QUARTERLY NEWS MUSEUM and Historic Sites

VOL. 14, NO . 2 PUBLISHED BY LONGYEAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY SUMMER 1977

SOWING THE SEED

Claremont School, left, and Fan Court School, right, both located in Surrey, southwest of London. Below, students at Fan Court, left, and Claremont, right

"This prize seems to be an urging Society, Mrs. Mary Beecher Long­ have been allowed to sow the seed in onward for me .. ," a student wrote year, was active in spreading the Paris, Dresden, and Rome. Fifty Longyear recently. Another said, teachings of . She copies of Science and Health have "Thank you for your thoughtfulness distributed Science and Health with been sold and distributed since last in providing this recognition and the Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker spring in Paris."1 Thus it was natural encouragement it brings." A college Eddy while on extended visits to for her to provide specifically in her student wrote, "Thanks to you I have Europe. Writing to The Christian Sci­ deed of trust for Longyear to distrib­ discovered a new and valuable ence Journal in 1897 she said: " ... I ute copies of Mrs. Eddy's writings. source for ideas and truths on Chris­ tian Science." These students had received gifts of copies of Mary Baker Eddy's writ­ ings from Longyear Historical Soci­ ety. These books- and occasionally Bibles- are sent to college organiza­ tions throughout the world and to individual students at Principia Col­ lege, Principia Upper School, Berke­ ley Hall School and The in the ; Clare­ mont School and Fan Court School in England; and Huntingtower School in Australia. The founder of Longyear Historical Quarterly News Summer 1977 © Longyear Foundation 1977 Vol. 14, No. 2 Subscription, $6.00 Annually (Includes Activities at Longyear) Sent without charge to Members of Longyear

213 Huntingtower School, near Melbourne, Australia provides elementary and high school education for both boys and girls.

She encouraged the Trustees of awarded in recognition of scholastic was completed five years later. De­ Longyear to make gifts of these books, or other achievement. In other cases, signed by "Capability" Brown in the particularly to institutions in foreign books are given to scholarship stu­ Palladian style, the house is still full lands. dents. of the dignified grace and charm of Gifts of books were sporadic over Of the schools currently participat­ the period. the early years of the organization, ing in the program, Claremont, Fan Shortly after its completion, the but in 1957 a continuing program Court and Huntingtower schools are house and property came to the was instituted. A requirement for probably less well known to our British Royal Family. Princess Char­ Christian Science textbooks had de­ Members than the schools in the lotte and Prince Leopold (later King veloped in East Germany, and Long­ United States. Consequently, their of the Belgians) lived in the house year helped to supply that need by historic backgrounds may be of inter­ beginning in 1816. Louis Philippe sending copies of Science and Health est. and his family found refuge at and accompanying Concordances. "Claremont" when the 1848 Revolu­ Distribution spread to other countries Claremont School tion ended his reign as King of and soon books were being sent to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Packer, who France. Queen Victoria loved the es­ such diverse places as Australia, were Christian Scientists, were in­ tate and spent many happy hours Brazil, Chile, England, Greece, In­ spired by Mary Kimball Morgan and there as a young girl and as queen. donesia, Norway, Pakistan, Switzer­ to establish "Clear The Royal Family disposed of land and Yugoslavia. Mrs. Eddy's View School" in Upper Norwood, "Claremont" in 1922. writings were sent to informal England. The school opened in the Except for necessary alterations to groups, nursing homes, libraries, Packer home in 1922 for girls aged make it usable as a school, Claremont schools, colleges and other institu­ 10-18. has maintained the house in its tions. In some cases complete sets of The name "Claremont" came with eighteenth century character and books were forwarded to groups that the property the school bought nine beauty. Students give guided tours of had none. These programs have con­ years later in Esher, Surrey, which is this historic house one weekend per tinued as an important part of Long­ southwest of London. The property month. The school has now ex­ year's activities. included a beautiful eighteenth cen­ panded into the stable and carriage Some schools have an awards pro­ tury house and many acres of house. Recently a new building was gram and Longyear gift books are grounds. Construction of the house completed which furnishes better 1. The Christian Science Journal, Vol. XV, began in 1768 for Lord Clive, a leader dormitory, kitchen, music, art and June 1897, p. 142. in Britain's expansion into India, and gymnasium space.

