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Removing Category:American people of Scottish descent per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2026 January 21#Category:Australian people of British descent

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{{Short description|American judge and Christian Science teacher (1845-1921)}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Judge
| name = Septimus J. Hanna
| image = Judge S. J. Hanna.png
| image_size =
| alt = photo of Judge Hanna
| caption = Judge Septimus J. Hanna
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1845|07|29}}
| birth_place = [[Spring Mills, Pennsylvania]], US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1921|07|23|1845|07|29}}
| death_place = [[Pasadena, California]], US
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Lawyer and judge;<br>Christian Science teacher<br>and lecturer
| years_active = 1872–1890;<br>1890–1921
| spouse = Camilla Hanna (née Turley)
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| signature_size =
}}
'''Septimus James Hanna''' (July 29, 1845 – July 23, 1921), an American [[American Civil War|Civil War]] veteran and a judge in the Old West. He was a student of [[Mary Baker Eddy]], who founded the [[Christian Science]] church. Giving up his legal career, he became a [[Christian Science practitioner]], lecturer and teacher. Hanna occupied more leading positions within the church organization than any individual, serving as pastor, then [[Reader (Christian Science Church)|First Reader]] of [[The Mother Church]], as editor and associate editor of the periodicals, member of the Bible Lesson Committee, he served two terms as president of The Mother Church, he was teacher of the Normal (teachers) Class of 1907, later vice president and then president of the [[Massachusetts Metaphysical College]].

==Family background==
Hanna's grandfather, Andrew Hanna, a [[Presbyterian]] from [[Scotland]], emigrated to the United States after the [[American Revolutionary War]] and bought land in Penns Valley in [[Pennsylvania]]. He served in the [[War of 1812]] and was in a battle that was part of the [[Battle of Lake Erie]]. He married a daughter of James Cook, a [[Federalist]] once described as "a tall, dignified gentleman ... a man of large means."<ref name="obit">[http://www.endtime.org/library/remin/hanna_bio.html Obituary and biographical sketch of Judge Septimus J. Hanna, C.S.D.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718144534/http://www.endtime.org/library/remin/hanna_bio.html |date=2011-07-18 }} republished from the ''Pasadena Star News'', Pasadena, California (July 25, 1921). Retrieved July 6, 2013</ref> Hanna's father, Samuel Cook Hanna, a farmer, was born in 1808 in [[Centre County, Pennsylvania]], and spent his boyhood there. His father was an active member of the Methodist church and served as superintendent of the Sunday school. A history of the [[Spring Mills, Pennsylvania|Spring Mills]] Sunday School noted about him, "His words were few and always spoken with gentleness, but his life had a power whose influence was deep and abiding."<ref name="obit" />

His mother, Susanna Miles, was descended from a [[Baptist]] family who came from Radnor, Wales, with [[William Penn]] in "Ye Good Shippe Welcome" to become among the earliest settlers of [[Philadelphia]] and was related to [[Samuel Miles]], a militia general in the Revolutionary War, one of Philadelphia's early mayors and a judge of the High Court of Errors and Appeals. His brother, Richard, a captain in the Revolutionary War, was Hanna' s grandfather.<ref name="obit" />

==Early years==
Septimus J. Hanna was born one of ten children, to Susanna (née Miles) and Samuel Cook Hanna in [[Spring Mills, Pennsylvania]] on July 29, 1845. The family moved from Center County to [[Cochranton]] in Crawford County in western Pennsylvania. His parents were of different religious backgrounds, Scottish-Presbyterian (his father) and Baptist (his mother). Together, they joined the Methodist Episcopal church, where they were active members.<ref name="obit" />

He attended public school there and later, went to [[Meadville, Pennsylvania|Meadville]] Academy. The onset of war prevented his further education. At the age of eighteen, Hanna enlisted as Stephen J. Hanna in Company H, [[138th Illinois Volunteer Infantry]], composed largely of soldiers of his own age. He was unanimously elected its captain during the last year of the Civil War.<ref name="obit" />{{#tag:ref|Hanna's Civil War pension was received in his own name, as Septimus J. Hanna.<ref>[http://www.fold3.com/image/897315/ Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, Illinois Infantry, Regiment 138, Company H: Hanna, Septimus J.] Fold3. Retrieved July 8, 2013</ref>|group=n}}

