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Just published March 2008
BLISS KNAPP CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
by Charles Theodore Houpt

Available through The Principia Bookstore
800.325.2420
$29.95 plus S&H

BLISS KNAPP had an extraordinary career serving the Cause of Christian Science. He was born on a farm in northern New Hampshire, where at the age of ten he first met Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. The Knapp family became close to Mrs. Eddy and, at her urging that he attended Harvard College. Upon graduation, Mrs. Eddy appointed him to The Christian Science Board of Lectureship. During his 21 years as a lecturer, he gave hundreds of lectures and undertook two around-the-world lecture tours, introduced thousands of people to Christian Science, and witnessed numerous healings. Knapp was a practitioner and teacher of Christian Science, who served on the Bible Lesson Committee, and held the positions of President, Treasurer, and First Reader of The Mother Church. He wrote numerous articles for the Christian Science periodicals and authored the book The Destiny of The Mother Church. This new, slightly revised edition of Bliss Knapp Christian Scientist, which was initially published in 1976, gives the reader a profound look at the life of a man whose works continue to inspire many.

CHARLES THEODORE HOUPT is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where he taught for 38 years. A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania where he received his PhD, Dr. Houpt taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the United States Naval Academy before joining the faculty at Principia College, where he also served as Dean of the College. Dr. Houpt served on active duty in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II. His other books include The Life of Mark Akenside and The Flaxman Chronicle. He and Ann, his late wife of 63 years, have a daughter, Sherry. Dr. Houpt lives in Nokomis, Florida.

In this landmark biography, Dr. Charles Theodore Houpt presents a vivid picture of Bliss Knapp and his complete commitment to the Cause of Christian Science. Knapp’s life provides a fascinating view into the early days of Christian Science, the lives of many early workers for the Cause, and the metaphysical and logistical challenges faced by Christian Science lecturers in the early twentieth century. Dr. Houpt had complete access to Mr. and Mrs. Knapp’s correspondence and utilized these letters to give the reader many metaphysical insights of great interest and value and a fascinating profile of a man who knew Mrs. Eddy, whose parents were important early workers for the Christian Science Movement and whose healing, teaching, lecturing, writing and other immeasurable contributions blessed countless people and the Cause of Christian Science. Ted Houpt’s life history of Bliss Knapp has enjoyed much popularity since it was first published in 1976. This new and slightly revised edition contains many photographs not previously published that richly complement this insightful story of an important worker in the vineyard of Christian Science.