Left to right, students at Berkeley Hall, Principia Upper School and Daycroft

214 A Board of Governors and large HERBERT W. BECK, C.S.B. staff provide educational facilities for 300 girls aged 8-18. Most of the staff just over a month afterward, in the and all of the Board of Governors are July 22 issue. Almost seventy articles Christian Scientists, as are the board­ written by him were published in the ing students. The student body con­ periodicals. tains a large number of day students Beginning in the early 1900's, Mr. from the local community, most of Beck pioneered work in the penal whom are not Christian Scientists. institutions of Northern . Claremont's purpose is to "train Two letters reporting on this work girls to be alert, poised, and en­ were sent to Mrs. Eddy and were pub­ lightened citizens prepared to take lished in the August 7, 1902 and July up constructive careers." To fulfill 2, 1904 Sentinels. Later, during the this purpose, it offers a wide variety First World War, he served as Chap­ of college preparatory courses, in­ lain in the United States Army, and is cluding five languages. Its large and believed to be one of the first to have very active music program includes served in this capacity in the history individual instruction, two choirs of the Christian Science movement. and an orchestra. He served as assistant to Clifford P. For those who board at the school, Smith, then Manager of the Commit­ the housemistresses create a home­ tees on Publication in Boston, during like atmosphere by their loving care. the years 1920 to 1926. After being Thirty-two acres of property, trips to HERBERT W. BECK William F. Timmins taught in the Normal class he re­ London, activities in the local com­ turned to Oakland to continue his munity and their own pets give the work as practitioner and to begin girls a wide opportunity to develop. A portrait of Herbert W. Beck, teaching Christian Science. While Fan Court School C.S.B . was donated to Longyear by living in Oakland, Mr. Beck served as By the early 1930's about seventy­ the pupils of his Christian Science Director and Reader in branch five percent of the students at St. Students' Association. This well ren­ churches there. Michael's, a school for boys in dered likeness in oil is by the artist In October 1938 Mr. Beck began Uckfield, Sussex, England, were William F. Timmins. The portrait is serving as Committee on Publication Christian Scientists, as were several currently displayed in the rotunda of for Northern California, and in 1940 of its masters. In the spring of 1932 the Museum. returned to Boston to become Man­ Guy Snape, one of those masters, de­ Mr. Beck, a native of the San Fran­ ager of the Committees on Publica­ cided that the time had come to open cisco Bay area in California, was a tion, succeeding the Hon. C. Augus­ a school specifically for boys from Christian Science practitioner, tus Norwood. He was appointed to Christian Science homes. teacher and lecturer. He was active in the Christian Science Board of Lec­ Geith Plimmer, also a St. Michael's institutional work, was a chaplain in tureship in 1942. master, joined him and together they World War I, and served as Commit­ planned a school along the lines of tee on Publication. In 1903 Mr. Beck ************ * had Primary class instruction from Claremont. By opening day the fol­ William F. Timmins was encour­ lowing autumn, the first five students Dr. Francis J. Fluno, C.S.D. and was a member of the Normal class of 1925 aged early by his talented and widely were furnished with a curriculum known artist father, Harry L. Tim­ teachers, a school building, a cook taught by Mrs. Emilie B. Hulin, C. S.D. (Portraits of Dr. Fluno and Mrs. Hulin mins, co-founder of the American and school uniforms. The school was Academy of Art in Chicago. William first housed at The Lodge in are on display in the Museum.) Mr. Beck attended the public studied figure drawing under George Banstead, Surrey, and moved to "Fan Bridgeman at the Art Students Court" two years later. schools in Oakland, California and graduated from the University of League, painting under Harvey Dunn Fan Court, located at Long Cross, at Grand Central Art School, and por­ Chertsey, Surrey, also southwest of California. He was employed by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and be­ traiture under Karl Godwin in London, includes a mansion built be­ Westport, . tween 1818 and 1820 and fifty-seven came its Secretary-Director. How­ ever, in 1902 he resigned his position While living in Connecticut he acres of grounds. Since 1934 the painted portraits and did illus­ school has expanded from the main with the company to devote full time to the public practice of Christian trations for institutions, and maga­ house into the stables and other zine and book publishers. He had a buildings on the property. In the Science. In 1887, Mr. Beck's father was number of one-man shows in New 1960's Fan Court enlarged its student England, winning awards in both oil body by inviting girls to attend. healed in Christian Science, and shortly afterward he himself was and watercolor. In 1965 he continued Today Fan Court furnishes education his career in Carmel, California, for about 160 boys and girls aged healed of tuberculosis. His increasing interest in Christian Science led him painting much of the time for art gal­ 3-14. They participate in a full gram­ leries in that state and Arizona. It was mar school curriculum, athletics and to join The Mother Church in June, 1899. It is interesting to note that Mr. in 1976 that he completed the portrait Beck's first article published in the of Mr. Beck. (Continued on page 216, col. 1) Christian Science Sentinel appeared (Continued on page 21 6, col. 3)

