Malinda Elliott Cramer (June 12, 1844 – August 2, 1906) was a founder of the Church of Divine Science, faith healer, and an important figure in the early New Thought movement.
Malinda Cramer | |
|---|---|
 Malinda Elliott Cramer in an 1890 photo | |
| Born | Malinda Elliott June 12, 1844 Greensboro, Indiana, United States |
| Died | August 2, 1906 (aged 62) San Francisco, California, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Minister, author |
| Years active | 1887–1906 |
| Employer | Home College |
| Known for | Founder of the Divine Science movement |
| Spouse | Charles L. Cramer |
| Children | 1 |
Biography
Cramer was born in Greensboro, Indiana, the daughter of Obediah and Mary Hinshaw Elliott. Hoping to alleviate a persistent health problem, she moved to San Francisco, California, in 1872, where she met Charles Lake Cramer, a photographer; they wed that year. Despite the move, health problems continued to plague her.
In 1885, perhaps under the impetus of Christian Scientist , Cramer had what she described as a divine revelation after an "hour of earnest meditation and prayerful seeking" and a “realization of the oneness of Life, [and] a gleam of its Truth flashed across my mental vision.” She reported being healed of her health problems within the following two years.
Divine Science
In 1887, she began to practice faith-healing herself. In October 1888, Cramer inaugurated , a monthly journal. In May 1888, she and her husband opened what would become the . The term "Divine Science" 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 founded 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.
Between 1893 and 1898, Cramer trained Nona L. Brooks, ordaining her as a minister in the Church of Divine Science on December 1, 1898. Brooks returned to Denver with sisters Fannie Brooks James and Alethea Brooks Small, forming a church there that would eventually become the home church of the denomination.
Cramer died August 2, 1906, in San Francisco, due to a recurrence of her tuberculosis as a result of the aftermath of the great San Francisco earthquake.
Published work
- Cramer, Malinda (1890). Lessons in the science of infinite spirit : and the Christ method of healing. C.W. Gordon.
- Cramer, Malinda (1893). Basic statements and health treatment of truth. San Francisco: C.W. Gordon.
- Cramer, Malinda (1905). Basic statements and health treatment of truth; a system of instruction in divine science and its application in healing and for class training, home and private use. San Francisco: Home College of Divine Science.
- Cramer, Malinda (1907). Divine science and healing. C.L. Cramer.
- Malinda Cramer's Hidden Harmony, Joan Cline-McCrary, ed., Divine Science Federation International (Denver), 1990
References
- "Malinda Cramer", Gale Contemporary Authors Online.
- Contemporary Authors Online
- Cramer, p. 16.
- Cramer, p. 19.
- Satter, p. 98.
- Satter, p. 98, although "Malinda Elliott Cramer", Religious Leaders of America states that Harmony was launched in late 1888.
- "Malinda Elliott Cramer", Religious Leaders of America.
- Albanese, p. 316.
Miller, p. 326. - Keller, p. 758.
- First Divine Science Church of Denver Archived July 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- "Nona Lovell Brooks", Gale's Religious Leaders of America.
Further reading
- Albanese, Catherine L. (January 2007). A Republic of Mind and Spirit: A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion. Yale University Press. p. 316. ISBN 978-0-300-11089-0.
- Cramer, Malinda (1923) Divine Science and Healing, Colorado College of Divine Science, Denver.
- First Divine Science Church of Denver, "Centennial", accessed May 2008.
- Keller, Rosemary Skinner; Rosemary Radford Ruether, Marie Cantlon (eds.) (2006). Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America. Indiana University Press. p. 758. ISBN 0-253-34687-8.
{{cite book}}:|author2=has generic name (help) - Miller, Timothy (January 1995). America's Alternative Religions. SUNY Press. p. 326. ISBN 0-7914-2397-2.
- Divine Science page on Malinda Cramer Archived August 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, 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 978-0-520-22927-3.
- Spiritual Enlightenment.org, accessed May 2008.
Malinda Elliott Cramer June 12 1844 August 2 1906 was a founder of the Church of Divine Science faith healer and an important figure in the early New Thought movement Malinda CramerMalinda Elliott Cramer in an 1890 photoBornMalinda Elliott 1844 06 12 June 12 1844 Greensboro Indiana United StatesDiedAugust 2 1906 1906 08 02 aged 62 San Francisco California United StatesOccupation s Minister authorYears active1887 1906EmployerHome CollegeKnown forFounder of the Divine Science movementSpouseCharles L CramerChildren1BiographyCramer was born in Greensboro Indiana the daughter of Obediah and Mary Hinshaw Elliott Hoping to alleviate a persistent health problem she moved to San Francisco California in 1872 where she met Charles Lake Cramer a photographer they wed that year Despite the move health problems continued to plague her In 1885 perhaps under the impetus of Christian Scientist Cramer had what she described as a divine revelation after an hour of earnest meditation and prayerful seeking and a realization of the oneness of Life and a gleam of its Truth flashed across my mental vision She reported being healed of her health problems within the following two years Divine ScienceIn 1887 she began to practice faith healing herself In October 1888 Cramer inaugurated a monthly journal In May 1888 she and her husband opened what would become the The term Divine Science 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 founded 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 Between 1893 and 1898 Cramer trained Nona L Brooks ordaining her as a minister in the Church of Divine Science on December 1 1898 Brooks returned to Denver with sisters Fannie Brooks James and Alethea Brooks Small forming a church there that would eventually become the home church of the denomination Cramer died August 2 1906 in San Francisco due to a recurrence of her tuberculosis as a result of the aftermath of the great San Francisco earthquake Published workCramer Malinda 1890 Lessons in the science of infinite spirit and the Christ method of healing C W Gordon Cramer Malinda 1893 Basic statements and health treatment of truth San Francisco C W Gordon Cramer Malinda 1905 Basic statements and health treatment of truth a system of instruction in divine science and its application in healing and for class training home and private use San Francisco Home College of Divine Science Cramer Malinda 1907 Divine science and healing C L Cramer Malinda Cramer s Hidden Harmony Joan Cline McCrary ed Divine Science Federation International Denver 1990References Malinda Cramer Gale Contemporary Authors Online Contemporary Authors Online Cramer p 16 Cramer p 19 Satter p 98 Satter p 98 although Malinda Elliott Cramer Religious Leaders of America states that Harmony was launched in late 1888 Malinda Elliott Cramer Religious Leaders of America Albanese p 316 Miller p 326 Keller p 758 First Divine Science Church of Denver Archived July 13 2012 at the Wayback Machine Nona Lovell Brooks Gale s Religious Leaders of America Further readingAlbanese Catherine L January 2007 A Republic of Mind and Spirit A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion Yale University Press p 316 ISBN 978 0 300 11089 0 Cramer Malinda 1923 Divine Science and Healing Colorado College of Divine Science Denver First Divine Science Church of Denver Centennial accessed May 2008 Keller Rosemary Skinner Rosemary Radford Ruether Marie Cantlon eds 2006 Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America Indiana University Press p 758 ISBN 0 253 34687 8 a href wiki Template Cite book title Template Cite book cite book a author2 has generic name help Miller Timothy January 1995 America s Alternative Religions SUNY Press p 326 ISBN 0 7914 2397 2 Divine Science page on Malinda Cramer Archived August 22 2007 at the Wayback Machine 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 0 520 22927 3 Spiritual Enlightenment org accessed May 2008
