Emma Curtis Hopkins
“The Teacher of Teachers”
Chronology of Events
1849 September 2 Born at Killingaley, Connecticut
Parents, Rufus D. and Lydia (Phillops) Curtis
1865 Before 15 years of age entered Woodstock Academy, Connecticut as a student and through her brilliance was given a place on the faculty as a teacher.
1874 July 19 Married George Irving Hopkins, a teacher of English at Andover College, Massachusetts
Marriage eventually ended.
A son born to this union.
1883 December Enrolled in Mary Baker Eddy’s Course in Christian Science.
1884 February – August Listed in “Christian Science Journal” as a Practitioner
1884 September – October of 1885 Advancing rapidly, appointed assistant editor and then in September became editor of the “Christian Science Journal,” a position she held for about a year.
1885 October Dismissed as the editor of the Journal.
1885 December Expelled from the Christian Science Association.
1886 With Mrs. Mary H. Plunkett established partnership
Established “Christian Science Rest (Reading) Rooms” in New York City, Chicago and other cities under the auspices of the “International Christian Science Association.”
Published a series of “International Bible Lessons, Spiritually Interpreted.”
1886 Moved to Chicago, opened offices in Chicago, having separated from Mary Baker Eddy.
1886 In Chicago taught classes which subsequently formed the beginning of associations extending throughout the country and internationally. The associations bore the name of Mrs. Hopkins but the use of her name was the idea of her associates and not her own.
“The Hopkins Metaphysical Association.”
1886 June Chicago – consented to teach a class which was expected to number 6 persons, but turned out to have 37 members. By 1887 the work resulted in the instruction of 600 students.
1887 Founded “The Christian Science Theological Seminary” in her home, 2019 Indians Ave.
1887 Students were prepared for the Christian Science Ministry
First course being devoted to “instruction in the principle and practice of Apostolic Healing.” (i.e. “Class Lessons 1888”)
Second Course being devoted to “Theology and Practical Ministry.”
And then ordination.
1887 Taught a class of 250 people in San Francisco
Annie Rix (Militz) one of her students,
Possibly Malinda E. Cramer attended
1887 New York City – called upon to teach a large class. At the close of the course of lessons, the class organized a Hopkins Association.
Dr. H. Emilie Cady, later author of “Lessons in Truth,” was one of the students.
1887 April In the Christian Science Journal, Mrs. Eddy condemns Mrs. Hopkins
1887 November A national convention of the Hopkins Associations was held in Boston in Parker Memorial Hall. A seating capacity of 1,000 was filled each session.
1887 December In this issue of “Truth” magazine a list appeared with a description of the 21 branches of the Hopkins Association and their activities.
1888-1897 September Published new magazine “Christian Science” later changed to “Christian Metaphysician”
Ida A. Nichols, Editor
1888 Weekly column in the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper – “Metaphysical Interpretation of the International Sunday School Lessons.”
1888 January An International Association was formed with headquarters in New York. It was popularly urged that Mrs. Hopkins be made President, but she declined.
1888 March In this issue of the Christian Science Journal Mrs. Eddy again condemns Mrs. Hopkins.
1888 April (Best Guess) [illegible text] stated that Mrs. Hopkins had arranged to receive patients for mental cure at her residence, 2019 Indianan Ave.
1888 May Advertisement under Christian Services in Chicago Inter Ocean stated that Mrs. Hopkins would speak at Kimball Hall on the subject “there is no Matter”
1888 June In this issue of “Truth” magazine appeared the first announcement of “the Theological Seminary in Chicago for the preparation of students for the Christian Science Ministry.”
1889 January 10 First Class graduated from the Theological Seminary
First ordaining of a woman by a woman
1889 November Enjoyed a short vacation in Massachusetts.
1889 December The Hopkins Metaphysical Association changes name to “The Christian Science Association”
Mrs. Hopkins to remain President of Association.
1890 January 6 In Kansas City, Missouri, gave another class of lessons in Christian Science attended by Charles & Myrtle Fillmore of Unity.
1890-1898 While in New York and Chicago, Mrs. Hopkins wrote for publication in the Chicago Inter Ocean her own interpretation of the scripture passages used in the weekly “International Bible Lessons.”
