Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker G. Eddy
Boston, U.S.A.
| 1 |
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet;
Lest
we forget - lest we forget ! |
| 3 |
- Kipling's Recessional
IN
these stirring times of church building, when the
attention of the whole
world is fixed on Christian Sci- |
| 6 |
ence, when the growth and prosperity of the Cause are
matters of general wonderment and frequent comment,
when the right hand of
fellowship is being extended to |
| 9 |
this people by other Christian denominations, when pop-
ularity threatens to supersede persecution, it is well
for earnest and
loyal Christian Scientists to fortify them- |
| 12 |
selves against the mesmerism of personal pride and self-
adulation by recalling the following historical facts: -
1. That Mary Baker Eddy discovered Christian Sci- |
| 15 |
ence in 1866, and established the Cause on a sound basis
by healing the sick and reforming the sinner quickly
and completely, and
doing this work "without money and |
| 18 |
without price."
2. That in 1875, after nine years of arduous prelimi-
nary labor, she wrote and published the Christian Sci- |
| 21 |
ence textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures;" that over four hundred thousand copies of
this book have been
sold - an unparalleled record for |
| 24 |
a work of this description; that it has healed multi-
tudes of disease and has revealed God to well-nigh
Page vi
|
| 1 |
countless numbers - facts which prove, (1) that Science
and Health does not need to be interpreted to those who |
| 3 |
are earnestly seeking Truth; (2) that it is not possible
to state truth absolutely in a simpler or more pleasing
form.
|
| 6 |
3. That no one on earth to-day, aside from Mrs.
Eddy,
knows anything about Christian Science except
as he has learned it from her
and from her writings; and |
| 9 |
Christian Scientists are honest only as they give her
full
credit for this extraordinary work.
4. That Mrs. Eddy organized The First Church of |
| 12 |
Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., devised its church
government, originated its form of public worship, wrote
its Church Manual
and Tenets, and always has been |
| 15 |
and is now its guide, guardian, Leader, and wise and
unerring counsellor.
5. That Mrs. Eddy founded The Christian Science
|
| 18 |
Journal in 1883, was its first editor and for years
the
principal contributor to its columns; that she organized
The
Christian Science Publishing Society, which in 1898, |
| 21 |
with its assets valued at forty-five thousand dollars,
she made over to trustees under agreement to pay all
future profits to her
church; that at the same time she |
| 24 |
presented to her church the property at 95 and 97
Falmouth Street, then occupied by the Publishing So-
ciety and valued at
twenty-five thousand dollars, reserv- |
| 27 |
ing for herself only a place for the publishing of her
works; that she established the Christian Science Sentinel
and
authorized Der Herold der Christian Science, both of
Page vii
|
| 1 |
which, together with The Christian Science Journal,
are
the property of the Publishing Society.
|
| 3 |
Strive it ever so hard, The Church of Christ, Scientist,
can never do for its Leader what its Leader has done
for this church; but
its members can so protect their |
| 6 |
own thoughts that they are not unwittingly made to de-
prive their Leader of her rightful place as the revelator
to this age of
the immortal truths testified to by Jesus |
| 9 |
and the prophets.
Deeds, not words, are the sound test
of love; and
the helpfulness of consistent and constant right
think- |
| 12 |
ing - intelligent thinking untainted by the emotionalism
which is largely self-glorification - is a reasonable service
which all
Christian Scientists can render their Leader.
|
| 15 |
- The Christian Science Journal, May, 1906
Part I
The First
Church of Christ
Scientist
CHAPTER I
- "CHOOSE YE"
|
| 1 |
MESSAGE FROM MARY BAKER EDDY ON THE OCCASION OF THE
DEDICATION OF THE EXTENSION OF THE |
| 3 |
MOTHER CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, JUNE 10, 1906
MY BELOVED BRETHREN: - The divine
might of
Truth demands well-doing in order to demon- |
| 6 |
strate truth, and this not alone in accord with human
desire but with spiritual power. St. John writes: "Blessed
are they that
do His commandments, that they may have |
| 9 |
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city." The sear leaves of faith without works,
scattered
abroad in Zion's waste places, appeal to re- |
| 12 |
formers, "Show me thy faith by thy works."
Christian Science is not a dweller
apart in royal solitude;
it is not a law of matter, nor a transcendentalism
that |
| 15 |
heals only the sick. This Science is a law of divine
Mind,
a persuasive animus, an unerring impetus, an ever-present
help.
Its presence is felt, for it acts and acts wisely, |
| 18 |
always unfolding the highway of hope, faith, understand-
ing. It is the higher criticism, the higher hope, and its
effect on man is
mainly this - that the good which has |
| 21 |
come into his life, examination compels him to think
genuine, whoever did it. A Christian Scientist verifies
his calling.
Choose ye!
Page 4
|
| 1 |
When, by losing his faith in matter and sin, one finds
the spirit of Truth, then he practises the Golden Rule |
| 3 |
spontaneously; and obedience to this rule spiritualizes
man, for the world's nolens volens cannot enthrall it.
Lust,
dishonesty, sin, disable the student; they preclude |
| 6 |
the practice or efficient teaching of Christian Science,
the
truth of man's being. The Scripture reads: "He that
taketh not his
cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy |
| 9 |
of me." On this basis, how many are following the
Way-shower? We follow Truth only as we follow truly,
meekly, patiently,
spiritually, blessing saint and sinner |
| 12 |
with the leaven of divine Love which woman has put
into
Christendom and medicine.
A genuine Christian Scientist loves
Protestant and |
| 15 |
Catholic, D.D. and M.D., - loves all who love God,
good;
and he loves his enemies. It will be found that,
instead of opposing, such
an individual subserves the |
| 18 |
interests of both medical faculty and Christianity, and
they thrive together, learning that Mind-power is good
will towards men.
Thus unfolding the true metal in |
| 21 |
character, the iron in human nature rusts away; honesty
and justice characterize the seeker and finder of Christian
Science.
|
| 24 |
The pride of place or power is the prince of this world
that hath nothing in Christ. Our great Master said:
"Except ye . . . become
as little children, ye shall not |
| 27 |
enter into the kingdom of heaven," - the reign of right-
eousness, the glory of good, healing the sick and saving
the sinner. The
height of my hope must remain. Glory |
| 30 |
be to Thee, Thou God most high and nigh.
Whatever is not divinely natural and
demonstrably
true, in ethics, philosophy, or religion, is not of God
but
Page 5
|
| 1 |
originates in the minds of mortals. It is the Adam-
dream
according to the Scriptural allegory, in which |
| 3 |
man is supposed to start from dust and woman to be
the
outcome of man's rib, - marriage synonymous with
legalized lust, and the
offspring of sense the murderers |
| 6 |
of their brothers!
Wholly apart from this mortal dream,
this illusion and
delusion of sense, Christian Science comes to reveal
man |
| 9 |
as God's image, His idea, coexistent with Him - God
giving all and man having all that God gives. Whence,
then, came the
creation of matter, sin, and death, mortal |
| 12 |
pride and power, prestige or privilege? The First Com-
mandment of the Hebrew Decalogue, "Thou shalt have
no other gods before
me," and the Golden Rule are the |
| 15 |
all-in-all of Christian Science. They are the spiritual
idealism and realism which, when realized, constitute a
Christian
Scientist, heal the sick, reform the sinner, and |
| 18 |
rob the grave of its victory. The spiritual understanding
which demonstrates Christian Science, enables the devout
Scientist to
worship, not an unknown God, but Him whom, |
| 21 |
understanding even in part, he continues to love more
and
to serve better.
Beloved, I am not with you in
propria persona at this |
| 24 |
memorable dedication and communion season, but I am
with
you "in spirit and in truth," lovingly thanking your
generosity and
fidelity, and saying virtually what the |
| 27 |
prophet said: Continue to choose whom ye will serve.
Forgetting the Golden Rule and
indulging sin, men
cannot serve God; they cannot demonstrate the
omnipo- |
| 30 |
tence of divine Mind that heals the sick and the sinner.
Human will may mesmerize and mislead man; divine
wisdom, never. Indulging
deceit is like the defendant
Page 6
|
| 1 |
arguing for the plaintiff in favor of a decision which
the
defendant knows will be turned against himself.
|
| 3 |
We cannot serve two masters. Do we love God
supremely?
Are we honest, just, faithful? Are we true
to ourselves? "God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a |
| 6 |
man soweth, that shall he also reap." To abide in our
unselfed better self is to be done forever with the sins
of the flesh, the
wrongs of human life, the tempter and |
| 9 |
temptation, the smile and deceit of damnation. When
we
have overcome sin in all its forms, men may revile us
and despitefully use
us, and we shall rejoice, "for great |
| 12 |
is [our] reward in heaven.''
You have dexterously and wisely
provided for The
Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, a magnificent
tem- |
| 15 |
ple wherein to enter and pray. Greatly impressed and
encouraged thereby, deeply do I thank you for this proof
of your progress,
unity, and love. The modest edifice |
| 18 |
of The Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, began with
the
cross; its excelsior extension is the crown. The room
of your Leader
remains in the beginning of this edifice, |
| 21 |
evidencing the praise of babes and the word which pro-
ceedeth out of the mouth of God. Its crowning ulti-
mate rises to a mental
monument, a superstructure high |
| 24 |
above the work of men's hands, even the outcome of
their
hearts, giving to the material a spiritual significance
- the speed,
beauty, and achievements of goodness. |
| 27 |
Methinks this church is the one edifice on earth which
most prefigures self-abnegation, hope, faith; love catching
a glimpse of
glory.
CHAPTER II - THE EXTENSION OF
THE MOTHER CHURCH
CHAPTER II
THE EXTENSION OF THE MOTHER CHURCH
OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST: ITS INCEPTION,
CONSTRUCTION, AND DEDICATION
MRS. EDDY'S MESSAGE
TO THE MOTHER CHURCH, JUNE 15, 1902
|
| 3 |
[Extract]
HERE allow me to interpolate some matters
of busi-
ness that ordinarily find no place in my Message. |
| 6 |
It is a privilege to acquaint communicants with the
financial transactions of this church, so far as I know
them, and
especially before making another united effort |
| 9 |
to purchase more land and enlarge our church edifice so
as to seat the large number who annually favor us with
their presence on
Communion Sunday.
THE ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE MOTHER CHURCH,
JUNE 18, 1902 - TWO
MILLION DOLLARS PLEDGED
Edward A. Kimball, C.S.D., offered the following |
| 15 |
motion: -
"Recognizing the necessity for providing an auditorium
for The Mother Church that will seat four or five thou- |
| 18 |
sand persons, and acting in behalf of ourselves and the
Christian Scientists of the world, we agree to contribute
Page 8
|
| 1 |
any portion of two million dollars that may be necessary
for this purpose."
|
| 3 |
In support of the motion, Mr. Kimball said in part:
"Our
denomination is palpably outgrowing the institu-
tional end thereof. We
need to keep pace with our own |
| 6 |
growth and progress. The necessity here indicated is be-
yond cavil; beyond resistance in your thought."
Judge William G. Ewing, in seconding
the motion, said: -
|
| 9 |
"As we have the best church in the world, and as we
have
the best expression of the religion of Jesus Christ,
let us have the best
material symbol of both of these, and |
| 12 |
in the best city in the world.
"Now I am sure that I have but
expressed the universal
voice of Christian Scientists, that there should be
some- |
| 15 |
thing done, and done immediately, to make reasonable
accommodation for the regular business of the Christian
Science church, and
I believe really, with my faint |
| 18 |
knowledge of arithmetic and the relationship of figures,
that a church of twenty-four thousand members should
have a seating
capacity of more than nine hundred, if |
| 21 |
they are all to get in."
The motion was carried
unanimously.
Greeting from the
Church to Mrs. Eddy
|
| 24 |
"Ten thousand Christian Scientists from throughout
the
world, convened in annual business meeting in
Boston, send our greeting to
you, whom we recognize |
| 27 |
as logically the natural and indispensable Leader of our
religious denomination and its activity.
"Since the last report, in 1900, one
hundred and five |
| 30 |
new churches or congregations have been added, and
Page 9
|
| 1 |
those previously established have had large accessions
to
their membership. In recognition of the necessity for |
| 3 |
providing an audience-room in The Mother Church which
will seat four or five thousand persons, we have agreed to
contribute any
portion of two million dollars that may |
| 6 |
be needed for that purpose.
"The instinctive gratitude which
not only impels the
Christian to turn in loving thankfulness to his
heavenly
|
| 9 |
Father, but induces him to glory in every good deed and
thought on the part of every man - this would be scant
indeed if it did not
continually move us to utter our grati- |
| 12 |
tude to you and declare the depth of our affection and
esteem.
"To you, who are standing in the
forefront of the effort |
| 15 |
for righteous reform, we modestly renew the hope and
desire that we may worthily follow with you in the way
of salvation through
Christ."
OUR LEADER'S THANKS
To the Members of The Mother
Church: - I am bankrupt
in thanks to you,
my beloved brethren, who at our last |
| 21 |
annual meeting pledged yourselves with startling grace
to
contribute any part of two millions of dollars towards
the purchase of more
land for its site, and to enlarge |
| 24 |
our church edifice in Boston. I never before felt poor
in
thanks, but I do now, and will draw on God for
the amount I owe you, till I
am satisfied with what my |
| 27 |
heart gives to balance accounts.
MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N.
H.,
July 21, 1902
1 The First Church of Christ, Scientist
Christian Science
Sentinel, May 16, 1903
It is inevitable that the transforming
influence of |
| 3 |
Christian Science should improve the thought, enlarge the
favorable expectation, and augment the achievements of
its followers. It
was inevitable that this mighty impulse |
| 6 |
for good should have externalized itself, ten years ago,
in an edifice for The Mother Church. It is inevitable
that this same
impulsion should now manifest itself in a |
| 9 |
beautiful, ample building, embodying the best of design,
material, and situation.
Some money has been paid in towards
the fund, and |
| 12 |
some of the churches and other organizations have taken
steps in this direction, but the time is at hand, now, for
this entire
donation to be specifically subscribed as to |
| 15 |
amount and date of payment. No appeal has ever been
made
in this behalf, and it is probable that none will be
made or ever be
needed. It is doubtful if the Cause of |
| 18 |
Christian Science could prosper, in any particular, on
the
basis of fretful or reluctant sacrifice on the part of its
people.
Christian Scientists are not expected to contrib- |
| 21 |
ute money against their will or as the result of impor-
tunity or entreaty on the part of some one else.
They will provide the money necessary
to this end, |
| 24 |
because they recognize the importance of The Mother
Church to the Cause. They realize that there must be
a prosperous parent
church, in order to insure the pros- |
| 27 |
perity of the branch churches; indeed, they know that
it
is the prosperous growth of this movement which
now necessitates this
onward step. They know that |
| 30 |
their own individual welfare is closely interwoven with
the general welfare of the Cause.
Page 11
|
| 1 |
Notwithstanding the fact that as Christian Scientists
we
are as yet but imperfect followers of the perfect Christ, |
| 3 |
and although we may falter or stumble or loiter by the
way, we know that the Leader of this movement, Mrs.
Eddy, has been
constantly at her post during all the |
| 6 |
storms that have surged against her for a generation.
She
has been the one of all the world who has encountered
the full force of
antagonism. We know, too, that during |
| 9 |
these years she has not tried to guide us by means of
forced marches, but has waited for us to grow into readi-
ness for each
step, and we know that in all this time she |
| 12 |
has never urged upon us a step that did not result in our
welfare.
A year ago she quietly alluded to the
need of our |
| 15 |
Mother Church. She knew that we were ready; the re-
sponse was instant, spontaneous. Later on she expressed
much gratification
because of prompt and liberal action, |
| 18 |
and it needs no special insight to predict that she will
be
cheered and encouraged to know that, having seized upon
this
privilege and opportunity, we have also made good |
| 21 |
the pledge.
Editorial in
Christian Science Sentinel, May 16, 1903
Our readers have been informed of the
purchase of the |
| 24 |
land upon which the new building will be erected, and
that this land has been paid for. The location is, there-
fore, determined.
The size of the building was decided |
| 27 |
last June, but there still remained for definite decision
the amount to be expended and the date for commen-
cing building
operations. The pledge of the annual |
| 30 |
meeting was "any portion of two million dollars that
Page 12
|
| 1 |
may be necessary for this purpose," and this of course
carried the implication that work should be commenced |
| 3 |
as soon as the money in hand justified the letting of
contracts.
The spontaneous and liberal donations
which enabled |
| 6 |
those having the work in charge to secure the large
parcel of land adjoining The Mother Church, gives
promise of the speedy
accumulation of a sum sufficient |
| 9 |
to justify the decision of these remaining problems.
Each
person interested must remember, however, that
his individual desires, both
as to the amount to be |
| 12 |
expended and the date of commencing work, will be best
evidenced by the liberality and promptness of his own
contribution.
15 [Mrs. Eddy in Christian Science Sentinel, May 30,
1903]
NOW AND THEN
This was an emphatic rule of St. Paul:
"Behold, now |
| 18 |
is the accepted time." A lost opportunity is the great-
est of losses. Whittier mourned it as what "might
have been." We own no
past, no future, we pos- |
| 21 |
sess only now. If the reliable now is
carelessly lost in
speaking or in acting, it comes not back again.
What-
ever needs to be done which cannot be done now, |
| 24 |
God prepares the way for doing; while that which can
be
done now, but is not, increases our indebtedness to
God. Faith in divine
Love supplies the ever-present |
| 27 |
help and now, and gives the power to "act in the
living
present."
The dear children's good deeds are
gems in the settings |
| 30 |
of manhood and womanhood. The good they desire to
Page 13
|
| 1 |
do, they insist upon doing now. They speculate neither
on
the past, present, nor future, but, taking no thought |
| 3 |
for the morrow, act in God's time.
A book by Benjamin Wills Newton,
called "Thoughts
on the Apocalypse," published in London, England,
in |
| 6 |
1853, was presented to me in 1903 by Mr. Marcus
Holmes.
This was the first that I had even heard of
it. When scanning its
interesting pages, my attention |
| 9 |
was arrested by the following: "The church at Jerusalem,
like a sun in the centre of its system, had other churches,
like so many
planets, revolving around it. It was |
| 12 |
strictly a mother and a ruling church." According
to
his description, the church of Jerusalem seems to pre-
figure The
Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, in |
| 15 |
Boston.
I understand that the members of The
Mother Church,
out of loving hearts, pledged to this church in
Boston |
| 18 |
any part of two millions of money with which to build
an
ample temple dedicate to God, to Him "who forgiveth
all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases; who |
| 21 |
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee
with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth
thy mouth with good
things; so that thy youth is renewed |
| 24 |
like the eagle's," - to build a temple the spiritual
spire
of which will reach the stars with divine overtures, holy
harmony, reverberating through all cycles of systems and |
| 27 |
spheres.
Because Christian Scientists virtually
pledged this
munificent sum not only to my church but to Him who
|
| 30 |
returns it unto them after many days, their loving
giving
has been blessed. It has crystallized into a foundation
for our
temple, and it will continue to "prosper in the
Page 14
|
| 1 |
thing whereto [God, Spirit] sent it." In the now
they
brought their tithes into His storehouse. Then, when |
| 3 |
this bringing is consummated, God will pour them out a
blessing above the song of angels, beyond the ken of
mortals - a blessing
that two millions of love currency |
| 6 |
will bring to be discerned in the near future as a gleam
of reality; not a madness and nothing, but a sanity
and something from the
individual, stupendous, Godlike |
| 9 |
agency of man.
Editorial in
Christian Science Sentinel, January 2, 1904
A few days ago we received a letter
from a friend in |
| 12 |
another city, saying that he had just been informed -
and
his informant claimed to have good authority for the
statement - that the
entire amount required to complete |
| 15 |
The Mother Church building fund had been paid in;
consequently further payments or subscriptions were not
desired.
|
| 18 |
Our friend very promptly and emphatically pro-
nounced
the story a fabrication of the evil one, and he
was entirely right in doing
so. If the devil were really |
| 21 |
an entity, endowed with genius and inspiration, he could
not have invented a more subtle lie with which to en-
snare a generous and
loyal people.
|
| 24 |
As a matter of fact, the building fund is not complete,
but it is in such a healthy state that building operations
have been
commenced, and they will be carried on without |
| 27 |
interruption until the church is finished. The rapidity
with which the work will be pushed forward necessitates
large payments of
money, and it is desirable that the con- |
| 30 |
tributions to the building fund keep pace with the dis-
bursements.
Page 15
|
| 1 |
[Christian Science Sentinel, March 5, 1904]
AMENDMENT TO
BY-LAW
|
| 3 |
Section 3 of Article XLI (XXXIV in revised edition) of
the Church By-laws has been amended to read as follows: -
THE MOTHER CHURCH BUILDING. - SECTION
3. The |
| 6 |
edifice erected in 1894 for The First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston, Mass., shall neither be demolished
nor removed from
the site where it was built, without the |
| 9 |
written consent of the Pastor Emeritus, Mary Baker
Eddy.
COMMUNION, 1904
|
| 12 |
My Beloved Brethren: - My heart goes out to you as
ever in daily desire that the Giver of all good transform
you into His own
image and likeness. Already I have |
| 15 |
said to you all that you are able to bear now, and thanking
you for your gracious reception of it I close with Kate
Hankey's
excellent hymn, -
|
| 18 |
I love to tell the story,
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory, |
| 21 |
Of Jesus and his love.
I
love to tell the story,
Because I know 'tis true; |
| 24 |
It satisfies my longings,
As nothing else can do.
I love to tell the
story; |
| 27 |
For those who know it
best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest. |
| 30 |
And when, in scenes of
glory,
I sing the NEW, NEW SONG,
'Twill be the OLD, OLD
STORY |
| 33 |
That I have loved so
long.
Page 16
EXTRACT FROM THE
TREASURER'S REPORT, JUNE 14, 1904
The report of Mr. Stephen A. Chase,
treasurer of the |
| 3 |
building fund of The Mother Church, made to the
annual
meeting, showed that a total of $425,893.66 had
been received up to and
including May 31, 1904, and that |
| 6 |
there was a balance of $226,285.73 on hand on that date,
after paying out the sum of $ 199,607.93, which included
the purchase price
of the land for the site of the new |
| 9 |
building.
THE CORNER-STONE
LAID
The corner-stone of the new auditorium
for The Mother |
| 12 |
Church in Boston was laid Saturday, July 16, 1904, at
eight o'clock in the forenoon. In addition to the members
of the Christian
Science Board of Directors, who have |
| 15 |
the work directly in charge, there were present on this
occasion: Mr. Alfred Farlow, President of The Mother
Church; Prof. Hermann
S. Hering, First Reader; Mrs. |
| 18 |
Ella E. Williams, Second Reader; Mr. Charles Brigham
and
Mr. E. Noyes Whitcomb, respectively the architect
and the builder of the
new edifice.
|
| 21 |
The order of the services, which were conducted by the
First Reader, was as follows: -
Scripture reading, Isaiah 28: 16, 17,
-
|
| 24 |
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in
Zion
for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious
corner stone, a sure
foundation: he that believeth shall |
| 27 |
not make haste.
"Judgment also will I lay to the line,
and righteous-
ness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the
Page 17
|
| 1 |
refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding
place."
|
| 3 |
Also, 1 Peter 2: 1-6, -
"Wherefore laying aside all malice,
and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
|
| 6 |
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord
is gracious.
|
| 9 |
"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed
indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built
up a spiritual house, |
| 12 |
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
accept-
able to God by Jesus Christ.
"Wherefore also it is contained in the
scripture, |
| 15 |
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect,
precious:
and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."
The reading of selections from
"Science and Health |
| 18 |
with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, -
Page 241, lines 13-30
" 136, " 1-5, 9-14
" 137, " 16-5
" 583, "
12-19
" 35, " 20-25
|
| 24 |
This was followed by a few moments of silent prayer
and
the audible repetition of the Lord's Prayer with its
spiritual
interpretation, as given in the Christian Science |
| 27 |
textbook, after which the following extracts from Mrs.
Eddy's writings were read: -
"Hitherto, I have observed that in
proportion as this |
| 30 |
church has smiled on His 'little ones,' He has blessed
her. Throughout my entire connection with The Mother
Page 18
|
| 1 |
Church, I have seen, that in the ratio of her love for
others, hath His love been bestowed upon her; water- |
| 3 |
ing her waste places, and enlarging her borders.
"One thing I have greatly desired, and
again earnestly
request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and
else- |
| 6 |
where, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor on
bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and importunately.
When a hungry heart
petitions the divine Father-Mother |
| 9 |
God for bread, it is not given a stone, - but more grace,
obedience, and love. If this heart, humble and trustful,
faithfully asks
divine Love to feed it with the bread of |
| 12 |
heaven, health, holiness, it will be conformed to a
fitness
to receive the answer to its desire; then will flow into it
the
'river of His pleasure,' the tributary of divine Love, |
| 15 |
and great growth in Christian Science will follow, - even
that joy which finds one's own in another's good." (Mis-
cellaneous
Writings, p. 127.)
|
| 18 |
"Beloved brethren, the love of our loving Lord was
never
more manifest than in its stern condemnation of all
error, wherever found.
I counsel thee, rebuke and exhort |
| 21 |
one another. Love all Christian churches for the gospel's
sake; and be exceedingly glad that the churches are united
in purpose, if
not in method, to close the war between |
| 24 |
flesh and Spirit, and to fight the good fight till God's
will
be witnessed and done on earth as in heaven." (Christian
Science
versus Pantheism, p. 13.)
|
| 27 |
The corner-stone was then laid by the members of the
Christian Science Board of Directors. It contained the
following articles:
The Holy Bible; "Science and Health |
| 30 |
with Key to the Scriptures" and all other published
writings of the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer
Page 19
|
| 1 |
and Founder of Christian Science; Christian Science
Hymnal; "The Mother Church;" the current numbers of |
| 3 |
The Christian Science Journal, Christian Science
Sentinel,
Der Herold der Christian Science, and the Christian
Science
Quarterly.
|
| 6 |
The ceremony concluded with the repetition of "the
scientific statement of being," from Science and Health
(p. 468), and the
benediction, 2 Corinthians 13:14: |
| 9 |
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you
all. Amen."
