(Study Room copy)
For many years a picture book of importance to the world and of deep significance to Christian Scientists has been in people's thoughts. Since 1922, the taking of those pictures and the issuance of them in book form seemed to me an impelling service. The world wide welcome which the first two printings of "Landmarks for Christian Scientists from Bow to Boston" received is confirming, and so this Third Edition follows in natural course.
Much work had to be done. After due research, many miles were traveled in making more than eight hundred photographs. Some subjects were taken frequently in order to obtain the complete survey of faithful effects. Earnest effort was made to secure the points of vantage; to be at the right place at the right season and time of day, for each exposure. In the body of this monograph the pictures are arranged in chronological and story telling sequence. The information given in the captions has been obtained so far as possible from original and authorized sources. To make the trip "from Bow to Boston" on the fairest of days, you have but to turn the pages that follow, and reflect.
It is hoped that these illustrations will graphically show the orderliness and unfoldment of the life of our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy - from the modest homes she occupied on up to The Mother Church, which she alone conceived and loved into purposeful permanence. In no sense is this work a camera history of vanished places or things related to Christian Science or its Founder. It deals with the present. The landmarks are shown as a sympathetic camera lens may perceive them today. The responsibility of choosing from hundreds of splendid branch church structures could not be attempted, so the focus has been confined to the one most closely associated with the munificence of Mrs. Eddy; First Church of Christ, Scientist, Concord, New Hampshire; and to the first building ever erected for Christian Science services, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oconto, Wisconsin.
Sincere and lasting appreciation must be expressed to The Christian Science Board of Directors, whose co-operation and permission to take interiors has made the completeness of this picture story possible. Gratitude is also expressed to the Trustees Under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy for the right to reproduce the painting of Mrs. Eddy, which is the Frontispiece of this volume, to the Trustees and Manager of The Christian Science Publishing Society, to the Managers, officials, and Associates of the three charitable institutions of The Mother Church, to its maintenance department for efficient and courteous help, to the Boards of Trustees of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Lynn, Massachusetts, and First Church of Christ, Scientist, Concord, New Hampshire, to the Longyear Foundation of Brookline, Massachusetts, to Mr. Bernhardt E. Müller of New York City, to Miss Lucia C. Warren, to Mr. Rufus Steele, to Miss Viola S. May, to Mr. Bliss Knapp, to Professor Hermann S. Hering, all of Boston, and to many friends for their fine encouragement and timely ideas, and by no means least to the faithful workers who did the manufacture. Heartfelt thanks also goes to each one who responded to the first two editions, for the letters of appreciation and constructive criticism, and to all who permitted excerpts to be quoted from their voluntary statements. In this book is bound the expression of much co-operation, and no one realizes more than I do that planning it, and taking the pictures, were but a part.
RICHARD SOUTHALL GRANT