1891 February CCCS – Columbia Congress of Christian Scientists organized to have a favorable corner in the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 for a Christian Science Headquarters.
$2.00 membership fee.
1893 Christian Science Theological Seminary moved to 72 auditorium building
Mrs. Hopkins, president and faculty members were Annie Rix Militz, George Edward Burnell, and Mary Lamoreaux Burnell
Class register numbers 550 names of those who have received the first course of twelve lessons – fee $50
Ordained 111 persons who have received the second course (Theology and Practical Ministry) – fee $50
1894 Visited in London and worked out part of “High Mysticism”
1895 Moved to New York City and established her individual ministry where for some time she taught classes. Later on she confined herself to individual instruction.
1905 Her only child, John, died
1907 Began the publication of the twelve Studies in High Mysticism in single volumes.
1920-21 Her major work, “High Mysticism,” was published in twelve slight volumes
1928-35 Published in 13 volumes by Cornwell Bridge, Connecticut.
Also published a resume of the 12 studies. These studies are acknowledged to be among the finest of mystical writings.
1918 September INTA – 4th Congress in Boston – Named an honorary president.
1920’s Mabel Luhen Dodge, a private student in New York
1924 Ernes Holmes, founder of Religious Science and the Science of Mind magazine, studied with Mrs. Hopkins in New York.
1925 Made her transition – reported as died April 8, 1925 in Boston by Rev. Eleanore Nel who was with her during transistion; April 25, 1925 according to Unity magazine, June 9, 1925 in New York City – New Thought Bulletin
After 1925 Epilogue
1925 Mrs. Hopkins’ sister, Estelle Carpenter and Rev. Eleanore Mel established Joy Farm in Connecticut.
“The Ministry of the High Watch”
Mr & Mrs. Helling and Estelle Carpenter started classes in Mrs. Hopkins’ teaching works were published and distributed
Mr. Heling left
Chales Wade entered, Classes resumed
Mrs. Bogarte, secretary to Myrtle Fillmore –Unity Collected the Bible Lessons from the Chicago Inter Ocean – published and distributed same
Mrs. Estelle Carpenter died
Willed the books to Leon T. Wilson who continued to send out the books under the name of “The Emma Curtis Hopkins Publishing Company”
1951 Sold to Mr. and Mrs. Bogart
Founded “High Watch Fellowship in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut.
1975 Copyright in public domain – Sanctuary of Truth Dr. Carmelita Trowbridge, Director – begins publication of books
1978 Mrs. Bogart died and willed papers to nephew
Among those influenced were:
Co-founders of Divine Science – 1898 in Denver, Colorado
Malinda E. Cramer – San Francisco
Nona L. Brooks – Pueblo, Colorado through Kate G. Bingham in 1886
Founders of the Unity School of Christianity – 1891 in Kansas City, Missouri
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore – Kansas City, Missouri
Myrtle Fillmore healed through E. B. Weeks in 1887
Later both studied and ordained in Chicago – June 1, 1891
Founders of The Home of Truth – Alameda, California in 1893
Annie Rix Militz and Harriet Rix – San Francisco, California
Founder of the Institute of Religious Science – 1927 in Los Angeles, California
Ernest Holmes – Los Angeles, California
Other Students were:
Charles & Josephine, Kansas City, Missouri.
Editors of “The Life”
T.J. Shelton
Editor of “Scientific Christian”
Paul Militz (huband of Annie Rix)
(with T.J. Shelton taught)
Elizabeth Towne – Editor of “Nautilus”
H.B. Jeffrey, noted teacher, lecturer and author of such books as “The Principles of Healing,” “Mysticism,” &etc.
Frances Lord, British teacher, author, of “Christian Science Healing”
George R. Burnell and Mary Lamoreaux Burnell, noted teachers
New York City Classes
H. Emilie Cady, author of “Lessons in Truth” Unity Textbook
Helen Wilmans, editor of “Wilman’s Express” and author of “The Blessoms of the Century” and other books
New York City private instruction
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, New Thought poet and author
John Jay Chapman, essayist
Mabel Dodge Luhan, literary hostess
Ernest Holmes, religious thinker
Dr. W John Murray, Catholic Priest, who founded the New York Church of Healing Christ affiliated with Divine Science and ordained by Nona L. Brooks