UNSELFISH
LOYALTY
To one of the many branch churches
which contributed
their local church building funds to The Mother
Church |
| 15 |
building fund, Mrs. Eddy wrote as follows: -
FIRST
CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST,
Colorado Springs, Col.
|
| 18 |
Beloved Brethren: - It is conceded that our shadows
follow us in the sunlight wherever we go; but I ask for
more, even
this: That this dear church shall be pursued |
| 21 |
by her substance, the immortal fruition of her
unselfed
love, and that her charity, which "seeketh not her
own" but
another's good, shall reap richly the reward of |
| 24 |
goodness.
Those words of our holy Way-shower, vibrant through
time
and eternity with acknowledgment of exemplary |
| 27 |
giving, no doubt fill the memory and swell the hearts of
the members of The Mother Church, because of that gift
which you so
sacredly bestowed towards its church build- |
| 30 |
ing fund. These are applicable words: "Verily I say
unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached
Page 20
|
| 1 |
throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done
shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." (Mark 14: 9.) |
| 3 |
Gratefully yours in Christ,
MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT
VIEW, CONCORD, N. H., |
| 6 |
September 1, 1904
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Beloved Students: - The holidays are coming, and I |
| 9 |
trow you are awaiting on behalf of your Leader the
loving
liberty of their license. May I relieve you of
selecting, and name your
gifts to her, in advance? |
| 12 |
Send her only what God gives to His church. Bring
all
your tithes into His storehouse, and what you would
expend for presents to
her, please add to your givings |
| 15 |
to The Mother Church building fund, and let this
suffice
for her rich portion in due season. Send no gifts
to her the ensuing
season, but the evidences of glorious |
| 18 |
growth in Christian Science.
MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N.
H., |
| 21 |
October 31, 1904
A WORD FROM THE
DIRECTORS, MAY, 1905
In view of the fact that a general
attendance of the |
| 24 |
members of The Mother Church at the communion
and annual
meeting in Boston entails the expenditure
of a large amount of money, and
the further fact that |
| 27 |
it is important that the building fund of The Mother
Church should be completed as early as possible, it has
been decided to
omit this year the usual large gathering |
| 30 |
in Boston, and to ask the members to contribute to
Page 21
|
| 1 |
the building fund the amount which they would have
expended in such an event.
|
| 3 |
We all know of the loving self-sacrifices which have been
made by many of the branch churches in transferring to
this fund the money
which had been collected for the |
| 6 |
purpose of building church homes of their own, and it
will
thus be seen that the course suggested will not only
hasten the
completion of The Mother Church, but will |
| 9 |
also advance the erection of many branch churches.
We
therefore feel sure that all Christian Scientists will
gladly forego a
visit to Boston at this time, in order to |
| 12 |
contribute more liberally to the building fund and
thereby
aid the progress of our Cause throughout the world.
Christian Scientists have learned from
experience that |
| 15 |
divine Love more than compensates for every seeming
trial
and deprivation in our loyalty to Truth, and it is
but right to expect that
those who are willing to forego |
| 18 |
their anticipated visit this year will receive a greater
blessing - "good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running
over." The local members, who |
| 21 |
have always experienced much pleasure in welcoming
their
brethren from far and near, and who have antici-
pated much joy in meeting
very many of them this year, |
| 24 |
will feel that they have been called upon to make no less
sacrifice than have others; but we are confident that
they too will be
blessed, and that all will rejoice in the |
| 27 |
glad reunion upon the completion of the new edifice in
Boston.
IRA O. KNAPP, JOSEPH
ARMSTRONG, |
| 30 |
WILLIAM B. JOHNSON, STEPHEN A. CHASE,
ARCHIBALD
McLELLAN,
The Christian Science Board of Directors
Page 22
THE ANNUAL MEETING,
JUNE 13, 1905
Extract from the Clerk's Report
|
| 3 |
In the year 1902 our Leader saw the need of a larger
edifice for the home of The Mother Church, one that
would accommodate the
constantly increasing attendance |
| 6 |
at all the services, and the large gatherings at the annual
meeting; and, at the annual meeting in June, 1902, a
sum of money
adequate to erect such a building was |
| 9 |
pledged. Christian Scientists have contributed already
for this grand and noble purpose, but let us not be uncon-
sciously blind
to the further needs of the building fund, |
| 12 |
in order to complete this great work, nor wait to be urged
or to be shown the absolute necessity of giving.
Since 1866, almost forty years ago, - almost forty |
| 15 |
years in the wilderness, - our beloved Leader and teacher,
Mrs. Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, has labored
for the
regeneration of mankind; and time has put its |
| 18 |
seal of affirmation upon every purpose she has set in
motion, and the justification of her labors is the fruit.
In these years of
work she has shown wisdom, faith, and |
| 21 |
a spiritual discernment of the needs of the present and of
the future that is nothing less than God-bestowed.
In years to come the moral and the physical effects
|
| 24 |
produced by The Mother Church, and by the advanced
position taken by our Pastor Emeritus and Leader, will
appear in their
proper perspective. Is it not therefore |
| 27 |
the duty of all who have touched the healing hem of
Christian Science, to get immediately into the proper
perspective of the
meaning of the erection of the new |
| 30 |
edifice of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in
Boston?
Page 23
|
| 1 |
It is not necessary for us to delay our contributions in
order to find out how much our neighbor has given, or to |
| 3 |
compute by the total membership of The Mother Church
what amount each shall send the Treasurer. The divine
Love that prompted
the desire, and supplied the means to |
| 6 |
consummate the erection of the present edifice in 1894,
is
still with us, and will bless us so long as we follow His
commands.
Extract from the Treasurer's Report
Building Fund: - Amount on hand June 1, 1905,
$303,189.41; expenditures June 1, 1904 to May 31, 1905, |
| 12 |
$388,663.15; total receipts June 19, 1902 to June l,
1905, $891,460.49.
Amount necessary to complete the sum of $2,000,000 |
| 15 |
pledged at the annual meeting, 1902, $1,108,539.51.
Greeting to Mrs. Eddy from the Annual Meeting
Beloved Teacher and Leader: - The members of your
|
| 18 |
church, The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston, Mass., in annual business meeting
assembled, send
their loyal and loving greetings to you, |
| 21 |
the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and
author of its textbook.
We rejoice greatly that the walls of our new edifice are
|
| 24 |
rising, not only to faith but also to sight; that this
temple,
which represents the worship of Spirit, with its inseparable
accompaniment, the Christ-healing, is being built in our |
| 27 |
day; and that we have the privilege of participating
in
the work of its erection. As the stately structure
grows, and stone is laid
upon stone, those who pass by are
Page 24
|
| 1 |
impelled to ask, What means this edifice? and they learn
that the truth which Christ Jesus revealed - the truth |
| 3 |
which makes free - is to-day being proven and is ready
to
heal all who accept its divine ministry. We congratu-
late you that the
building is to express in its ample audi- |
| 6 |
torium something of the vastness of the truth it
represents,
and also to symbolize your unmeasured love for humanity,
which inspires you to welcome all mankind to the privi- |
| 9 |
leges of this healing and saving gospel. As the walls are
builded by the prayers and offerings of the thousands
who have been healed
through Christian Science, we know |
| 12 |
that you rejoice in the unity of thought and purpose
which is thus expressed, showing that The Mother Church
"fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in the |
| 15 |
Lord."
Editorial in
Christian Science Sentinel, November 25, 1905
We are prompted to state, for the
benefit of those who |
| 18 |
have inquired about the progress of the work on the
extension to The Mother Church, that the erection of the
building is
proceeding rapidly; in fact, it is being pushed |
| 21 |
with the utmost energy, and at the present time there
are
no less than fifteen different trades represented. The
beauty of the
building, and the substantial and enduring |
| 24 |
character of its construction, have been remarked by the
many visitors who have recently inspected the work, and
they have gone away
with the conviction that the structure |
| 27 |
is worthy of our Cause and that it will meet the needs of
The Mother Church as well as this can be done by a
building with a seating
capacity of five thousand.
|
| 30 |
It therefore occurs to us that there could be no more
appropriate time for completing the building fund than
Page 25
|
| 1 |
the present Thanksgiving season; and it is suggested to
our
readers that there would be great propriety in making a
special effort during the coming week
to dispose fully and
finally of this feature of the demonstration.
[Christian Science
Sentinel, March 17, 1906]
GIFTS FROM THE
CHILDREN
The great interest exhibited by the
children who attend
the Sunday School of The Mother Church is shown
by |
| 9 |
their contributions to the building fund. The following
figures are taken from the report of the secretary of the
Sunday School and
are most gratifying:
|
| 12 |
March 1, 1903 to February 29, 1904, $621.10; March 1,
1904 to February 28, 1905, $845.96; March 1, 1905 to
February 28, 1906,
$1,112.13; total, $2,579.19.
CARD
Will one and all of my dear
correspondents accept this,
my answer to their fervid question: Owing to
the time |
| 18 |
consumed in travel, et cetera, I cannot be present
in
propria persona at our annual communion and the dedi-
cation in June next of The Mother Church of Christ, |
| 21 |
Scientist. But I shall be with my blessed church "in
spirit and in truth."
I have faith in the givers and in the
builders of this |
| 24 |
church edifice, - admiration for and faith in the
grandeur
and sublimity of this superb superstructure, wherein all
vanity of victory disappears and the glory of divinity |
| 27 |
appears in all its promise.
MARY BAKER EDDY
PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N.
H., |
| 30 |
April 8, 1906
Page 26
|
| 1 |
[Christian Science Sentinel, April 14, 1906]
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
DEDICATION
|
| 3 |
The Christian Science Board of Directors takes pleasure
in announcing that the extension of The Mother Church
will be dedicated on
the date of the annual communion, |
| 6 |
Sunday, June 10, 1906.
[Christian Science Sentinel,
April 28, 1906]
TO THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
|
| 9 |
My Beloved Students: - Your generous check of five
thousand dollars, April 23, 1906, is duly received. You
can imagine my
gratitude and emotion at the touch of |
| 12 |
memory. Your beneficent gift is the largest sum of money
that I have ever received from my church, and quite
unexpected at this
juncture, but not the less appreciated. |
| 15 |
My Message for June 10 is ready for you. It is too
short
to be printed in book form, for I thought it better
to be brief on this
rare occasion. This communion and |
| 18 |
dedication include enough of their own.
The enclosed notice I submit to you,
and trust that you
will see, as I foresee, the need of it. Now is the time
to |
| 21 |
throttle the lie that students worship me or that I
claim
their homage. This historical dedication should date
some special
reform, and this notice is requisite to give |
| 24 |
the true animus of our church and denomination.
Lovingly yours,
MARY BAKER EDDY
|
| 27 |
PLEASANT VIEW, Concord, N. H.,
April 23, 1906
Page 27
NOTICE
To the Beloved Members of my
Church, The Mother Church, |
| 3 |
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. -
Divine
Love bids me say: Assemble not at the residence of your
Pastor
Emeritus at or about the time of our annual |
| 6 |
meeting and communion service, for the divine and not
the
human should engage our attention at this sacred
season of prayer and
praise.
|
| 9 |
MARY BAKER EDDY
NOTICE TO
CONTRIBUTORS TO THE BUILDING FUND
The contributors to the building fund
for the extension |
| 12 |
of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston, Mass., are hereby notified that
sufficient funds have
been received for the completion of |
| 15 |
the church building, and the friends are requested to
send
no more money to this fund.
STEPHEN A. CHASE, |
| 18 |
Treasurer of the Building Fund
BOSTON, MASS., June 2, 1906
Editorial in
Christian Science Sentinel, June 9, 1906
|
| 21 |
Christian Scientists will read with much joy and
thanksgiving the announcement made by Mr. Chase in
this issue of the
Sentinel that sufficient funds have been |
| 24 |
received by him, as treasurer of the building fund, to
pay all bills in connection with the extension of The
Mother Church, and to
most of them the fact that he
Page 28
|
| 1 |
has been able to make this announcement coincident
with
the completion of the building will be deeply |
| 3 |
significant. Our Leader has said in Science and Health
(p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and always
will meet every human
need," and this has been proved |
| 6 |
true in the experience of many who have contributed
to
the building fund.
The treasurer's books will show the
dollars and cents |
| 9 |
received by him, but they can give no more than a hint of
the unselfish efforts, and in many instances the loving
self-sacrifice, of
those who have given so generously to the |
| 12 |
building of this church. Suffice it to say, however, that
the giving to this fund has stimulated those gentle
qualities which mark
the true Christian, and its influence |
| 15 |
upon the lives of thousands has been of immense value to
them.
The significance of this building is
not to be found in |
| 18 |
the material structure, but in the lives of those who,
under
the consecrated leadership of Mrs. Eddy, and following
her
example, are doing the works which Jesus said should |
| 21 |
mark the lives of his followers. It stands as the visible
symbol of a religion which heals the sick and reforms
the sinful as our
Master healed and reformed them. It |
| 24 |
proclaims to the world that Jesus' gospel was for all
time
and for all men; that it is as effective to-day as it was
when he
preached the Word of God to the multitudes of |
| 27 |
Judea and healed them of their diseases and their sins.
