Mary Baker Eddy, Founder of Christian Science, Receives Rent Money for the Lease of Her House
Autographs of Eddy are uncommon, this being our first
Mary Baker Eddy was an influential American author, teacher, and religious leader, noted for her groundbreaking ideas about spirituality and health, which she named Christian Science. She articulated those ideas in her major work, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”, first published in 1875. Four years later she founded the...
Mary Baker Eddy was an influential American author, teacher, and religious leader, noted for her groundbreaking ideas about spirituality and health, which she named Christian Science. She articulated those ideas in her major work, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures”, first published in 1875. Four years later she founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, which today has branch churches and societies around the world. In 1908 she launched The Christian Science Monitor, a leading international newspaper, the recipient of seven Pulitzer Prizes.
From 1875 to 1882, Eddy lived at 8 Broad Street in Lynn, MA. During the seven years she lived here, she published Science and Health, founded her church, chartered a college, and taught dozens of students. She also rented rooms to others, reserving only a portion of the house for herself. In 1882, she moved to Concord, NH. She found a tenant for the Lynn house in Edwin R. Robbins, who rented Eddy’s home from January 1882 until about 1884. Robbins paid $572 a year in rent for the whole building, but sublet the upper part while he lived in the lower portion with his wife, Sophia, and his mother-in-law, Rhoda. Abbie Whiting, a Christian Science student of Eddy’s who had apparently also been living in the house, was generously involved by Eddy in the rental terms as well.
On December 28, 1881, Eddy signed an agreement with Robbins, prior to his moving in. This one concerned Eddy’s furniture, which she was leaving in the house. It provided “That the said Edwin R. Robbins for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, agrees to store a certain lot of household furniture belonging to the said Mrs. Mary B.G. Eddy in an attic room in house No. 8 Broad St., Lynn, said room being a part of the property leased by said Edwin R. Robbins for the term of one year from Mrs. Abbie H. Whiting…said lease to commence on the Fifteenth day of January 1882.”
Document signed, while Eddy was staying in Boston, June 22, 1882, being a receipt for the rent monies owed her by Robbins for May’s rent. “Received from E.R. Robbins and order for $47.69, for rent from May 1st to June 1st for cash,”
Autographs of Eddy are uncommon, this being our first. It is interesting that it relates to somethings personal to her – her home.
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