Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06

tant one. They nave occupied ScOttlSn
Rite Hall. on G street, for more than seven
years past, and while they have prospered
there and have liked the hall because of
it's central location, they have long felt a
desire for a building of their own. Their
membership has increased to such an ex-
tent as to cause them to feel very much
cramped in the hall. They have been COM
PEELED to hold their Sunday school at the
same hour Sundays that they held their
Sunday morning church services, so as to
take the teachers and the children out of
the hall and thus make room for others
who desire to attend the church service.
Even after resorting to this device it has
been difficult to find room for all at all the
services.
The church they have secured is "a COM
paratively new building, having been erect
ed in 1886. 1t Is Of red pressed brick and Is
surmounted by a tower of the same ma
terial. The ground on which 1t stands Is
elevated above the sidewalk and the walls
are thick and we'll laid. The facing of the
lower story front is of stone and there IS
broad parking on both the X street ana
the 18th street sides of the building. The
locality is regarded as in every respect ex-
cellent, being approximately in the center
of the northwest quarter of the city The
building is lighted by both gas and cleo
tricity, and it contains a good organ. which
the new owners secure with the church.
The building Is about 80 by IS feet in d.
mansions. and has a present seating capa-
city of about 700.
The Foundry Church edifice cost about
$35 600 to build, and the ground on which
IL stands is estimated to be worth from
$4,000 to $4,000. 1t was built by the old
Zion Methodist Church organization. Soon
after It's erection that church was CONSOLE
dated with the st. Paul Church, whose
building originally was on Dupont circle.
When Foundry Church sold the building
on 14th and G streets. which 1t had occu-
pied for so many years. that church united
with the other two kindred organizations,
and for the last two or three years the
building has accommodated all three
churches united as one.
The Scientists do not expect to I'LL the
church upon first entering it, but they cal
culate that they will soon be able to do SO.
The growth of their membership has been
steady, but they feel that if they had been
in church building instead of hall dur
ing the history of the church their increase
would have been greater. The member
ship of the church numbers about IT'S, but
several of the members are non-residents
of the city. There are, however, many peo-
pie interested in Christian Science who
have not attached themselves to any church
organization, and past experience, 1t is
said, 1uStifieS the conclusion that the at
tendance will far exceed the membership.
The members of this congregation are
also hopeful that the change of quarters
will mark the beginning of a rapid expan-
sion in numbers of their active members.
Christian Science has been known in
Washington since the early sos, when Mrs.
Mary Baker G. Eddy its discoverer and
founder. visited the city and taught class
lied until October 26. 1895. Previous to
that time the adherents of the faith were
accustomed to meet in private houses, and
many of those who participated in such
meetings are still actively identified with
the cause in this city. The present First
Church organization bad its origin in the
residence of Capt. and Mrs John F. Lin
scott, then situated at 1911 10th street
both students of Mrs. Eddy, and they came
to this city from Chicago a few months
before organizing the church. On the date
mentioned sixteen of the resident Scientists
gathered at the Linscott residence and
perfected an organization by electing Capt
Linscott as president Mrs. Linscott as vice
president. Mr.. c. A. Fiske as treasurer and
Mr.. e. w. Kepner as clerk Capt. and
Mrs. Linscott were at that time also elect
ed readers for the church.
The first services of the church were
held at Capt. Linscotts residence. and
when that place was abandoned the old
streets. was occupied. A year later, in
November. 1895. that building was aban-
doned and the church removed to Scottish
Rite Hall, where it has since remained.
What the form OF the exercises for the
opening of the church by the new denoini-
nation may be is not yet definitely decided.
but 1t Is intended to depart somewhat from
the usual set form of Christian Science
worship, which at the Sunday service Per-
mits of no sermoniZing or speechmaking.
1t is in contemplation to have few short
addresses the day of the opening in ex-
PLANTATION of Christian Science, but the de-
tails of the program have not been deter
mined. Ordinarily the Sunday service Of
the church consists In addition to hymns
and silent prayer, OF about half an hours
alternate reading from the Bible and from
the Christian Science text book, Science
and HEALTH" by Mrs Eddy.
There are two readers in each church. one
of whom is generally a man and the other
q woman. One reads from the Bible and
the other from Science and Health" The
regulations Of the church, issued from the
headquarters at Boston, recommend the
election of new readers every three years.
and the practice 10 universally followed