Editing Septimus J. Hanna (section)

==Career in Christian Science (1890–1921)==
In 1890, after studying Christian Science about four years, Hanna left his legal practice to devote himself to "the Cause of Christian Science",<ref name="lm-book">Brief biography of Judge Septimus J. Hanna, C.S.D. in ''Pioneers in Christian Science'', Longyear Museum & Historical Society (1993)</ref> although he had no plan of how to proceed.<ref name="obit" /> In May 1890, there was a three-day meeting of Mary Baker Eddy's students held in [[New York City]], the fifth annual meeting of the National Christian Science Association<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5375228 ''Report of proceedings of the fifth annual meeting of the National Christian Scientists' Association, held at New York City, May 27, 28, 29, 1890''] WorldCat. Retrieved July 17, 2013</ref>{{#tag:ref|The National Christian Science Association was dissolved in 1892.<ref>Roy M. Anker, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QDrbBzrMCCwC&pg=PA72 ''Self-Help and Popular Religion in Modern American Culture''] Greenwood Publishing Group (1999) p.&nbsp;72. {{ISBN|0-313-22249-5}}. Retrieved July 17, 2013</ref>|group=n}} and the Hannas decided to attend. While there, Septimus Hanna was invited to take charge of a society of Christian Scientists in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]]. After visiting Scranton, he accepted the invitation, marking the beginning of his career in Christian Science.<ref name="obit" />

During this period, Hanna and his wife were invited to meet Eddy,<ref name="peel-39">[[Robert Peel (Christian Science)|Robert Peel]], ''Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority'' (1977), p.&nbsp;39. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York</ref> then living in the Boston neighborhood of [[Roslindale]]. He was deeply impressed by her vitality and her spirituality, as well as her interest in world affairs. Speaking of her later in a lecture given in [[Malden, Massachusetts]], Hanna said, "I can truthfully say that intellectually she is one of the most alert persons I have ever known; that she labors incessantly and unselfishly for the cause to which she has devoted her life, and that, notwithstanding her years, she performs an amount of labor each day which if known would seem incredible, even if done by one yet in the adolescence of life."<ref name="bet">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2249&dat=19060601&id=0o0-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=y1kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5643,65681 "Judge Hanna Lectures"] ''Boston Evening Transcript'' (June 1, 1906). Retrieved July 8, 2013</ref>

The Hannas worked in Scranton until autumn 1892, when Eddy appointed Septimus Hanna editor of the ''[[Christian Science Journal]]'',<ref name="obit" /><ref name="csj-89bio" /> and his wife assistant editor. A move to Boston followed.<ref name="peel-39" />

===Boston years===
During the years the Hannas were in Boston, the church organization was taking shape and Hanna served in several key positions.<ref name="obit" /> In early 1893, in addition to editing the ''Journal'', Hanna was called to become pastor of [[The Mother Church]].<!--"The" is part of the name--> He was also chosen by Eddy to read her address to the [[World's Parliament of Religions]] in Chicago.<ref>Robert Peel (1977), p.&nbsp;51</ref>{{#tag:ref|Mary Baker Eddy had misgivings about Christian Science being represented at the [[World's Parliament of Religions]], but relented to the wishes of her students, who were eager to participate. She wrote to Hanna months before, "I see great aims and results both ''pro'' and ''con'' to this Congress business."<ref>Robert Peel (1977), pp. 49 and 57</ref>|group=n}} In 1894, the Bible and the [[Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures|Christian Science textbook]] were ordained as the "impersonal pastor"; with changes in the church service, Hanna became [[Reader (Christian Science Church)|First Reader]].<ref>Robert Peel (1977), pp.&nbsp;72-23</ref> In 1895, around the time the ''[[Manual of The Mother Church]]'' was published, Eddy wrote a letter to Hanna describing the work of establishing the by-laws that would govern the church, a portion of which was later published in her book ''Miscellaneous Writings''<ref>Robert Peel (1977), pp.&nbsp;90 and 402, fn 88</ref> and in the front of the ''Manual'', before the table of contents.<ref>Mary Baker Eddy (1895), ''Manual of The Mother Church'', Christian Science Publishing Society, p.&nbsp;3</ref>