It speaks for the successful labors of one divinely guided
woman, who has
brought to the world the spiritual under- |
| 30 |
standing of the Scriptures, and whose ministry has
revealed
the one true Science and changed the whole aspect of
medicine
and theology.
Page 29
|
| 1 |
[Christian Science
Sentinel, June 16, 1906. Reprinted from
Boston Herald]
COMMUNION SERVICE
AND DEDICATION
Five thousand people kneeling in
silent communion;
a stillness profound; and then, rising in unison from
the |
| 6 |
vast congregation, the words of the Lord's Prayer! Such
was the closing incident of the dedicatory services of the
extension of The
Mother Church, The First Church of |
| 9 |
Christ, Scientist, at the corner of Falmouth and Norway
Streets, yesterday morning. And such was the scene
repeated six times
during the day.
|
| 12 |
It was a sight which no one who saw it will ever be able
to forget. Many more gorgeous church pageantries have
been seen in this
country and in an older civilization; |
| 15 |
there have been church ceremonies that appealed more
to
the eye, but the impressiveness of this lay in its very
simplicity; its
grandeur sprang from the complete |
| 18 |
unanimity of thought and of purpose. There was some-
thing emanating from the thousands who worshipped
under the dome of the
great edifice whose formal open- |
| 21 |
ing they had gathered to observe, that appealed to and
fired the imagination. A comparatively new religion
launching upon a new
era, assuming an altogether differ- |
| 24 |
ent status before the world!
Even the sun smiled kindly upon the dedication of the
extension of The Mother Church. With a cooling breeze |
| 27 |
to temper the heat, the thousands who began to congregate
about the church as early as half past five in the morning
were able to
wait patiently for the opening of the doors |
| 30 |
without suffering the inconveniences of an oppressive day.
From that time, until the close of the evening service,
Page 30
|
| 1 |
Falmouth and Norway Streets held large crowds of people,
either coming from a service or awaiting admission to |
| 3 |
one. As all the services were precisely the same in every
respect, nobody attended more than one, so that there
were well over thirty
thousand people who witnessed |
| 6 |
the opening. Not only did these include Scientists from
all over the world, and nearly all the local Scientists,
but many hundreds
of other faiths, drawn to the church |
| 9 |
from curiosity, and from sympathy, too.
It spoke much for the devotion of the
members to their
faith, the character of the attendance. In those
huge |
| 12 |
congregations were business men come from far distant
points at personal sacrifices of no mean order; profes-
sional men, devoted
women members, visitors from |
| 15 |
Australia, from India, from England, from Germany,
from
Switzerland, from South Africa, from Hawaii, from
the coast States.
|
| 18 |
They gave generously of their means in gratitude for the
epoch-making event. The six collections were large, and
when the plates
were returned after having been through |
| 21 |
the congregations, they were heaped high with bills, with
silver, and with gold. Some of these contributions were
one-hundred-dollar
bills. Without ostentation and quite |
| 24 |
voluntarily the Scientists gave a sum surpassing some of
the record collections secured by evangelists for the work
of
Christianity.
|
| 27 |
Though the church was filled for the service at half
past
seven, and hundreds had to be turned away, by far
the largest crowd of the
day applied for admission at the |
| 30 |
ten o'clock service, and it was representative of the
entire
body of the Christian Science church.
Before half past seven the chimes of
the new church
Page 31
|
| 1 |
began to play, first the "Communion Hymn," succeeded
by
the following hymns throughout the day: "The |
| 3 |
morning light is breaking;" "Shepherd, show me how
to
go;" "Just as I am, without one plea;" "I need
Thee every hour;" "Blest
Christmas morn;" "Abide |
| 6 |
with me;" "Day by day the manna fell;" "Oh, the
clanging
bells of time;" "Still, still with Thee;" "O'er
waiting harpstrings of the
mind;" Doxology.
|
| 9 |
Promptly at half past six the numerous doors of the
church were thrown open and the public had its first
glimpse of the great
structure, the cost of which approxi- |
| 12 |
mates two millions of dollars, contributed from over the
entire world. The first impression was of vastness, then
of light and
cheerfulness, and when the vanguard of the |
| 15 |
thousands had been seated, expressions of surprise and of
admiration were heard on every hand for the beauty and
the grace of the
architecture. The new home for worship |
| 18 |
that was opened by the Scientists in Boston yesterday
can
take a place in the front rank of the world's houses
of worship, and it is
no wonder that the first sight which |
| 21 |
the visitors caught of its interior should have
impressed
them as one of the events of their lives.
First Reader William D. McCrackan,
accompanied by |
| 24 |
the Second Reader, Mrs. Laura Carey Conant, and the
soloist for the services, Mrs. Hunt, was on the Readers'
platform. Stepping
to the front of the platform, when |
| 27 |
the congregation had taken their seats, the First Reader
announced simply that they would sing Hymn 161,
written by Mrs. Eddy, as
the opening of the dedicatory |
| 30 |
service. And what singing it was! As though trained
carefully under one leader, the great body of Scientists
joined in the song
of praise.
Page 32
|
| 1 |
Spontaneous unanimity and repetition in unison were
two
of the most striking features of the services. When, |
| 3 |
after five minutes of silent communion at the end of the
service, the congregation began to repeat the Lord's
Prayer, they began all
together, and their voices rose as |
| 6 |
one in a heartfelt appeal to the creator.
So good are the acoustic properties of
the new structure
that Mr. McCrackan and Mrs. Conant could be
heard |
| 9 |
perfectly in every part of it, and they did not have to
lift
their voices above the usual platform tone.
Following the organ voluntary -
Fantasie in E minor, |
| 12 |
Merkel - the order of service was as follows: -
Hymn 161, from the Hymnal. Words by
the Rev.
Mary Baker Eddy.(1) |
| 15 |
Reading from the Scriptures: Deuteronomy 26: 1, 2,
5-10
(first sentence).
Silent prayer, followed by the audible
repetition of the |
| 18 |
Lord's Prayer with its spiritual interpretation as given
in
the Christian Science textbook.
Hymn 166, from the
Hymnal.(2) |
| 21 |
Reading of notices.
Reading of Tenets of The Mother
Church.
Collection. |
| 24 |
Solo, "Communion Hymn," words by the Rev. Mary
Baker
Eddy, music by William Lyman Johnson.
Reading of annual Message from the
Pastor Emeritus, |
| 27 |
the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy.
Reading the specially prepared
Lesson-Sermon.
After the reading of the
Lesson-Sermon, silent com- |
| 30 |
munion, which concluded with the audible repetition of
the Lord's Prayer.
(1) Hymn 306, (2) Hymn 108, in Revised
Hymnal
Page 33
|
| 1 |
Singing the Communion Doxology.
Reading of a despatch
from the members of the church |
| 3 |
to Mrs. Eddy.
Reading of "the scientific statement of
being" (Sci-
ence and Health, p. 468), and the correlative Scripture, |
| 6 |
1 John 3: 1-3.
The benediction.
The subject of the special
Lesson-Sermon was "Adam, |
| 9 |
Where Art Thou?" the Golden Text: "Search me, O
God, and
know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts: and see if there be any wicked
way in me, |
| 12 |
and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139: 23,
24.) The responsive reading was from Psalms 15: 1-5;
24: 1-6, 9, 10.
|
| 15 |
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall
dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh
righteous- |
| 18 |
ness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that
backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth
evil to his neighbor, nor taketh
up a reproach against his |
| 12 |
neighbor.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned;
but he
honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to |
| 24 |
his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not
out his money to usury, nor
taketh reward against the innocent. He that
doeth these |
| 27 |
things shall never be moved.
1 The earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein. |
| 30 |
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established
it upon the floods.
Page 34
|
| 1 |
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who
shall stand in his holy place? |
| 3 |
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who
hath
not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn
deceitfully. |
| 6 |
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and
righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of
them that seek him, that |
| 9 |
seek thy face, O Jacob.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
even lift them up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come
in. |
| 12 |
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he
is
the King of glory.
The Lesson-Sermon consisted of the
following citations |
| 15 |
from the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures" by the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, and was
read by Mr. McCrackan and
Mrs. Conant: -
|
| 18 |
I
The Bible Science and Health (1)
Genesis 3: 9-11 224: 22
|
| 21 |
Proverbs 8: 1, 4, 7 559: 8-10, 19
Mark 2: 15-17 181: 21-25
307: 31-8 |
| 24 |
II
Psalms 51: 1-3, 6, 10, 12, 308: 8,
16-28 This;
13,
17 Jacob
323: 19-24, 28-32
When; The effects
(1)The Science and Health references
in this lesson are according |
| 30 |
to the 1913 edition.
Page 35
|
| 1 |
III
The Bible Science and Health
|
| 3 |
Hebrews 11: 1, 3, 6 297: 20 Faith
Proverbs 3: 5, 6
241: 23-27
Job 28: 20, 23, 28 275: 25 |
| 6 |
1 Corinthians 14: 20 505: 21-28 Under-
standing
536: 8
|
| 9 |
IV
Psalms 86: 15, 16 345: 31
Matthew 9: 2-8 337: 10
|
| 12 |
525: 4
494: 30-2 Our Master
476: 32-4 |
| 15 |
171: 4
V
Mark 12: 30, 31 9: 17-21 Dost
thou |
| 18 |
John 21: 1 (first 53: 8-11
clause), 14-17 54:29- 1
1
John 4: 21 560: 11-19, 22 The |
| 21 |
great; Abuse
565: 18-22
VI
|
| 24 |
John 21: 4-6, 9, 12, 13 34: 29-29
Revelation 3: 20
Revelation 7: 13,14,16,17
|
| 27 |
During the progress of each service, First Reader
William D. McCrackan read to the congregation the
Page 36
|
| 1 |
dedicatory Message from their teacher and Leader, Mrs.
Mary Baker Eddy.
|
| 3 |
The telegram from the church to Mrs. Eddy was read
by Mr.
Edward A. Kimball of Chicago, and the five
thousand present rose as one to
indicate their approval |
| 6 |
of it.
REV. MARY BAKER EDDY,
Pastor Emeritus
Beloved Teacher and Leader: - The members of your
|
| 9 |
church have assembled at this sacred time to commune
with
our infinite heavenly Father and again to consecrate
all that we are or
hope to be to a holy Christian service |
| 12 |
that shall be acceptable unto God.
Most of us are here because we have been delivered from
beds of sickness or withheld from open graves or reclaimed |
| 15 |
from vice or redeemed from obdurate sin. We have ex-
changed the tears of sorrow for the joy of repentance and
the peace of a
more righteous living, and now with blessed |
| 18 |
accord we are come, in humility, to pour out our gratitude
to God and to bear witness to the abundance of salvation
through His
divine Christ.
|
| 21 |
At this altar, dedicated to the only true God, we who
have been delivered from the depths increase the measure
of our devotion to
the daily life and purpose which are in |
| 24 |
the image and likeness of God.
By these stately walls; by this sheltering dome; by
all
the beauty of color and design, the Christian Scientists |
| 27 |
of the world, in tender affection for the cause of human
weal, have fulfilled a high resolve and set up this taber-
nacle, which is
to stand as an enduring monument, a sign |
| 30 |
of your understanding and proof that our Supreme
God,
through His power and law, is the natural healer
Page 37
|
| 1 |
of all our diseases and hath ordained the way of salva-
tion of all men from all evil. No vainglorious boast, |
| 3 |
no pride of circumstances has place within the sacred
confines of this sanctuary. Naught else than the gran-
deur of humility and
the incense of gratitude and com- |
| 6 |
passionate love can acceptably ascend heavenward from
this house of God.
It is from the depths of tenderest
gratitude, respect, |
| 9 |
and affection that we declare again our high appreciation
of all that you have done and continue to do for the ever-
lasting
advantage of this race. Through you has been |
| 12 |
revealed the verity and rule of the Christianity of
Christ
which has ever healed the sick. By your fidelity and the
constancy of your obedience during forty years you have |
| 15 |
demonstrated this Science before the gaze of universal
humanity. By reason of your spiritual achievement the
Cause of Christian
Science has been organized and main- |
| 18 |
tained, its followers have been prospered, and the
philos-
ophy of the ages transformed. Recognizing the grand
truth that
God is the supreme cause of all the activities of |
| 21 |
legitimate existence, we also recognize that He has made
known through your spiritual perception the substance
of Christian Science,
and that this church owes itself and |
| 24 |
its prosperity to the unbroken activity of your labors,
which have been and will still be the pretext for our
confident and
favorable expectation.
|
| 27 |
We have read your annual Message to this church.
We are
deeply touched by its sweet entreaty, its ineffable
loving-kindness, its
wise counsel and admonition.
|
| 30 |
With sacred resolution do we pray that we may give
heed
and ponder and obey. We would be glad if our
prayers, our rejoicing, and
our love could recompense your
Page 38
|
| 1 |
long sacrifice and bestow upon you the balm of heavenly
joy, but knowing that every perfect gift cometh from |
| 3 |
above, and that in God is all consolation and comfort,
we
rest in this satisfying assurance, while we thank you
and renew the story
of our love for you and for all that |
| 6 |
you are and all that you have done for us.
