In addition, Mary Patterson was often ill and at times was even confined to a bed. Daniel left Mary in 1866 and finalized the divorce in 1873.
It was while she was married to Patterson, however, that Mary had two key events take place in her life, events that would mark the course of the rest of her life. First, in 1862, Mary's husband Daniel contacted Dr. Phineas Parkhurst Quimby seeking his help in healing Mary. Quimby had developed a system of mental healing called "The Science of Health" or "Christian Science." Mary was cured and quickly became an enthusiastic disciple of Quimby. She compiled and copied notes of his teachings and manuscripts. Much of the book she would publish in 1875, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," contained much of Quimby's material, though Mary would come to denounce Quimby and deny any dependence on his thought.
.
Second, in the winter of 1866, while Mary was in Lynn, Massachusetts, she fell and injured herself on the ice. Though the account was disputed by friends and doctors, Mary claimed she had been pronounced incurable and at the brink of death. According to Mary, it was at this time that the revelation of Christian Science came to her, resulting in her healing. She lived with many families during the period following this event. Mary taught the principles of Christian Science and had considerable influence on two families in particular, the Crafts and Wentworths. They learned her healing art.
The teaching of Mary took shape during the years 1870-1882. She began a practice and school in Lynn, Massachusetts, with Richard Kennedy, one of her students. The first printing of Science and Health was completed in 1875. Later, Kennedy and Glover separated over a trivial matter (she accused him of cheating at cards). The Christian Science Association was chartered in 1876. In 1877, Mary married Asa Gilbert Eddy, who became the first "practitioner" of Christian Science.
