The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-20
The Chicago Sunday

as to be ornan entail without obstructin0
| the view; the beautiful dome overhead
with its corona of electric lights at nighU
and soft light from artistically colored
| glass by day, the chastc paneling and
gold decoration. and the unity Of design
in windows, all com bine to produce an
effect at once harmonious ana magnit-
cent Ihe pulpit Is finished in white
enamel and lighted with two golden
branches OF electric lights, each in the
form OF a seven-pronged fork. The chairs
are OF dark oak. simple yet elegant in de-
sign. The wall colors are light green, so
| clear thnt the general effect is white. and
/ Is suggestive of the purity which belongs
| to tire spiritual sphere. To heghten all
| these effects buncbes Of yellow and white
| chrysanthemum decked the stage, and
| banks of the same flowers were placed
| about the pillars these bright colors ba-
| ing set OF by the green of graceful palms
The principles OF Christian Science
were discovereu by Mira. Eddy in lS6G.67,
| and the first church was established in
Boston in 1868. In 1884 Mrs. Eddy visited
Chicago and organized n class of converts,
and tie first congregation in this city was
formed two years later. There are now
several hundred thousand mem bers of the
demon n alton, and the Chicago church
numbers nearly 20OA its annual rate OF
increase for several years having been
over 30 per ceht
Although the new structure cost sl06, =
600 IL is entirely free from debt.
The original estimate of the cost was
| si00 600, which amount was quietly and
unostentatiously raised by the congrnga.
tion. Ihree weeks ago il was found that
about $4,000 mora would be required TO
complete the furnishing Of the church.
Although 10 vas generally felt that every
member OF the congregation had con
tributed about as much as could well be
afforded, an additional sum Of $1,000 was
promptly rnised at the first meeting at
which toe matter was presented. and at
the next meeting $500 more was freely
subscribed. Tnis extrect from ths history
of the congregation Is merely an illustra-
tion of the suirit which has permeatcl
and characterized it from tie outset
The S5-foot lot on which the church
stauds cost So, COO the building $50 coo
and the remainder of the am mount rails,
was expended on the furnis ings The
total mum ter oi contri tutors was 1900, ard
the construction Of tne building was be-
gun last MarcD. The organ. ~hioh is n
magnificent instrument, cost $4,000. Taken
rs hue the structure comes very near
90 reallllng the ideal OF n place of wor-
shin, ana is certainly surpassed in beauty
ana qualities of utility by few II any
churches in the West.
Ine ediiloe is one OF the finest of the
West OF pure architectural style (the
I0nic), the noble lines Of its exterior
crpnte an impression that IL more than
realized when the auditorium is entered
Ihe architecture, as seen from accom-
papying illustrations, accentustes the
Importance of the entrance. Above the
recess on n great slab Of ktonP, these
words of holy wilt are scu'ptured;
Now is come salvation and strength
a~d kingdom Of our God and the power
of His Christ.
Within the entrance space ara three
panels directly aver the doors leading To
the odiiice "Gud is Love. Is inscribed
On the central one. 10 the right one
reads: "Who healet1 all their diseases, -
while on the left is sem: % Thou shalt
have no other rods before me. q" Ihe
cornerstone hears the simple inscrip-
ton, First Church of Christ Scientist,
A. ID. 1891. -
The auditorium is Of srlendii proper.
tiOns. ll0x11 feet In size without uill II
cor other break in the co1tinnity Df its
lines. The acoustics proved by actual
trial, are of the hest. The architect states
tho seating capacity is greater than that
Of any ether Protestant church In Chi
cago. Tho number OF seats (opera chairs)
Is 1900. while thcrs Is siace for 2O0 or 8UD
temporary chairs. Ibls cspgCitv Cf
permanent chairs Is go mnr' than ths total
of the main floor of the Auditorium
Tho audience room of tho temple u
rsised few feot above the street level
Ingress and egress arc bg series of
tunnels leading to and FROM an immense
foyer