WILLIAM B. JOHNSON, Clerk
By means of a carefully trained corps
of ushers, num- |
| 9 |
bering two hundred, there was no confusion in finding
seats, and when all seating space had been filled no more
were admitted
until the next service. The church was |
| 12 |
filled for each service in about twenty minutes, and was
emptied in twelve, in spite of the fact that many of
the visitors showed a
tendency to tarry to examine the |
| 15 |
church.
It was "children's day" at noon, for
the service at half
past twelve was specially reserved for them. They
filled |
| 18 |
all the seats in the body of the church, and when it came
to the singing, the little ones were not a whit behind their
elders, their
shrill trebles rising with the roll of the organ |
| 21 |
in almost perfect time. In every respect their service
was
the same as all the others.
There was no more impressive feature
of the dedication |
| 24 |
than the silent communion. Devout Scientists said after
the service that they would ever carry with them the
memory of it.
THE ANNUAL MEETING,
JUNE 12, 1906
The annual meeting of The First Church
of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston, was held in the extension of
The |
| 30 |
Mother Church, Tuesday, June 12, at ten o'clock in the
Page 39
|
| 1 |
forenoon, and in order to accommodate those who could
not
gain admittance at that hour a second session was held |
| 3 |
at two o'clock in the afternoon. The meeting was opened
by the President, Rev. William P. McKenzie, who read
from the Bible and
Science and Health as follows: -
|
| 6 |
The Bible Science and Health
Isaiah 54: 1-5, 10-15, 571:
22
17 574: 3-16, 27 The
Revela- |
| 9 |
Revelation 19: 1, 6-9 tor; The very
577: 4
Then followed a short silent prayer
and the audible |
| 12 |
repetition of the Lord's Prayer, in which all joined. The
following list of officers for the ensuing year was read by
the Clerk:
-
|
| 15 |
President, Willis F. Gross, C.S.B.; Treasurer, Stephen
A. Chase, C.S.D.; Clerk, William B. Johnson, C.S.D.
In introducing the new President, Mr.
McKenzie said: -
|
| 18 |
When I introduce the incoming President, my modest
task
will be ended. You will allow me, however, the
privilege of saying a few
words of reminder and prophecy. |
| 21 |
My thoughts revert to a former occasion, when it was my
pleasant duty to preside at an annual meeting when our
Pastor Emeritus,
Mrs. Eddy, was present. We remember |
| 24 |
her graciousness and dignity. We recall the harmonious
tones of her gentle voice. Our hearts were thrilled by her
compassion, and
the memory lives with us. But even more |
| 27 |
distinctly may we realize her presence with us to-day.
Why? Because our own growth in love and unity enables
us to comprehend
better the strength and beauty of her |
| 30 |
character.
Page 40
|
| 1 |
Moreover, this completed extension of The Mother
Church
is an evidence to us of her hospitable love. She |
| 3 |
has desired for years to have her church able to give
more adequate reception to those who hunger and thirst
after practical
righteousness; and we are sure that now |
| 6 |
the branch churches of The Mother Church will also en-
large their hospitality, so that these seekers everywhere
may be satisfied.
This will imply the subsidence of criti- |
| 9 |
cism among workers. It may even imply that some who
have
been peacebreakers shall willingly enter into the
blessedness of
peacemakers. Nothing will be lost, how- |
| 12 |
ever, by those who relinquish their cherished
resentments,
forsake animosity, and abandon their strongholds of
rivalry. Through rivalries among leaders Christendom |
| 15 |
became divided into warring sects; but the demand
of this
age is for peacemaking, so that Christianity
may more widely reassert its
pristine power to bring |
| 18 |
health and a cure to pain-racked and sorrow-worn hu-
manity. "The wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceable, . . .
And the fruit of righteous- |
| 21 |
ness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
"Blessed
are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God."
|
| 24 |
Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has presented to the world the
ideal of Christianity, because she is an exact metaphysi-
cian. She has
illustrated what the poet perceived when he |
| 27 |
said, "All's love, but all's law." She has obeyed the
divine
Principle, Love, without regrets and without resistance.
Human
sense often rebels against law, hence the proverb: |
| 30 |
Dura lex, sed lex (Hard is the law, nevertheless it
is
the law). But by her own blameless and happy life,
as well as by her
teachings, our Leader has induced a
Page 41
|
| 1 |
multitude - how great no man can number - to be-
come
gladly obedient to law, so that they think rightly |
| 3 |
or righteously.
No one can change the law of Christian
metaphysics,
the law of right thinking, nor in any wise alter
its |
| 6 |
effects. It is a forever fact that the meek and lowly in
heart are blessed and comforted by divine Love. If the
proud are lonely and
uncomforted, it is because they |
| 9 |
have thoughts adverse to the law of love. Pride, arro-
gance, and self-will are unmerciful, and so receive judg-
ment without
mercy; but the law of metaphysics says, |
| 12 |
"Blessed are the merciful," and will allow no one to
escape that blessedness, howsoever far he may stray,
whatsoever lawlessness
of hatred he may practise and |
| 15 |
suffer from.
So we see that Christian Science makes
no compromise
with evil, sin, wrong, or imperfection, but maintains
the |
| 18 |
perfect standard of truth and righteousness and joy. It
teaches us to rise from sentimental affection which ad-
mires friends and
hates enemies, into brotherly love which |
| 21 |
is just and kind to all and unable to cherish any enmity.
It brings into present and hourly application what Paul
termed "the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," and |
| 24 |
shows man that his real estate is one of blessedness. Why
should any one postpone his legitimate joy, and disregard
his lawful
inheritance, which is "incorruptible and unde- |
| 27 |
filed"? Our Leader and teacher not only discovered
Christian Science, but through long years of consecration
has obeyed its
every demand, for our sakes as well as |
| 30 |
for her own; and we begin to understand how illim-
itable is the Love which supports such selfless devotion,
we begin to
comprehend the "beauty of holiness," and
Page 42
|
| 1 |
to be truly grateful to her who has depicted its form
and
comeliness. We have found it true that "she |
| 3 |
openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is
the
law of kindness."
It is my pleasure to introduce to you
a faithful follower |
| 6 |
of this Leader as the President for the coming year,
Willis
F. Gross, C.S.B., one who has for many years "witnessed
a good
confession" in the practice of Christian Science. |
| 9 |
You are no doubt already acquainted with him as one of
the helpful contributors to our periodicals, so that any
further words of
mine are unnecessary.
|
| 12 |
Mr. Gross, on assuming office, said: -
Beloved Friends: - Most unexpectedly to me came the
call to serve you in
this capacity, and I desire to improve |
| 15 |
this opportunity to express my thanks for the honor con-
ferred upon me. With a heart filled with gratitude for the
countless
blessings which have come into my life through |
| 18 |
Christian Science, I shall endeavor to perform this
service
to the best of my ability.
It affords me great pleasure to
welcome you to our first |
| 21 |
annual meeting held in the extension of The Mother
Church. I shall not attempt to speak of the deep signifi-
cance of this
momentous occasion. I realize that only as |
| 24 |
infinite good unfolds in each individual consciousness
can
we begin to comprehend, even in small degree, how great
is the work
that has been inaugurated by our beloved |
| 27 |
Leader, how faithful is her allegiance to God, how
untiring
are her efforts, and how successful she is in the performance
of her daily tasks.
|
| 30 |
"With a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm"
were
the children of Israel delivered from the bondage of
Page 43
|
| 1 |
the Egyptians, but this deliverance did not put them in
possession of the promised land. An unknown wilder- |
| 3 |
ness was before them, and that wilderness must be con-
quered. The law was given that they might know what
was required of them,
that they might have a definite rule |
| 6 |
of action whereby to order aright the affairs of daily life.
Obedience to the demands of the law revealed the God
of their fathers,
and they learned to know Him. During |
| 9 |
their sojourn in the wilderness they suffered defeats and
met with disappointments, but they learned from experi-
ence and finally
became willingly obedient to the voice of |
| 12 |
their leader. The crossing of the Jordan brought them
into the promised land, and this experience was almost
as marvellous as had
been the passage of the Red Sea |
| 15 |
forty years before. In obedience to the command of
Joshua, twelve stones taken from the midst of the river
were set up on the
other side for a memorial. In future |
| 18 |
generations when it was asked, "What mean ye by these
stones?" it was told them: Israel came over this Jordan
on dry ground.
|
| 21 |
Forty years ago the Science of Christian healing was
revealed to our beloved Leader, the Rev. Mary Baker
Eddy. A few years later
she gave us our textbook, |
| 24 |
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Obedi-
ence to the teachings of this book has brought us to this
hour. We have
learned from experience, and to-day we |
| 27 |
rejoice that we have found in Christian Science that
which heals and saves.
The world looks with wonder upon this
grand achieve- |
| 30 |
ment, - the completion and dedication of our magnificent
temple, - and many are asking, "What mean ye by these
stones?" The answer
is, The way out of the wilderness
Page 44
|
| 1 |
of human beliefs has been revealed. Through the under-
standing of God as an ever-present help, the sick are being |
| 3 |
healed, the shackles of sin are being broken, heavy
burdens
are being laid down, tears are being wiped away, and
Israel is
going up to possess the promised land of eternal, |
| 6 |
harmonious existence.
Friends, our progress may be fast or
it may be slow,
but one thing is certain, it will be sure, if we are
obe- |
| 9 |
dient to the loving counsel of our ever faithful Leader.
The Christ is here, has come to individual conscious-
ness; and the
faithful disciple rejoices in prophecy ful- |
| 12 |
filled, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world."
Telegram to Mrs. Eddy
|
| 15 |
Judge Septimus J. Hanna then advanced to the
front of the
platform, read the following despatch, and
moved that it be forwarded at
once to our Leader, |
| 18 |
Mrs. Eddy. The motion was carried unanimously by a
rising vote.
The despatch was as follows: -
|
| 21 |
TO THE REV. MARY BAKER EDDY,
Pleasant
View, Concord, N. H.
Beloved Teacher and Leader: - The members of The
|
| 24 |
Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist,
in
Boston, Mass., in annual meeting assembled, hereby
convey to you their
sincere greetings and their deep |
| 27 |
love.
They desire to express their continued loyalty to your
teachings, their unshaken confidence in the unerring wis- |
| 30 |
dom of your leadership, and their confident assurance
Page 45
|
| 1 |
that strict and intelligent recognition of and obedience
to
the comprehensive means by you provided for the further- |
| 3 |
ance of our Cause, will result in its perpetuity as well
as in the ultimate regeneration of its adherents and of
mankind.
|
| 6 |
We are witnessing with joy and gratitude the significant
events associated with this, one of the greatest and most
important
gatherings of Christian Scientists in the annals |
| 9 |
of our history. Yet the upwards of thirty thousand who
are physically present at the dedication represent only a
small part of the
entire body who are of us and with us |
| 12 |
in the animus and spirit of our movement.
The great temple is finished! That
which you have long
prophetically seen has been accomplished. The
magnifi- |
| 15 |
cent edifice stands a fitting monument of your obedience
and fidelity to the divine Principle revealed to you in that
momentous hour
when purblind mortal sense declared you |
| 18 |
to be in extremis. You followed unswervingly the
guid-
ance of Him who went before you by day in a pillar of
cloud to
lead you in the way, and by night in a pillar |
| 21 |
of fire to give you light, and the results of such following
have been marvellous beyond human ken. As clearly
as in retrospect we
see the earlier leading, we now discern |
| 24 |
the fulfilment of the later prophecy, that "He took not
away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by
night," for each
advancing step has logically followed |
| 27 |
the preceding one.
The great temple is finished! This
massive pile of New
Hampshire granite and Bedford stone, rising to a
height |
| 30 |
of two hundred and twenty-four feet, one foot loftier
than
the Bunker Hill monument, stands a material type of
Truth's
permanence. In solid foundation, in symmetrical
Page 46
|
| 1 |
arches, in generous hallways, in commodious foyer and
broad stairways, in exquisite and expansive auditorium, |
| 3 |
and in towering, overshadowing dome, the great structure
stands, silently but eloquently beckoning us on towards
a higher and more
spiritual plane of living, for we know |
| 6 |
that without this spiritual significance it were but a
pass-
ing dream.
In the best sense it stands in
prophetic verity of the |
| 9 |
primary declaration of this church in its original
organiza-
tion; namely, "To organize a church designed to com-
memorate
the word and works of our Master, which should |
| 12 |
reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element
of
healing." (Church Manual, p. 17.) To rise to the
demands of this early
pronouncement is the work of true |
| 15 |
Christian Scientists.
To preach the gospel and heal the sick
on the Christ-
basis is the essential requirement of a reinstated
Chris- |
| 18 |
tianity. Only as we pledge ourselves anew to this demand,
and then fulfil the pledge in righteous living, are we faith-
ful,
obedient, deserving disciples.
|
| 21 |
On this solemn occasion, and in the presence of this
assembled host, we do hereby pledge ourselves to a deeper
consecration, a
more sincere and Christly love of God and |
| 24 |
our brother, and a more implicit obedience to the sacred
teachings of the Bible and our textbook, as well as to the
all-inclusive
instructions and admonitions of our Church |
| 27 |
Manual in its spiritual import, that we may indeed reach
"unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to an
innumerable company of angels, to the general |
| 30 |
assembly and church of the firstborn."
WILLIAM B.