Hanna resumed his education after the war, studying law. He was admitted to the Illinois [[Bar (law)|bar]] in 1866. Later, he moved to [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]], where on September 21, 1869, he married Camilla Turley, a daughter of a prominent citizen there. He began his law practice in Council Bluffs as part of the firm Sapp, Lyman, and Hanna. At the end of his first year, when he was 23, he was appointed judge of the County Court, then in Council Bluffs.<ref name="obit" /><ref name="csj-89bio">[http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1989/12/107-12/they-answered-the-call-septimus-j.-hanna "They answered the call: Septimus J. Hanna"] ''[[Christian Science Journal]]'' (December 1989). Retrieved July 9, 2013 {{subscription required}}</ref> He held the office one and a half years and later served as city attorney for several years. He also served as deputy United States district attorney.<ref name="obit" />

==Legal career (1872–1890)==
In 1872, the offer of a partnership brought Hanna to Chicago, where he practiced law until late 1879, when failing health caused him to move to Colorado.<ref name="obit" /> Settling in the town of [[Leadville, Colorado|Leadville]], he worked as a lawyer and register in the U.S. land office.<ref>[http://www.oac.cdlib.org/view?docId=bk0005s657s;NAAN=28722&chunk.id=div00007&brand=oac4&query=septimus&set.anchor=1 Hanna, Septimus J.] Online Archive of California. Retrieved July 8, 2013</ref> He was register of the United States Land Office in Leadville from 1882 to 1886, after which he practiced law from 1886 to 1890. While in Iowa and Colorado, Hanna took an active interest in politics, supporting the [[Republican Party (United States)#Founding and 19th Century|Republican Party]], then a young political party.

Hanna and his wife first heard of Christian Science in Leadville in 1885 when two of her friends in Council Bluffs said they were healed by it.<ref>Brief biography of Camilla Hanna, C.S.D. in ''Pioneers in Christian Science'', Longyear Museum & Historical Society (1993). Note: This book is spiral bound for the purpose of enabling additional pages to be added, hence there are no page numbers. The biographical sketches are in alphabetical order.</ref> His wife, then a semi-invalid, began to look into the new religion. In 1886, she received a copy of the Christian Science textbook, which she studied and saw her health restored. This led Hanna to begin his own investigation of the religion. His reading left him impressed with what he saw as its logic, but he was unable to grasp the book's meaning in its entirety.<ref name="obit" /> Although the drier Colorado climate had alleviated some of his health problems, he was not completely recovered. A woman living in New Hampshire helped him in Christian Science and he recovered, becoming so impressed with the experience, that he began a "systematic study" of the religion's textbook.<ref name="obit" />

==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. 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. 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]]. He was also chosen by Eddy to read her address to the [[World's Parliament of Religions]] in Chicago.<ref>Robert Peel (1977), p. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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" />

==Published writings (selected)==
*[http://www.endtime.org/library/hanna/blas.html Editorial] ''Christian Science Journal'' (September 1894)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060825024339/http://www.christiansciencetoday.org/001/christian_science/librarycontent.php?action=354 "Healing Through Christian Science"] ''Christian Science Journal'' (August 1896)
*[http://www.christianscience.org/index.php/miscellaneous-books/146-the-absolute-and-the-relative "The Absolute and the Relative"] ''Christian Science Journal'' (December 1911)

==See also==
*[[Edmund F. Burton]]
*[[William D. McCrackan]]
*[[William R. Rathvon]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
*[http://www.cslectures.org/lectures.htm List of lectures, including four by Judge Septimus J. Hanna, C.S.D.] Christian Science Lectures
*[http://www.longyear.org/museum/image_galleries/34-imparting_a_fresh_impulse_mary_baker_eddys_class_of_1898#18 Biographical sketch and portraits of the Hannas] Longyear Museum
*[http://www.endtime.org/library/hanna/mount.html The Mount - Extracts from a sermon delivered by Judge Hanna in Chickering Hall, Boston in 1891]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanna, Septimus J.}}
[[Category:1845 births]]
[[Category:1921 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Centre County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American Christian Scientists]]
[[Category:American Christian religious leaders]]
[[Category:Christian Science writers]]
[[Category:History of Christianity in the United States]]
[[Category:Converts to Christian Science from Methodism]]

Septimus J. Hanna - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Removing :Category:American people of Scottish descent per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2026 January 21#Category:Australian people of British descent