215 Left to right, , Claremont, and Berkeley Hall students engaged in various sports

(Continued from page 215) Health for the students who read the A new exhibit at the Museum will school's Thanksgiving Day service. again feature the schools in Long­ many other activities. About half of Other schools give books as awards year's book program. It is expected to the students and almost all of the for various achievements. Principia be more comprehensive and illustra­ teachers are Christian Scientists. invites each new student on financial tive than the last one. Fan Court seeks to "provide a aid to select a book from Longyear. In recent years Longyear has ap­ sound education" and to encourage A large part ofLongyear's book dis­ propriated approximately $1000- students "to rely on Christian Sci­ tribution program involves the Chris­ $1500 per year to support its book ence for healing and to apply it in tian Science organizations at colleges distribution program. Over 200 their daily activities." and universities throughout the copies of Mrs. Eddy's writings and In 1976 the Councils of both these world. To date 59 foreign and 398 the Bible have been distributed English schools agreed to combine, United States colleges and universi­ yearly. forming a joint policy-making body ties have received books for the use of In thanking Longyear for a gift known as The Claremont Fan Court their Readers or their libraries. Re­ book, one Huntingtower student Foundation. Each school continues cently Readers' books have been sent wrote, "I have always attempted to to operate individually with its own in the Newtype edition, which is the demonstrate Christian Science in my Board of Governors. most convenient size for college or­ daily activities, but I never realized ganization Reader use. Longyear will that I would receive any recognition Huntingtower School also send replacement Readers' for this. I am extremely grateful for Christian Scientists established books on request. your encouragement. Thank you for Huntingtower School in 1927 in Longyear is notified by The Mother caring.'' It Malvern, Victoria, Australia. was Church when a new college organiza­ It is gratifying to know that Long­ founded with the " idea of education tion is formed, and the organization year's gift book program is continu­ impelled by Christian Science," in­ is contacted to determine its interest ing to supply inspiration and encour­ cluding these challenging condi­ in receiving the books. The donated agement. tions: " ... firstly to provide a school books are sent to the organization education in harmony with the truths with Longyear's bookplate on the Carl Erikson of Christian Science; secondly to flyleaf of each book. provide a school atmosphere in Some of our Members may recall (Concluded from page 215) which those truths are accepted, the school and college exhibit the cherished, and consistently applied Mary Baker Eddy Museum had on Mr. Timmins is mentioned in by pupils and teachers, all 'heirs of display in its Youth Room in 1969. Who's Who in American Art (since the same promise,' and all members This exhibit, prepared especially for of the one family." 1957), All About the Illustrator, and that year's Biennial College Meeting, Who's Who in Antiques and Art. He is In 1954 Huntingtower moved from featured the schools mentioned in currently a member of the Society of its original location to new facilities this article and listed all the Christian Western Artists and the Carmel Art in Mt. Waverley, Victoria, a suburb Science college organizations to Association. southeast of Melbourne. Here it offers which Longyear had sent books up to outstanding elementary and high that time. Richard C. Molloy school education to both boys and girls. The student body has day as well as boarding students. ,.. LONG YEAR FOUNDATION: Board of Trustees: Mrs. Marian H. Holbrook, Frederick D. Berberich, Robert C. Dale, Mrs. Marion D. Pierce. President: Each school participating in Long­ Richard C. Molloy. QUARTERLY NEWS is published four times annually, in year's book distribution program de­ the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, at the headquarters of Longyear termines how to present Longyear's Historical Society, 120 Seaver Street, Brookline, Massachusetts 02146. In­ gift. Berkeley Hall School in Califor­ quiries about memberships, subscriptions, and its services are welcome. nia requests copies of Science and

216 Printed in the United States of America