JOHNSON, Clerk
BOSTON, MASS., June 12,
1906
Page 47
|
| 1 |
Report of the Clerk
Beloved Brethren of The First Church of Christ,
Scientist, |
| 3 |
in Boston, Mass.: - It seems meet at this time, when
thousands of Christian Scientists have gathered here
from all parts of
the world, many of whom have not had |
| 6 |
the means of knowing the steps by which this church has
reached its present growth, to present in this report a few
of the stages
of its progress, as gleaned from the pages of |
| 9 |
its history.
After a work has been established, has grown to great
magnitude, and people the world over have been touched |
| 12 |
by its influence for good, it is with joy that those who have
labored unceasingly for the work look back to the pictur-
esque,
interesting, and epoch-marking stages of its growth, |
| 15 |
and recall memories of trials, progress, and victories that
are precious each and all. To-day we look back over the
years that
have passed since the inception of this great |
| 18 |
Cause, and we cannot help being touched by each land-
mark of progress that showed a forward effort into the
well-earned joy that
is with us now. For a Cause that |
| 21 |
has rooted itself in so many distant lands, and inspired so
many of different races and tongues into the demonstration
of the
knowledge of God, the years that have passed since |
| 24 |
Mrs. Eddy founded her first church seem but a short
time.
And this little church, God's word in the wilder-
ness of dogma and creed,
opened an era of Christian |
| 27 |
worship founded on the commands of Jesus: "Go ye
into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. . . . And these signs
shall follow them that |
| 30 |
believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up ser-
Page 48
|
| 1 |
pents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not
hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they |
| 3 |
shall recover."
Not until nineteen centuries had
passed was there one
ready to receive the inspiration, to restore to human
con- |
| 6 |
sciousness the stone that had been rejected, and which
Mrs. Eddy made "the head of the corner" of The Church
of Christ,
Scientist.
|
| 9 |
With the reading of her textbook, "Science and
Health
with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy insisted
that her students make,
every day, a prayerful study of |
| 12 |
the Bible, and obtain the spiritual understanding of its
promises. Upon this she founded the future growth of
her church, and
twenty-six years later the following |
| 15 |
splendid appreciation of her efforts appeared in the
Methodist Review from the pen of the late Frederick
Lawrence
Knowles:-
|
| 18 |
"Mrs. Eddy . . . in her insistence upon the constant
daily reading of the Bible and her own writings, . . .
has given to her
disciples a means of spiritual development |
| 21 |
which . . . will certainly build such truth as they do
gain
into the marrow of their characters. The scorn of the
gross and
sensual, and the subordination of merely material |
| 24 |
to spiritual values, together with the discouragement of
care and worry, are all forces that make for righteousness.
And they are
burned indelibly upon the mind of the |
| 27 |
neophyte every day through its reading. The intellects
of
these people are not drugged by scandal, drowned in
frivolity, or paralyzed
by sentimental fiction. . . . They |
| 30 |
feed the higher nature through the mind, and I am bound
as an observer of them to say, in all fairness, that the
result is already
manifest in their faces, their conversation,
Page 49
|
| 1 |
and their bearing, both in public and private. What
wonder that when these smiling people say, 'Come thou |
| 3 |
with us, and we will do thee good,' the hitherto half-
persuaded one is wholly drawn over, as by an irresistible
attraction. The
religious body which can direct, and con- |
| 6 |
trol, in no arbitrary sense, but through sane counsel,
the
reading of its membership, stands a great chance of sweep-
ing the
world within a generation."
|
| 9 |
The charter of this little church was obtained August
23,
1879, and in the same month the members extended a
unanimous invitation to
Mrs. Eddy to become its pastor. |
| 12 |
At a meeting of those who were interested in forming the
church, Mrs. Eddy was appointed on the committee to
formulate the rules and
by-laws, also the tenets and church |
| 15 |
covenant. The first business meeting of the church was
held August 16, 1879, in Charlestown, Mass., for the pur-
pose of electing
officers. August 22 the Clerk, by instruc- |
| 18 |
tions received at the previous meeting, sent an invitation
to Mrs. Eddy to become pastor of the church. August 27
the church held
a meeting, with Mrs. Eddy in the chair. |
| 21 |
An interesting record of this meeting reads: "The minutes
of the previous meeting were read and approved. Then
Mrs. Eddy
proceeded to instruct those present as to their |
| 24 |
duties in the Church of Christ, giving some useful hints
as
to the mode of conducting the church."
At a meeting held October 19, 1879, it
was unanimously |
| 27 |
voted that "Dr. and Mrs. Eddy merited the thanks of the
society for their devoted labors in the cause of Truth,"
and at the annual
meeting, December 1 of the same year, |
| 30 |
it was voted to instruct the Clerk to call Mrs. Eddy
to
the pastorate of the church, and at this meeting Mrs.
Eddy accepted the
call. The first meeting of this little
Page 50
|
| 1 |
church for deliberation before a Communion Sabbath
was
held at the home of the pastor, Mrs. Eddy, Jan- |
| 3 |
uary 2, 1880.
Most of those present had left their
former church
homes, in which they had labored faithfully and
ardently, |
| 6 |
and had united themselves into a little band of prayerful
workers. As the Pilgrims felt the strangeness of their
new home, the vast
gloom of the mysterious forests, and |
| 9 |
knew not the trials before them, so this little band of
pioneers, guided by their dauntless Leader and teacher,
starting out on
their labors against the currents of dogma, |
| 12 |
creed, sickness, and sin, must have felt a peculiar sense
of
isolation, for their records state, "The tone of this meeting
for
deliberation before Communion Sabbath was rather |
| 15 |
sorrowful;" but as they turned steadfastly from the mor-
tal side, and looked towards the spiritual, as the records
further relate,
"yet there was a feeling of trust in the |
| 18 |
great Father, of Love prevailing over the apparently dis-
couraging outlook of the Church of Christ." The Com-
munion Sunday,
however, brought fresh courage to the |
| 21 |
earnest band, and the records contain these simple but
suggestive words, - "Sunday, January 4, 1880. The
church celebrated her
Communion Sabbath as a church, |
| 24 |
and it was a very inspiring season to us all, and two new
members were added to the church." This was indeed
the little church in the
wilderness, and few knew of its |
| 27 |
teachings, but those few saw the grandeur of its work
and were willing to labor for the Cause.
The record of May 23, 1880, more than
twenty-six years |
| 30 |
ago, states: "Our pastor, Mrs. Eddy, preached her fare-
well sermon to the church. The business committee met
after the services to
call a general meeting of the church
Page 51
|
| 1 |
to devise means to pay our pastor, so as to keep her with
us, as there is no one in the world who could take her place |
| 3 |
in teaching us the Science of Life." May 26 of the same
year the following resolutions were passed: "That the
members of the Church
of Christ, and all others now in- |
| 6 |
terested in said church, do most sincerely regret that
our
pastor, Mrs. Eddy, feels it her duty to tender her resigna-
tion,
and while we feel that she has not met with the |
| 9 |
support that she should have reason to expect, we venture
to hope she will remain with us. That it would be a
serious blow to her
Cause to have the public services |
| 12 |
discontinued at a time when there is such an interest
manifested on the part of the people, and we know of no
one who is so able
as she to lead us to the higher under- |
| 15 |
standing of Christianity, whereby to heal the sick and
reform the sinner. It was moved to instruct the Clerk to
have our pastor
remain with us for a few Sundays if not |
| 18 |
permanently."
At a meeting of the church, December
15, 1880, an invi-
tation was extended to Mrs. Eddy to accept the
pastorate |
| 21 |
for the ensuing year; but, as the records state, "she gave
no definite answer, believing that it was for the interest
of the
Cause, and her duty, to go into new fields to |
| 24 |
teach and preach."
An interesting record relative to this
very early work of
the church, and its appreciation of Mrs. Eddy's
tireless |
| 27 |
labors, is that of July 20, 1881, which reads, "That we,
the members of The Church of Christ, Scientist, tender to
our beloved
pastor, Mrs. Eddy, the heartfelt thanks and |
| 30 |
gratitude shared by all who have attended the services,
in
appreciation of her earnest endeavors, her arduous labors,
and
successful instructions to heal the sick, and reform
Page 52
|
| 1 |
the sinner, by metaphysical truth or Christian Science,
dur-
ing the past year. Resolved: That while she had many |
| 3 |
obstacles to overcome, many mental hardships to endure,
she has borne them bravely, blessing them that curse her,
loving them that
despitefully use her, thereby giving in |
| 6 |
her Christian example, as well as her instructions, the
highest type of womanhood, or the love that heals. And
while we sincerely
acknowledge our indebtedness to her, |
| 9 |
and to God, for these blessings, we, each and all, will
make
greater efforts more faithfully to sustain her in her work.
Resolved: That while we realize the rapid growth, and |
| 12 |
welcome the fact of the spreading world wide of this
great
truth, that Mind, Truth, Life, and Love, as taught and
expressed
by our pastor, does heal the sick, and, when |
| 15 |
understood, does bring out the perfection of all things,
we
also realize we must use more energy and unselfish labor
to
establish these our Master's commands and our pastor's |
| 18 |
teachings, namely, heal the sick, and preach the gospel,
and love our neighbor as ourselves."
Eighteen years ago, the Rev. James
Henry Wiggin, who |
| 21 |
was not a Christian Scientist, wrote as follows: "What-
ever is to be Mrs. Eddy's future reputation, time will
show. Little cares
she, if only through her work Truth |
| 24 |
may be glorified. More than once, in her earnestness, she
has reached her bottom dollar, but the interest of the
world to hear her
word has always filled her coffers anew. |
| 27 |
Within a few months she has made sacrifices from which
most authors would have shrunk, to insure the moral
rightness of her book."
This statement "Phare Pleigh" |
| 30 |
[the nom de plume of the Rev. James Henry Wiggin]
makes out of his own peculiar knowledge of the circum-
stances. "Day after
day flew by, and weeks lengthened
Page 53
|
| 1 |
into months; from every quarter came important mis-
sives
of inquiry and mercantile reproach; hundreds of |
| 3 |
dollars were sunk into a bottomless sea of corrections;
yet not until the authoress was satisfied that her duty
was wholly done,
would she allow printer and binder to |
| 6 |
send forth her book to the world." This book has now
reached its four hundredth edition, each of one thousand
copies.
|
| 9 |
On September 8, 1882, it was voted that the church
hold
its meetings of worship in the parlors of Mrs. Eddy's
home, 569 Columbus
Avenue, Boston. The services were |
| 12 |
held there until November, 1883, and then in the Haw-
thorne Rooms, at No. 3 Park Street, the seating capacity
of which place was
about two hundred and twenty- |
| 15 |
five. At a meeting October 22, 1883, the church voted
to
wait upon Mrs. Eddy, to ascertain if she would
preach for the society for
ten dollars a Sunday, which |
| 18 |
invitation she accepted. After establishing itself as a
church in the Hawthorne Rooms, the number of atten-
dants steadily
increased. The pulpit was supplied by |
| 21 |
Mrs. Eddy, when she could give the time to preach,
and
by her students and by clergymen of different
denominations, among whom was
the Rev. A. J. Pea- |
| 24 |
body, D.D., of Cambridge, Mass.
The annual report of the business
committee of the
church, for the year ending December 7, 1885,
contains |
| 27 |
some very interesting statements, among which is this:
"There was a steadily increasing interest in Christian
Science among the
people, even though the continuity |
| 30 |
of thought must have been very much broken by having
so
many different ones address them on the subject.
When our pastor preached
for us it was found that the
Page 54
|
| 1 |
Hawthorne Rooms were inadequate for the occasion,
hundreds going away who could not obtain entrance; |
| 3 |
those present enduring the inconvenience that comes
from
crowding, for the sake of the eternal truth she
taught them." The Boston
Traveler contained the fol- |
| 6 |
lowing item: "The Church of Christ, Scientist, had their
meeting Easter Sunday at Hawthorne Rooms, which
were crowded one hour
before the service commenced, |
| 9 |
and half an hour before the arrival of the pastor, the
Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, the tide of men and women
was turned from the door
with the information, 'No |
| 12 |
more standing-room.' "
On February 8, 1885, communion was
held at Odd
Fellows Hall, and there were present about eight
hundred |
| 15 |
people. At this time the Hawthorne Rooms, which had
been
regarded as the church home, were outgrown. Dur-
ing the summer vacation,
different places were considered, |
| 18 |
but no place suitable could be found that was available,
and the Sunday services were postponed. There was an
expectation that some
place would be obtained, but the |
| 21 |
desire for services was so great that the Hawthorne Rooms
were again secured. A record of this period reads, "It
should be here
stated that from the first of September to |
| 24 |
our opening, crowds had besieged the doors at the Haw-
thorne Rooms, Sunday after Sunday." On October 18,
1885, the rooms were
opened and a large congregation |
| 27 |
was present. It was then concluded to engage Chickering
Hall on Tremont Street. In the previous consideration
of places for meeting
it had been decided that this hall |
| 30 |
was too large, as it seated four hundred and sixty-four.
The first Sunday service held in Chickering Hall was on
October 25, 1885.
