The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-17
SCIENCE CHURCH IS
Showing DIG GAINS.
GROWTH OF FAITH IN MINNEAP-
OILS ILLUSTRATIVE.
Four Churches Spring Up in This City
and Their Membership Is Steadily
Increasing-send Thousands of Doll
lars to the 100000 Fund of the
Mother church-command Worlds
Attention.

r. -str . - ..--s :. - F. :
The growth of the Christian Science
faith has been so rapid and so steady
since the Mother Church was built in.
Boston in 1894 that it has not only
startled the religious world but has
come as something Of surprise to the
leaders of the denomination itself. 1t
is possible to estimate this movement.
not only in the United States and Can
| ada, but also in England Australia and
Germany, by consideration of it's
growth in Minneapolis. ~'.'
Mrs Eddy's textbook, "Science and
Health, y called a "key- to the Scrip
tures,' first appeared in 1875. For If
teen years the growth was slow but
steady. No attempt was made to or
ganize separate churches, as it was
hoped that the-ideas would be taken up
and used by existing church organiza
lions. The ideas met so much opposi-
tion in the churches that organization
was found to be necessary, and the
head church was founded by Mrs Eddy,
in Boston. Of this church all the other
churches are branches. .,..".
In the decade from 1880 to 1890 a
number of Christian Science teachers
or practitioners took up the work in
Minneapolis and the movement here
was well under way by the time the
mother church was organized in Bos-
ton.
The Four Minneapolis Churches.
The First Church Of Christ, Scien-
fist, of Minneapolis, was organized in
December, 1890. It was the outgrowth
of the work of Miss Mary Brookings
It was disorganizea and reorganized
again in 1892 and from that time the
growth was steady until 1897, when: the
present brick building on Fifteenth
street, near Park avenue, was erected.
The dedication, in February. of 1898, Of
this church, the first in the state, was
an event that caused rejoicing among
the Christian Scientists of the north
west. ,r' FEY
When the mother church was found
to be necessary, the First church of
Minneapolis at once pledged $4,000 to
it's building fund, and that sum has
E already been exceeded. -
Second Church of Christ, Scientist,
!, was organized in 1897. It is the out
growth of healing work done by Mrs. E.
, A. Thompson of this city, vino received
: letter from Mrs. Eddy asking her to
: organize a second church. - Second
:, increased in members, rapidly outgrow-
. ing smaller buildings and the Lyceum
theater, until it erected it's own build
q ing, a stone structure on the corner of
Eleventh street and Second avenue s,
= in September 1908. The church seats
1900 people and is comfortably filled at
each service. F" -e--,yl .~ss IL 's.tE
Third Church of Christ, .oSczafst,
y was organized in 1901 and has occupied
it's present position on Lake street,; near
Nicollet avenue, since that time. Had
it not been for the building ofrthe head
church, Third church would already be
worshipirg i'll its own structure. That,
however, is the history of many Of the
. Christian Science churches that have
3 started their work in, this decade.
Third church, however, finds its field
: an increasing one and the audience COM
s fortably crowding its present place Of
= meeting. ..-..
t Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist,
q dates it's history from 1908, when the
students of Abbot Fades Smith, togeth-
. err with others interested, organized the
3 society that now owns and occupies the
v comfortable little structure at the cor
!. ner of Second avenue S and Fourteenth
street.
] - The Mother Church Fund. -
:. Two years ago the Christian scien-
d. lists at their annual meeting in Boston
: voted to raise $2,ooo,Ooo, or what part
of it was needed, to put up an adequate
/ building for the mother church, already
!, crowded far beyond its comfortable
I seating capacity. The entire field has
= taken hold of this work with enthusl,
= asm and already about 100000 has been
5. contributed to this fund by the four
n churches of Minneapolis.
u The mother church now has mem
i bership of about 10000 and stands to
:. the world as the visible representative
y of the Christian Science church. OF
! this church all the other Christian
Science churches are branches. Hence
it's name.
] | %. = -.