The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-09-15
The Christian Science
Church and lis Founder
Annual Report Tells of increasing Architecture
Sometimes Suggests Socety's Desire to Be
"Different."

clusion; but as her recreation is a. daily
drive, glimpse of her may be had in the
carriage as she leaves the grounds of an
afternoon.
She certainly has made most charm
ing place of Pleasant view, personally
directing much of the work of improve
ment. Noble trees, lawns, rose gardens
and strawberries surround her house;
trim orchards, substantial barns, culti-
waited fields attest to the thrift and Or
derliness ruling there. Mrs. Eddy may
be dreamer; she is also a worker. She
is said to be woman of fine presence, of
the New England type.
She is now almost four-score years
old, but sends forth messages to the
church from her quiet home. She has
led a very busy life, has been method
ical worker. There are accredited to her
the following works-"Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures"
"Retrospection and Introspection;"
Unity of Good and Unhealthy of Evil"
Peoples Idea of God;" "Christian
Healing;;" fundamental Divine Sci
ence;;" "No and Yes;" Christ and
Christmas" Pulpit and Press"
Church Manual Of the First Church of
Christ, Scientist" miscellaneous
Writings" "Christian Science Versus
Pantheism.'
Statistics of 1908 give the number Of
Christian Science churches in the Unit
ed States as 559-surely these figures
are large for denomination so recently
founded. A writer in the New England
Magazine, discussing Christian Science
architecture, says: "A denomination
only rs years of age and neither large
in numbers nor unusually wealthy, has
been able with apparent ease to con-
struct such a vast army of edifces at an
expense ranging from $50 900 to 81, 000,-
900. The magnificent and substantial
buildings which have been erected by
the Christian Science movement and
which have been dedicated free from
debt, mark a vital interest in the under
taking which has perhaps not been par
alleled by any other religious society Of
its age in the history of the world"
That saving perhaps" leads us to quote
these words.
No one will deny that the church
growth, in both senses of the word, Of
Christian Science is remarkable. The
mother" church, which was built in
1894, cost something like $25O,000. Tho
First Church of Christ, Scientist in New
York, has an auditorium considered by
architects one of the finest in the coun-
try This structure, built of Concord
granite, cost $1,185,000, the whole cost
paid before it's dedication, in November,
1903. New York's Second church also
cost a goodly sum, over s500,000
In Chicago the Scientists First church
has a seating capacity of 1900, and in
this city Second and Third church
have been built, Fourth and Fifth
are in process of erection. Minneapolis,
st. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver have
magnificent Christian Science churches.
Concerning the character of the numer-
GUS houses of worship built by the fol-
lowers of Mrs. Eddy, this explanation
is presented: GAS to exteriors, some of
the Christian Scientist churches have
held to the Gothic and Romanesque
styles of architecture, with the tall