Mrs. Eddy preached at this service
Page 55
|
| 1 |
and the hall was crowded. This date is memorable as
the
one upon which the Sunday School was formed.
|
| 3 |
Meanwhile it was felt that the church needed a place of
its own, and efforts were made to obtain by purchase some
building, or
church, in a suitable location. Several places |
| 6 |
were considered, but were not satisfactory; yet the
thought of obtaining a church edifice, although given up
for a time, was
not forgotten. In the mean time, not |
| 9 |
only was the attendance rapidly growing in this church in
Chickering Hall, but the Cause itself was spreading over
the land.
September 1, 1892, Mrs. Eddy gave the plot of |
| 12 |
ground on which The Mother Church now stands. On
the
twenty-third day of September, 1892, twelve of the
members of the church
met, and, upon Mrs. Eddy's |
| 15 |
counsel, reorganized the church, and named it The First
Church of Christ, Scientist. This effort of Mrs. Eddy
was an inspiration to
Christian Scientists, and plans were |
| 18 |
made for a church home.
In the mean time Sunday services were
held in Chicker-
ing Hall, and continued there until March, 1894,
and |
| 21 |
during the last year the hall was crowded to overflowing.
In March, however, the church was obliged to seek other
quarters, as
Chickering Hall was to be remodelled. At this |
| 24 |
time the church removed to Copley Hall on Clarendon
Street, which had a seating capacity of six hundred and
twenty-five, and in
that place Sunday services were held |
| 27 |
until The Mother Church edifice was ready for occupancy,
December 30, 1894. During the months that the con-
gregation worshipped in
Copley Hall there was a steady |
| 30 |
increase in attendance.
Twelve years ago the twenty-first of
last month, the
corner-stone of The Mother Church edifice was laid, and
Page 56
|
| 1 |
at that time it was thought the seating capacity would be
adequate for years to come. Attendance at the Sunday |
| 3 |
service gradually increased, until every seat was filled
and
many stood in the aisles, and in consequence two services
were
held, morning and afternoon, the latter a repetition |
| 6 |
of the morning service. The date of the inauguration of
two Sunday services was April 26, 1896. It was soon
evident that even this
provision was inadequate to meet |
| 9 |
the need, and it was found necessary to organize branch
churches in such suburbs of Boston as would relieve
the overcrowded
condition of The Mother Church; there- |
| 12 |
fore three branch churches were organized, one in each of
the following named places: Cambridge, Chelsea, and
Roxbury.
|
| 15 |
For a while it seemed that there would be ample room
for
growth of attendance in The Mother Church, but not-
withstanding the relief
that the organization of branch |
| 18 |
churches had given, the number of attendants increased
faster than ever. From the time that the three foregoing
named churches
were established, the membership and the |
| 21 |
attendance at them and at The Mother Church steadily
grew, and more branch churches were established in other
suburbs, members
of which had formerly been attendants |
| 24 |
at The Mother Church. In the spring of 1905 the over-
crowded condition of the morning service showed that
still further
provision must be made, as many were obliged |
| 27 |
to leave the church for the reason that there was not
even
standing-room. Therefore, beginning October 1, 1905,
three
services were held each Sunday, the second and |
| 30 |
third being repetitions of the first service.
This continued growth, this continued
overcrowding,
proved the need of a larger edifice. Our communion ser-
Page 57
|
| 1 |
vices and annual meetings were overcrowded in The
Mother
Church, they were overcrowded in Tremont |
| 3 |
Temple, in Symphony Hall, and in the Mechanics Build-
ing, and the need was felt of an auditorium that would
be of great seating
capacity, and one that would have the |
| 6 |
sacred atmosphere of a church home.
In Mrs. Eddy's Message to the church
in 1902 she sug-
gested the need of a larger church edifice, and at
the |
| 9 |
annual meeting of the same year the church voted to
raise
any part of two millions of dollars for the purpose of
building a suitable
edifice. The labor of clearing the land |
| 12 |
was begun in October, 1903, and the corner-stone was
laid July 16, 1904.
The first annual meeting of the church
was held in |
| 15 |
Chickering Hall, October 3, 1893, and the membership
at
that date was 1,545. The membership of this
church to-day is 40,011. The
number of candidates |
| 18 |
admitted June 5 of this year is the largest in the his-
tory of the church and numbers 4,889, which is 2,194
more than the hitherto
largest admission, that of June, |
| 21 |
1903. The total number admitted during the last
year is
6,181. The total number of branch churches
advertised in The Christian
Science Journal of this |
| 24 |
June is 682, 614 of which show a membership of
41,944.
The number of societies advertised in the
Journal is 267.
|
| 27 |
Shortly before the dedication of The Mother Church in
1895, the Boston Evening Transcript said: "Wonders will
never cease.
Here is a church whose Treasurer has sent |
| 30 |
out word that no sums except those already subscribed
can be received. The Christian Scientists have a faith
of the mustard-seed
variety. What a pity some of our
Page 58
|
| 1 |
practical Christian folk have not a faith approximate to
that of these impractical Christian Scientists."
|
| 3 |
The fact that a notice was published in the Christian
Science Sentinel of last Saturday that no more funds
are needed to
complete the extension of The Mother |
| 6 |
Church, proves the truth of the axiom, "History re-
peats
itself." These are the evidences of the magnifi-
cent growth of this Cause,
and are sufficient refutation |
| 9 |
of the statements that have been made that "Christian
Science is dying out."
The majesty and the dignity of this
church edifice not |
| 12 |
only shows the growth of this Cause, but proclaims the
trust, the willingness of those who have contributed to
the erection of
these mighty walls.
|
| 15 |
This magnificent structure, this fitting testimonial in
stone, speaks more than words can picture of the love and
gratitude of a
great multitude that has been healed and |
| 18 |
purified through the labor and sacrifice of our revered
Leader and teacher, Mary Baker Eddy, the one through
whom God has revealed
a demonstrable way of salvation. |
| 21 |
May her example inspire us to follow her in preaching,
"The kingdom of heaven is at hand," by healing the
sick and reforming the
sinful, and, as she has done, ver- |
| 24 |
ifying Jesus' words, "Lo, I am with you alway."
LETTERS AND
EDITORIAL
MRS. MARY BAKER
EDDY, |
| 27 |
Pleasant View, Concord, N.
H.
My Dear Teacher: - Of the many thousands who
attended the dedicatory
services at the Christian Science |
| 30 |
church last Sunday it is doubtful if there was one so
deeply
Page 59
|
| 1 |
impressed with the grandeur and magnitude of your work
as
was the writer, whom you will recall as a member of |
| 3 |
your first class in Lynn, Mass., nearly forty years
ago.
When you told us that the truth you expounded was
the little
leaven that should leaven the whole lump, we |
| 6 |
thought this might be true in some far distant day
beyond
our mortal vision. It was above conception
that in less than forty years a
new system of faith and |
| 9 |
worship, as well as of healing, should number its adher-
ents by the hundreds of thousands and its tenets be
accepted wholly or in
part by nearly every religious and |
| 12 |
scientific body in the civilized world.
Seated in the gallery of that
magnificent temple, which
has been reared by you, gazing across that sea of
heads, |
| 15 |
listening again to your words explaining the Scriptures,
my mind was carried back to that first public meeting in
the little hall on
Market Street, Lynn, where you preached |
| 18 |
to a handful of people that would scarce fill a couple of
pews in this grand amphitheatre; and as I heard the sono-
rous tones of the
powerful organ and the mighty chorus of |
| 21 |
five thousand voices, I thought of the little melodeon on
which my wife played, and of my own feeble attempts
to lead the
singing.
|
| 24 |
In years gone by I have been asked, "Did Mrs. Eddy
really
write Science and Health? Some say she did not."
My answer has invariably
been, "Send those who say |
| 27 |
she did not to me. I heard her talk it before it was
ever
written. I read it in manuscript before it was ever
printed." Now my
testimony is not needed. No human |
| 30 |
being in this generation has accomplished such a work or
been so thoroughly endorsed or so completely vindicated.
It is marvellous
beyond all imagining to one who knew of
Page 60
|
| 1 |
your early struggles. I have been solicited by many of
your followers to say something about the early history |
| 3 |
of Christian Science. I have replied that if Mrs. Eddy
thought it wise to instruct them on the subject she would
doubtless do
so.
|
| 6 |
Possibly you may remember the words of my uncle, the
good
old deacon of the First Congregational Church of
Lynn, when told that I had
studied with you. "My boy, |
| 9 |
you will be ruined for life; it is the work of the
devil."
He only expressed the thought of all the Christian (?)
people
at that time. What a change in the Christian |
| 12 |
world! "The stone which the builders rejected" has
become
the corner-stone of this wonderful temple of
"wisdom, Truth, and Love."
(Science and Health, p. |
| 15 |
495.) I have yet the little Bible which you gave me
as a
reward for the best paper on the spiritual sig-
nificance of the first
chapter of Genesis. It has this |
| 18 |
inscription on the fly-leaf in your handwriting, "With
all thy getting get understanding."
Respectfully and faithfully yours, |
| 21 |
S. P. BANCROFT
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., June 12,
1906
MRS. MARY BAKER
EDDY, |
| 24 |
Pleasant View, Concord, N.
H.
Dear Leader and
Guide: - Now that the great event,
the
dedication of our new church building, is over, may |
| 27 |
I ask a little of your time to tell you of the
interesting
part I had to perform in this wonderful consummation.
On
the twenty-fifth of last March I was asked by one
30 of the Directors if I would care to do a little
watching
Page 61
|
| 1 |
at the church. I gladly answered in the affirmative, and
have been in the building part of every night since that |
| 3 |
time. To watch the transformation has been very in-
teresting indeed, and the lessons I have learned of the
power of divine
Mind to remove human obstructions |
| 6 |
have been very precious. At first I thought that, since
it seemed impossible for the building to be completed
before the end of
summer, the communion would likely |
| 9 |
be postponed until that time. Then came the announce-
ment that the services would be held in the new exten-
sion on June 10. I
saw at once that somebody had to |
| 12 |
wake up. I fought hard with the evidence of mortal
sense
for a time; but after a while, in the night, as
I was climbing over stones
and planks and plaster, |
| 15 |
I raised my eyes, and the conviction that the work
would
be accomplished came to me so clearly, I said
aloud, "Why, there is no
fear; this house will be ready |
| 18 |
for the service, June 10." I bowed my head before
the
might of divine Love, and never more did I have
any doubt.
|
| 21 |
One feature about the work interested me. I noticed
that
as soon as the workmen began to admit that the work
could be done,
everything seemed to move as by magic; |
| 24 |
the human mind was giving its consent. This taught me
that I should be willing to let God work. I have often
stood under the
great dome, in the dark stillness of the |
| 27 |
night, and thought, "What cannot God do?" (Science
and
Health, p. 135.)
As I discovered the many intricate
problems which must |
| 30 |
necessarily present themselves in such an immense under-
taking, I appreciated as never before the faithful, earnest
work of
our noble Board of Directors. With unflinching
Page 62
|
| 1 |
faith and unfailing fidelity they have stood at the
breast-
works in the battle, and won the reward, "Well done, |
| 3 |
good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy
of thy lord."
But what of this magnificent structure
? Whence did it |
| 6 |
come? To me it is the result of the love that trembled
in
one human heart when it whispered: "Dear God, may
I not take this precious
truth and give it to my brothers |
| 9 |
and sisters?" How can we ever thank God enough for
such
an one, - ever thank you enough for your unselfed
love. May the glory which
crowns the completion of this |
| 12 |
structure shed its brightest beams on your pathway, and
fill your heart with the joy of Love's victory.
Your sincere follower, |
| 15 |
JAMES J. ROME
BOSTON, MASS., June 30,
1906
REV. MARY BAKER EDDY, |
| 18 |
Pleasant View, Concord, N. H.
Beloved Leader and Teacher: - We, the Directors
of
your church, send you loving greetings and congratulations |
| 21 |
upon the completion of the magnificent extension of The
Mother Church of Christ, Scientist, and we again express
our thankful
appreciation of your wise counsel, timely |
| 21 |
instruction, and words of encouragement when they were
so much needed.
We acknowledge with many thanks the valuable services
|
| 27 |
rendered to this Board by the members of the business
committee, who were ever ready to assist us in every way
possible; also the
services of other members of the church, |
| 30 |
who gave freely of their time and efforts when there was
urgent need of both.
Page 63
|
| 1 |
We do not forget that it was through you we were en-
abled to secure the services of Mr. Whitcomb as builder |
| 3 |
in the early days of the construction of the church, and
of
Mr. Beman in an advisory capacity in the later days; for
this, and
for their valuable services, we are grateful. |
| 6 |
Lovingly and gratefully your students,
THE CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
By WILLIAM B. JOHNSON, Secretary
9 BOSTON, MASS., July 10, 1906
[Editorial in Christian
Science Sentinel, June 23, 1906]
Our annual communion and the dedication of the exten-
|
| 12 |
sion of The Mother Church are over, and this happy and
holy experience has become a part of our expanding con-
sciousness of
Truth, to abide with us and enable us better |
| 15 |
to work out the purposes of divine Love. It was scarcely
possible to repress a feeling of exultation as friend met
friend at every
turn with words of rejoicing; and even the |
| 18 |
greetings and congratulations of those not of our faith
seemed to say that all the world was in some degree sharing
in our joy. But
within our sacred edifice there came a |
| 21 |
deeper feeling, a feeling of awe and of reverence beyond
words, - a new sense of the magnitude of Christian
Science, this revelation
of divinity which has come to the |
| 24 |
present age. Grandly does our temple symbolize this
revelation, in its purity, stateliness, and vastness; but
even more
impressive than this was the presence of the |
| 27 |
thousands who had come, as the Master predicted, "from
the east, and from the west, and from the north, and
from the south," to
tell by their presence that they had |
| 30 |
been healed by Christ, Truth, and had found the kingdom
of God.
