Harper was not born a Christian Scientist. However, in 1888 just as she was preparing to open her new beauty shop, she collapsed from exhaustion. She was introduced to Mrs. Helen Pine Smith, a newly trained Christian Science Practitioner who studied under Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy. Thereafter, Harper quickly recovered and became a devout Christian Scientist. As Harper learned about Eddy’s strong belief in women, and Eddy’s advocacy for women’s rights and their leadership role in the Christian Science church, Harper was encouraged to pursue her own entrepreneurial dream.
Building on the Christian Science belief in the power of Spirit and its link to good health, Harper translated that concept and incorporated it in her promotions and teachings. Harper’s mantra was “The Harper Method’s job was to bring the inner beauty within everyone out.” She claimed her organic products and “scientific” methods did just that, distinguishing its focus from that of the beauty industry, which promoted “beauty from a jar.”
Mrs. Helen Pine Smith, Christian Science Practitioner
When faced with the need to expand her business and shops, Harper copied the structure of the Christian Science organization (See franchising pull down for more details.)
Christian Scientists were one of many customer niches targeted, and the Scientists became devoted Harper patrons.
A heartwarming documentary on Martha Matilda Harper has just been released. The Marvelous Martha captures the saga of uncovering the story of how and why modern retail franchising was created and why the story was buried for decades. Could it be because this new business model was accomplished by a woman, a poor immigrant woman no less? You decide.
Delight in seeing how Martha Matilda Harper changes her life and the lives of hundreds of other poor women with historic photos of Harper, her dedicated Harperites, her family and supporters. Get ready to cheer. Perfect for individual viewing, along with associations, business, church, community, immigrant, school, and women’s groups. Ready for large screen theatres, smaller screen or individual viewing.
For rental details, email marthamatildaharper1888@gmail.com
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Help get Harper on a commemorative Postage stamp. We need overwhelming signatures to show a broad interest in finally getting Harper the recognition she deserves for being the creator of modern franchising and the path blazer who showed us how to use business for social change.
Martha Matilda Harper 