Herman Heinrich Schroeder (1863-1925) followed his family to America when he was 17 years old and  learned to speak English fluently. He became interested in a new religious movement called Christian Science. When he developed a serious throat condition --which several doctors pronounced incurable-- he used his knowledge of Christian Science and, perhaps with the aid of a practitioner, experienced a complete and perfect healing. Continuing his study of Christian Science, he was assigned to teach a rapidly growing group of German-speaking Truth students. But he did not agree with all of Mrs. Eddy’s teachings, and he refused to accept her book “Science and Health” as an exclusive textbook. When he asked for some literature written in German, he was told there was none, and that Christian Science could not be taught in the German language. It was in 1891 that he resigned from the Christian Science movement.

Mr. Schroeder gained quite a following of earnest German-speaking friends who wanted him to conduct classes in his home. When the group became too large to meet in his home, they rented a meeting room. On Sunday, March 6, 1892, in their first meeting at the new location, they decided to organize under the name of the German Society of Divine Science. They continued to meet there for the next six years.
 

FIRST  INCORPORATION
On February 9, 1898, the growing organization was incorporated as The Society of Practical Christianity. With its international circulation, Mr. Schroeder’s German-language Truth magazine, Das Wort, brought correspondence from around the world. The organization purchased and remodeled a church at 18th and Pestalozzi Streets, and in July, 1898, it was dedicated to the service of God and Truth. Throughout the years Mr. Schroeder had been continuing his studies with Mrs. Cramer, and on August 22, 1898, he received his Certificate of Ordination.
 

Soon the German Sunday services were expanded to include English. There were three healing meetings through the week. So many wonderful healings were taking place that in June, 1910, Rev. Schroeder was arrested for practicing medicine without a license. A column entitled “Notes from the Field” in the December, 1910 issue of Unity Magazine quotes a letter from Rev. Schroeder: “The charges which were brought against me for practicing medicine without a license were dropped by the prosecuting attorney last Thursday, October 20th. The prosecuting attorney himself asked the court that my case be dismissed, as the state had no case, inasmuch as I had not violated any laws. Surely the weapons which were formed against me did not prosper! God being with us, no one could be against us. It is a victory of Truth over error and a strong blow to the medical trust.” After this experience, Rev. Schroeder added a disclaimer to the back of his card.

The church continued to prosper. A Sunday School was organized, and many social groups formed, such as the Young People’s Progressive Society, and the Good Words Club. The Ladies’ Auxiliary had its beginnings in 1914, and a lending library was established.

After seventeen years in the little church, the congregation decided to move because of extensive repairs needed for the aging building and because of the shifting population in the city. There was no money on hand, but the church group went ahead in faith, knowing that their needs would be met.
 
A  BIGGER  BUILDING
In May, 1915, a lot was purchased on Wyoming Street. The cornerstone was laid in April, 1916. The entire week of November 19-26, 1916, was set aside as Dedication Week.  Visiting ministers included Rev. Charles Prather, pastor of the Second Divine Science Church of Denver, Colorado; and Rev. Perry J. Green of Portland, Oregon, a Field Lecturer of the International New Thought Alliance. Sunday services were in English and German. The Sunday School session included several speakers plus recitations and a tableau by the children.

During Dedication week three classes were offered each morning, one in the afternoon, and a special service featured three speakers each evening. On Friday evening a Dedication Banquet was held in the downstairs auditorium. It was on Friday that Rev. Schroeder and Rev Prather ordained Emma and Lisette Strolberg into the ministry. These two sisters had already organized what was to become the First Divine Science Church of Belleville, Illinois (about 25 miles away).

A  SCHOOL OF OUR OWN
The Missouri College of Divine Science was organized in January, 1921, and incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri. The teachers were some of the leaders who had studied with Rev. Schroeder from the very beginning of his work. The purpose of the College was to broaden the knowledge of Divine Science for those who were new to the teaching, and to train practitioners and ministers. The College remained active until approximately 1938.

To help generate income for the new church, an English language magazine, The Light, was published. The format was similar to Das Wort, with articles by Rev. Schroeder and other leaders of the field, as well as subsidiary church groups. Eventually the two publications were combined and called The Word. The magazine included articles, poems, and weekly meditations. In 1921, publishing it became the responsibility of the Missouri College of Divine Science. The magazine ceased publication in the middle 1930s.
 

sketch by Shari Bernatz

The new church on Wyoming Street became a virtual beehive of activity. New groups were formed, specifically: Men’s Round Table Club, Men’s Healing Circle, Student’s Assembly, Business Girl’s Club, and the Morning Glory Club. The Sunday School eventually became so large that classes were elbow to elbow. Picnics provided family fun, as well as marching parades to nearby Tower Grove Park, automobile parades to Carondelet Park or to Jefferson Barracks Park. There were Rally Days, Christmas programs, Tom-Thumb weddings, and all the things that make Sunday School interesting and fun.  Rev. Schroeder passed from this life on December 17, 1925.  The church is still known to some as The Society of Practical Christianity, but in May of 1928, the Articles of Association were amended to change the name of the church to the First Divine Science Church of St. Louis.

In 1954 the Missouri College of Divine Science was reinstated. The entire curriculum consisted of ten or more courses. In 1960, however, because of government regulations regarding the use of the word “College” by institutions not offering other academic courses, the name was changed to Missouri Training Center, but still later the college was dropped altogether. In its place, material and resources would be used from the Divine Science Education Center of Denver, Colorado.

Many fine ministers followed Rev. Schroeder. Some were from St. Louis and knew Rev. Schroeder. Some ministers answered the call to St. Louis from other Divine Science churches around the country.

GROWTH  BEYOND  City  LIMITS
Dr. Max Ballard came from Pueblo, Colorado, where he had a successful church. Dr. Ballard studied with Nona Brooks, one of the co-founders of Divine Science, and was ordained by her on June 6, 1941. Because of the superiority of his work, the degree of Doctor of Divine Science was conferred on him in 1944.  Under Dr. Ballard’s leadership, the First Divine Science Church of St. Louis grew and prospered.

As the city population shifted to the suburbs, Dr. Ballard led an effort to build a church beyond the city limits. With the support of the congregation, his dream was realized when the Crestwood church was dedicated in 1964. Dr. Ballard conducted Sunday services at both churches until an assistant was appointed in 1968. In 1969 Dr. Ballard accepted a call to serve the church in Washington, D.C.

The First Church of St. Louis, known simply as First Church or City Church, and the Crestwood Church were at first considered a joint venture. Membership was mutually valid at either church, and both churches were governed by the same Board of Directors until 1974 when the two churches separated.