Page 64
|
| 1 |
As one thought upon the significance of the occasion,
the
achievements of our beloved Leader and her relation |
| 3 |
to the experiences of the hour took on a larger and truer
meaning. The glories of the realm of infinite Mind,
revealed to us through
her spiritual attainments and her |
| 6 |
years of toil, encompassed us, and hearts were thrilled
with tender gratitude and love for all that she has done.
If to-day we feel
a pardonable pride in being known as |
| 9 |
Christian Scientists, it is because our Leader has made
the
name an honored one before the world.
In her dedicatory Message to The
Mother Church, |
| 12 |
Mrs. Eddy says, "The First Commandment of the Hebrew
Decalogue, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,'
and the Golden Rule
are the all-in-all of Christian Science." |
| 15 |
In all her writings, through all the years of her
leadership,
she has been teaching her followers both by precept and
example how to obey this commandment and rule, and |
| 18 |
her success in so doing is what constitutes the high
stand-
ing of Christian Science before the world. Fearlessly does
she
warn all her followers against the indulgence of the |
| 21 |
sins which would prevent the realization of ideal manhood
- the reign of the Christ - and now it is ours to address
ourselves with
renewed faith and love to the high and holy |
| 24 |
task of overcoming all that is unlike God, and thus prove
our worthiness to be "living stones" in the universal
temple of Spirit,
and worthy members of The Mother |
| 27 |
Church before men.
APPENDIX
TO PART I
AS CHRONICLED BY THE
NEWSPAPERS
[Boston
Journal, June 19, 1902]
AN ASTONISHING
MOTION
|
| 3 |
Assembled in the largest church business meeting ever
held in Boston - perhaps the largest ever held in the
United States - the
members of The First Church of |
| 6 |
Christ, Scientist, Boston, The Mother Church of the de-
nomination, voted yesterday afternoon to raise any part
of two million
dollars that might be needed to build |
| 9 |
in this city a church edifice capable of seating between
four and five thousand persons. This astonishing motion
was passed with
both unanimity and assurance. It was |
| 12 |
not even talked over, beyond two brief explanations why
the building was needed. Learning that a big church was
required, the money
to provide it was pledged with the |
| 15 |
readiness and despatch of an ordinary mortal passing out
a nickel for carfare.
[Boston Globe, April, 1903]
PROGRESSIVE
STEPS
The last parcel in the block bounded
by Falmouth,
Norway, and St. Paul Streets, in the shape of a
triangle, |
| 21 |
has passed to the ownership of the Christian Science
church, the deed being taken by Ira O. Knapp et al.,
Page 66
|
| 1 |
trustees. The purchase of this parcel, which is known as
the Hotel Brookline, a four-story brick building also in the |
| 3 |
shape of a triangle, gives to the above society the
ownership
of the entire block.
During the past two weeks considerable
activity has |
| 6 |
been going on in property on these streets, no less than
ten estates having been conveyed by deed to the Christian
Science church,
and now comes the purchase of the last |
| 9 |
parcel on St. Paul Street by the above society, which
gives them the ownership of the entire block.
Just what use the society will make of
the property |
| 12 |
has not been stated, but it is said that a number of
changes
will be made that will enable the church to expand, and
to do
so it was necessary to have this property. No block |
| 15 |
is so well situated for church purposes as this one,
being
in a fine part of the city.
[Boston Post, June 6,
1906]
THE FINISHING
TOUCHES
Artisans and artists are working night
and day and
craftsmen are hurrying on with their work to make
the |
| 21 |
spacious and elegant edifice complete for the elaborate
observances of Sunday, when six services will be held,
and when the words
of Mary Baker Eddy will come from |
| 24 |
her beautiful home, Pleasant View, in Concord, N. H.,
welcoming her children and giving her blessing to the
structure.
|
| 27 |
The services of Sunday will mark an epoch in the history
of Christian Science. Since the discovery by Mrs. Eddy,
many beautiful
houses of worship have been erected, but |
| 30 |
never before has such a grand church been built as that
Page 67
|
| 1 |
which raises its dome above the city at the corner of
Falmouth and Norway Streets.
|
| 3 |
[Boston Post]
Description of the Extension
Extension of The Mother Church
|
| 6 |
Cost $2,000,000
Shape, triangular 220x220x236 ft.
Height 224 ft. |
| 9 |
Area of site 40,000 sq. ft.
Seating capacity 5,000
Checking facilities 3,000 garments
|
| 12 |
Notable Dates in Christian Science
Christian Science discovered 1866
First church organized 1879 |
| 15 |
First church erected 1894
Corner-stone of cathedral laid 1904
Cathedral to be dedicated 1906
|
| 18 |
Two million dollars was set aside for the building of this
addition to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and the
money was
used in giving Boston an edifice that is a |
| 21 |
marvel of architectural beauty. But one church in the
country exceeds it in seating capacity, and, while vaster
sums of money
were spent in other instances, never was |
| 24 |
a more artistic effect reached.
This new temple, begun nearly two years ago, will in
its
simple grandeur surpass any church edifice erected |
| 27 |
in this city. Notwithstanding its enormous size, it is so
proportionately built that its massiveness is unnoticed
in the
graceful outlines.
Page 68
|
| 1 |
Built in the Italian Renaissance style, the interior of
this church is carried out with the end in view of impressing |
| 3 |
the audiences with the beauty and strength of the design.
The great auditorium, with its high-domed ceiling, sup-
ported on four
arches springing from the tops of great |
| 6 |
stone piers, contains about one mile and a half of pews.
The dome surmounting the building is
more than twice
the size of the dome on the State House, having a
diameter |
| 9 |
of eighty-two feet and a height of fifty-one feet.
The top of the dome is two hundred and
twenty-four feet
above the street, and reaches an altitude twenty-nine
feet |
| 12 |
higher than that of the State House.
The old church at the corner of
Falmouth and Norway
Streets, with a seating capacity of twelve hundred,
built |
| 15 |
twelve years ago, will remain as it was, and Mrs. Eddy's
famous room will be undisturbed.
The Readers' platform is of a
beautiful foreign marble, |
| 18 |
and the color scheme for all the auditorium is of a warm
gray, to harmonize with the Bedford stone which enters
so largely into the
interior finish.
|
| 21 |
The great organ is placed back of the Readers' platform
and above the Readers' special rooms. It has an archi-
tectural stone
screen and contributes not a little to the |
| 24 |
imposing effect of the interior.
Bedford stone and marble form the
interior finish, with
elaborate plaster work for the great arches and
ceilings. |
| 27 |
The floors of the first story are of marble.
There are twelve exits and seven broad
marble stair-
ways, the latter framed of iron and finished with
bronze, |
| 30 |
marble, and Bedford stone.
Bronze is used in the lighting
fixtures, and the pews and
principal woodwork are of mahogany.
Page 69
|
| 1 |
The church is unusually well lighted, and one of the
extraordinary features is the eight bronze chains, each |
| 3 |
suspending seventy-two lamps, each lamp of thirty-two
candle-power.
Where ceiling or roof and side walls
come together no |
| 6 |
sharp angles are visible, such meetings presenting an
oval
and dome appearance and forming a gently curved and
panelled
surface, whereon are placed inscriptions illustra- |
| 9 |
tive of the faith of Christian Science.
Two large marble plates with Scripture
quotations are
also placed on the two sides of the organ.
|
| 12 |
Everywhere within the building where conditions per-
mitted it pure white marble was used, and the hammer
and chisel of the
sculptor added magnificent carvings to |
| 15 |
the rich beauty of the interior.
The auditorium contains seven
galleries, two on either
side and three at the back, yet not a single
pillar or post |
| 18 |
anywhere in the vast space interrupts the view of the
platform from any seat.
Another unusual feature is the foyer,
where five thousand |
| 21 |
people can freely move. Adjoining this foyer are the
Sunday School and the administration offices, while in
the basement is a
cloak-room of the capacity of three |
| 24 |
thousand wraps.
[Boston Globe]
AN IDEA OF THE
SIZE
|
| 27 |
If one would get an idea of the size of this building and
the manner in which the dome seems to dominate the
entire city, the
best point of view is on top of the tower |
| 30 |
in Mt. Auburn cemetery in Cambridge, some four miles
away. From this point the building and dome can be seen
Page 70
|
| 1 |
in their relation to the city itself, and it certainly
looks
imposing.
|
| 3 |
One thing is certain: for a religion which has been
organized only thirty years, and which erected its first
church only twelve
years ago, Christian Science has more |
| 6 |
fine church edifices to its credit in the same time than
any other denomination in the world, and they are all
paid for.
|
| 9 |
[Boston Evening Transcript]
THE CHIMES
The chimes for the new Christian
Science temple are |
| 12 |
worthy of the dome. The effect on all within earshot is
quite remarkable. They say that workingmen stopped
in the street and stood
in silent admiration while the |
| 15 |
chimes were being tested the other day. Millet's
"Angelus" had living reproductions on every corner in
the
neighborhood.
|
| 18 |
[Boston Post]
MAGNIFICENCE OF THE
ORGAN
The new church is replete with rare
bits of art, chosen |
| 21 |
from the works of both ancient and modern masters, but
there is nothing more wonderful than the organ which
has been installed.
Nowhere in the world is there a more |
| 24 |
beautiful, more musical, or more capable instrument.
In
reality it is a combination of six organs, with four
manuals, seventy-two
stops, nineteen couplers, nineteen |
| 27 |
adjustable combination pistons, three balanced swells,
a
grand crescendo pedal, seven combination pedals, and
forty-five hundred and
thirty-eight pipes, the largest of |
| 30 |
which is thirty-two feet long. Attached to the organ is
Page 71
|
| 1 |
a set of cathedral chimes, stationed in one of the
towers,
and some of the most intricate discoveries of organ |
| 3 |
builders enable the organist to produce the most
beautiful
effects by means of the bells. There is also a solo organ
attached.
|
| 6 |
[Boston Journal]
ITS ARCHITECTURE
There is no need of fussing about the
underlying spirit |
| 9 |
that built the Christian Science cathedral. We can all
agree that it is a stunning piece of architecture and a
great adornment to
the city.
|
| 12 |
[Boston Globe]
UNIQUE INTERIOR
When these people enter this new
cathedral or temple |
| 15 |
which has been in process of construction, they will find
themselves in one of the most imposing church edifices
in the country
- yes, in the world. For in its interior |
| 18 |
architecture it is different from any other church in the
world. In fact, nearly all the traditions of church interior
architecture have been set aside in this temple, for here |
| 21 |
are neither nave, aisles, nor transept - just one vast
audi-
torium which will seat exactly five thousand and twelve
people on
floor and galleries, and seat them comfort- |
| 24 |
ably. And what is more, every person seated in the
auditorium, either on floor or galleries, can see and hear
the two Readers
who conduct the services on the platform |
| 27 |
in front of the great organ.
This was the aim and object of the
architect: to con-
struct an auditorium that would seat five thousand
people, |
| 30 |
each of whom could see the Readers, and with such nicely
Page 72
|
| 1 |
adjusted acoustic properties that each person could hear
what was said. To do this it was necessary to set aside |
| 3 |
the traditions of interior church architecture.
[Boston Post]
GATES OF BOSTON
OPEN
|
| 6 |
The gates of Boston are open wide in welcome to
nobility.
Never before has the city been more fre-
quented by members of the titled
aristocracy of the |
| 9 |
old world than it is now. From all the centres of Europe
there are streaming into town lords and ladies who
come to attend the
dedication of the new church for |
| 12 |
Christian Scientists.
[Boston Globe]
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS
HAVE ALL THE MONEY NEEDED
|
| 15 |
"Please do not send us any more money - we have
enough!"
Briefly that is the notice which
Stephen A. Chase, |
| 18 |
treasurer of the building fund of the new Christian Sci-
ence temple, sent forth to the thirty thousand or more
Christian Scientists
who have come to Boston to attend |
| 21 |
the dedication exercises, and also through the Chris-
tian Science Sentinel to members of the church all over
the world.
|
| 24 |
This means that nearly two million dollars has
been
subscribed for the new building, and that every
cent of it was paid in
before the work was actually |
| 27 |
completed.
That is the way the Christian
Scientists began when
they erected the first church in Boston twelve years
ago
Page 73
|
| 1 |
- The Mother Church. Then it was found necessary
to
issue a similar notice or order, and even to return |
| 3 |
more than ten thousand dollars which had been over-
subscribed. They have erected dozens of churches all
over this country and
in other countries since that time, |
| 6 |
but it is claimed that very few of them owe a cent.
If you ask a Christian Scientist how
they do it, the
reply will be in the form of a quotation from
Science |
| 9 |
and Health (p. 494), "Divine Love always has met and
always will meet every human need."
[Boston Globe]
|