Malinda Cramer
Encyclopedia
Malinda Elliott Cramer (February 12, 1844-August 2, 1906) was a founder of the Church of Divine Science, a healer, and an important figure in the early New Thought
movement.
, the daughter of Obediah and Mary Henshaw Elliott. Hoping to alleviate a persistent health problem, she moved to San Francisco in 1870, where she met Charles Lake Cramer, a photographer, whom she married in 1872. Despite the move, health problems continued to plague her, making her an effective invalid.
In 1885, perhaps under the impetus of Christian Scientist Miranda Rice, Cramer had what she described as a divine revelation after an "hour of earnest mediation and prayerful seeking" and "that hour was the beginning of my realization of the oneness of Life, [and] a gleam of its Truth flashed across my mental vision". Within two years she was healed.
, an important teacher in the New Thought
movement, and began to practice faith-healing herself. In October, Cramer inaugurated Harmony, a monthly journal. In March 1888, she and her husband opened what would become the Home College of Divine Science. The term "Divine Science", however, was not coined by Cramer, but had been used earlier by Mary Baker Eddy
, founder of Christian Science
, as well as by Wilberforce Juvenal Colville, who had published a book by that title that year.
In 1892, Cramer helped form the International Divine Science Association, a forerunner of the International New Thought Alliance
, which would interconnect the various New Thought
centers. In 1893, she helped open the second Divine Science College, in Oakland
, and undertook several cross-country missionary trips.
In 1898, Cramer trained Nona L. Brooks
, ordaining her as a minister in the Church of Divine Science. Brooks returned to Denver and, with sisters Fannie Brooks James and Alethea Brooks Small, formed a church there, one which would eventually become the home church of the denomination.
Cramer died August 2, 1906, in San Francisco, due to injuries received in the great San Francisco earthquake
.
New Thought
New Thought promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect.Although New Thought is neither...
movement.
Biography
Cramer was born in Greensboro, IndianaGreensboro, Indiana
Greensboro is a town in Greensboro Township, Henry County, Indiana, United States. The population was 143 at the 2010 census. The town was a 'station' on the Underground Railroad and was recognized for its active abolitionists...
, the daughter of Obediah and Mary Henshaw Elliott. Hoping to alleviate a persistent health problem, she moved to San Francisco in 1870, where she met Charles Lake Cramer, a photographer, whom she married in 1872. Despite the move, health problems continued to plague her, making her an effective invalid.
In 1885, perhaps under the impetus of Christian Scientist Miranda Rice, Cramer had what she described as a divine revelation after an "hour of earnest mediation and prayerful seeking" and "that hour was the beginning of my realization of the oneness of Life, [and] a gleam of its Truth flashed across my mental vision". Within two years she was healed.
Divine Science
In 1887, she began taking classes with Emma Curtis HopkinsEmma Curtis Hopkins
Emma Curtis Hopkins organized New Thought and was a primary theologian, teacher, writer, feminist, mystic and prophet who ordained women at what she named the Christian Science Theological Seminary of Chicago...
, an important teacher in the New Thought
New Thought
New Thought promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect.Although New Thought is neither...
movement, and began to practice faith-healing herself. In October, Cramer inaugurated Harmony, a monthly journal. In March 1888, she and her husband opened what would become the Home College of Divine Science. The term "Divine Science", however, was not coined by Cramer, but had been used earlier by Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of Christian Science , a Protestant American system of religious thought and practice religion adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist, and others...
, founder of Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
, as well as by Wilberforce Juvenal Colville, who had published a book by that title that year.
In 1892, Cramer helped form the International Divine Science Association, a forerunner of the International New Thought Alliance
International New Thought Alliance
The International New Thought Alliance is an umbrella organization for New Thought adherents "dedicated to serving the New Thought Movement’s various branches, organizations and individuals".- History :...
, which would interconnect the various New Thought
New Thought
New Thought promotes the ideas that "Infinite Intelligence" or "God" is ubiquitous, spirit is the totality of real things, true human selfhood is divine, divine thought is a force for good, sickness originates in the mind, and "right thinking" has a healing effect.Although New Thought is neither...
centers. In 1893, she helped open the second Divine Science College, in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, and undertook several cross-country missionary trips.
In 1898, Cramer trained Nona L. Brooks
Nona L. Brooks
Nona Lovell Brooks , described as a "prophet of modern mystical Christianity", was a leader in the New Thought movement and a founder of the Church of Divine Science.- Biography :...
, ordaining her as a minister in the Church of Divine Science. Brooks returned to Denver and, with sisters Fannie Brooks James and Alethea Brooks Small, formed a church there, one which would eventually become the home church of the denomination.
Cramer died August 2, 1906, in San Francisco, due to injuries received in the great San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
.
Further reading
- Cramer, Malinda (1923) Divine Science and Healing, Colorado College of Divine Science, Denver.
- First Divine Science Church of Denver, "Centennial", accessed May 2008.
- Divine Science page on Malinda Cramer, accessed May 2008.
- Gale Publishing (2008) "Malinda Cramer" in Contemporary Authors Online. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC. Accessed May 2008.
- Gale Publishing (2008) "Nona Lovell Brooks" and "Malinda Cramer" in Religious Leaders of America. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC. Accessed May 2008.
- Satter, Beryl (2001) Each Mind a Kingdom: American Women, Sexual Purity, and the New Thought Movement, 1875-1920, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520229273.
- Spiritual Enlightenment.org, accessed May 2008.