What was the Christian Science Series?

When people think of the Christian Science religious periodicals, what comes to mind may be The Christian Science Journal, the Christian Science Sentinel, The Herald of Christian Science, or the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons. Did you know that, early in its history, The Christian Science Publishing Society published an additional periodical? 

Between May 1, 1889 and April 15, 1891, the Christian Science Series was available as a bi-monthly publication. The second periodical to be issued by the Publishing Society, it joined the Journal, which had entered circulation on April 14, 1883. 

Journal editor Joshua F. Bailey started the Series, which consisted mostly of reprints of articles from the Journal. Some original pieces were also included. Articles by Mary Baker Eddy were also republished in these volumes. Lasting for just about two years, the Series was scrapped several months after Sarah J. Clark became the Journal’s new Editor in November 1890.

Clifford P. Smith headed the Christian Science church’s Bureau of History and Records (a precursor to The Mary Baker Eddy Library), and included details on the Series in an article titled “Items From Our Literature,” which was published in the February 1934 issue of the Journal. This summary was also included in his 1941 book Historical Sketches:

From May 1, 1889, to [April 15], 1891, The Christian Science Publishing Society issued a small semi-monthly periodical called the Christian Science Series. It consisted of twelve pages, containing four by seven inches of print, and had no cover. Advertisements of our literature always occupied a page or two, and one or two articles often occupied the remaining space. Sometimes there were several articles, and occasionally there was a poem. In the first five numbers and in two later numbers the articles were by Mrs. Eddy, and were reprinted from numbers of The Christian Science Journal which were earlier by several years….¹ 

Only 48 issues of the Series were published. From the start, it appeared, Eddy was not overly enthusiastic about its releases. Smith explained this in Historical Sketches:

The person chiefly responsible for the beginning of the Series was the Editor of the Journal at that time. Mrs. Eddy assented to the Series more than she approved of this undertaking. Most of the articles by Mrs. Eddy which were in the Series are to be found now in her Miscellaneous Writings….² 

Today all the issues of the Series can be found at JSH-Online, by looking at the 1880s and 1890s publication tabs on the Collections page.

The Sentinel did not begin publication until seven years later, in 1898. The first Quarterly was issued in January 1890. The first Herald (Der Christian Science Herold) was published in April 1903.