire, Mary Baker Eddy spent 
most of her youth in ill health. Although raised with Puritan values, 
daily Bible reading, and the talk of God's healing power, she spent 
years looking for healing in the many remedial methods available at her 
time.
  In 1866, Mary Baker Eddy, through reading Jesus' healings in the New 
Testament, came to discover the science of Christianity which she named 
``Christian Science.'' In 1875, she first wrote and published ``Science 
and Health With Key to the Scriptures,'' the textbook of Christian 
Science. It is published in 17 languages and Braille; and in 
audiocassette, CD, and computerized form. Over 9 million copies have 
been sold, and it remains a bestseller each year.
  In 1879, Mrs. Eddy established the Church of Christ, Scientist, and 
subsequently founded its various periodicals and activities. In 1895, 
she published the first edition of the Manual of the Mother Church. One 
of her last and greatest accomplishments was founding the Christian 
Science Monitor in 1908.
  In 1992, the Women's National Book Association named ``Science and 
Health'' as one of 75 books by women, and I quote, ``whose words have 
changed the world.''
  Before Mrs. Eddy died in 1910, the religion she established had 
spread around the world, and she had become one of the most recognized 
public figures in America; a truly great woman.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Concurrent 
Resolution 458, introduced by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Smith). This resolution recognizes and commends the 
achievements of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church of Christ, 
Scientist, and the opening of the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the 
Betterment of Humanity in Boston, Massachusetts.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2002, the Mary Baker Eddy Library for 
the Betterment of humanity will officially open in Boston. The opening 
of this library will allow the public access to the Mary Baker Eddy 
collections, one of the largest collections of primary-source material 
by and about an extraordinary American woman.
  Born in 1821, Mary Baker Eddy was a reformer and a woman who 
introduced bold new concepts to 19th century society and beyond. Mrs. 
Eddy achieved international prominence as the founder of Christian 
Science. She has the distinction of being the first woman in the United 
States to found and lead a religion that became an international 
movement. The Church of Christ, Scientist, has members in 139 
countries.
  In an era when women faced severe limits, Mary Baker Eddy rose from 
obscurity, poverty, and illness to become a renowned author, healer, 
thinker, religious leader, and publisher.
  In 1866, she was healed of a serious injury as she read the account 
of one of Jesus' healings in the New Testament. This led her to 
discover what she came to understand as the science of Christianity, 
which she named Christian Science.
  In 1875, she wrote and published ``Science and Health With Key to the 
Scriptures.'' It is published in 17 languages and Braille, and in 
audiocassette, CD, and computerized form. Over 9 million copies have 
been sold, and it remains a bestseller each year.
  In 1879, Mrs. Eddy established the Church of Christ, Scientist. In 
1895, she published the first edition of the ``Manual of the Mother 
Church.'' One of her last and greatest accomplishments was founding the 
Christian Science Monitor in 1908.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, and I commend the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) for introducing this important 
resolution. Mary Baker Eddy had a profound impact on American life and 
religion. Her life as healer, thinker, and reformer is remarkable.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bass). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 458.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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