Eddy was reported to have called him "morally statuesque" and in a letter to him, she called him "a born editor". In a letter to her just over two months later in April 1896, he questioned a proposed raise in his salary, fearing the increase could be a corrupting influence on his character. When a weekly periodical, the ''[[Christian Science Sentinel]]'' began publication in September 1898, Hanna's editorial duties were extended to include the ''Sentinel'',<ref name="csj-89bio" /> as were those of his wife. Also, in 1898, Hanna was made vice-president of the [[Massachusetts Metaphysical College]], when Eddy established a Board of Education to continue the work of the closed institution.<ref>Robert Peel (1977), p. 124</ref> When she taught her last class that same year, Hanna and his wife were invited to attend; both received "the degree of C.S.D." by Eddy.<ref name="lm-book" /><ref>Robert Peel (1977), p. 125</ref>

He continued in these positions until 1902, when he became a member of the Board of Lectureship<ref name="thecc">[http://cambridge.dlconsulting.com/cgi-bin/cambridge?a=d&d=Chronicle19040423-01.2.119# "Christian Science: Lecture at First Parish Church by Judge Septimus J. Hanna, C.S.D."] ''The Cambridge Chronicle'' (April 23, 1904), pp.&nbsp;14-15. Retrieved July 7, 2013</ref> at Eddy's request. His assigned region being in the western United States and a new church by-law setting a three-year term to the First Reader, Hanna resigned his other positions in June. His wife resigned as well.<ref>Robert Peel (1977), p.&nbsp;192</ref>

===Later years===
The Hannas decided to leave Boston and return to the west, moving to [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], which they thought would be a good central location for them in his work as a Christian Science lecturer.<ref name="obit" />

Hanna's lectures were compared to legal arguments and to a judge's charge to a jury.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2485&dat=19081215&id=AqszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=he4HAAAAIBAJ&pg=7048,1543067 "Brilliant Lecture on Christian Science"] ''The Lodi Sentinel'', [[Lodi, California]] (December 15, 1908). Retrieved July 8, 2013</ref> He remained on the lecture circuit until 1914,<ref name="lm-book" /> lecturing in the United States, British Isles, and Canada.<ref name="obit" />

In 1907, at Eddy's request, Hanna taught the "[[Normal college|normal]] class", the course that trains new teachers of Christian Science. Hanna was the third person to teach the course, aside from Eddy herself.<ref name="rp3-250-1">Robert Peel (1977), pp.&nbsp;250-251</ref><ref>[http://www.daystarfoundation.org/?product=lecture-no-2-christian-science-the-religion-of-the-bible-by-judge-septimus-j-hanna-c-s-d Brief bio of Hanna] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130708123810/http://www.daystarfoundation.org/?product=lecture-no-2-christian-science-the-religion-of-the-bible-by-judge-septimus-j-hanna-c-s-d |date=2013-07-08 }} Daystar Foundation. Retrieved July 8, 2013</ref>{{#tag:ref|Initially, the normal class was held annually and the same teacher taught every year. Eddy, who believed in "rotation in office", planned to establish a three-year term limit; the second teacher taught for three years. She then wrote a new by-law, establishing the class term as it is today, with one normal class (course) held once every three years, a different teacher for every term and the class size limited to 30. Hanna was the first to teach under the new by-law.<ref name="rp3-250-1" />|group=n}} Aside from the few pupils he had taught in Scranton before moving to Boston, Hanna had not taught Christian Science and was surprised by the request and was initially uncertain about accepting the invitation. His own first [[Christian Science practitioner#Class instruction|primary class]] was held the following year, in August 1908.<ref name="obit" />

When Eddy died in 1910, Hanna, became president of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College.<ref name="obit" /> He was the only person to serve as president other than Eddy and was re-appointed president every year for the rest of his life.<ref name="csj-89bio" />

In autumn 1911, they moved to [[Pasadena, California]] and built a house on the corner of Oakland Avenue and Fillmore Street. In 1914, Hanna resigned from the Board of Lectureship; he continued to conduct his annual primary class instruction and association meeting until his death in 1921. For many years, Judge Hanna was a member of the [[National Geographic Society]].<ref name="obit" />