Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-29
By Judge John D. Works

TO many people. Thousands who
have been restored to health and happi-
ness through its beneficent mlniStra-
tions are looking up to 1t with feelings
OF the most profound gratitude;
thoughtful and observant people are
noting it's rapid progress and advance
ment with interest and wonder, ana
broadminded, moral and Christian peo-
pie are feeling, and often expressing
their qualification and thankfulness for
the work 1t is doing in the healing from
sin and disease, and in the elevation OF
mankind physically, morally and spirit
ually.
Time was when Christian Science was
sroffed at and ridiculed and It's be-
levers looked down upon and Stunned
because of their belief. But that time
has passed. The individual, or news
paper, that assails this religion or its
followers today, If they do so in good
faith, are known to be wholly ignorant
of its teachings and objects.
II is the purpose of this article to give
a brief and general history of the be-
ginning, progress and present condi-
tion of the Christian Science church
and what 1t stands for in this and other
communities.
Its Founder and Leader
Inc cnurCn WAS Wy hiS'
Mary Baker c. Eddy, and she has al
ways been, and still is, it's leader, in
whose wisdom, understanding. Chris
tian virtues and womanly character all
Christian Scientists have unlimited
condolences: and for whom they have
profound respect and affection. The
idea of q woman becoming religious
leader and teacher has produced preju-
dice and opposition in some minds. But
is 1t to be wondered at that religion
characterized by it's spirituality. its
charity, it's teaching of brotherly love,
its absolute trust that all good comes
from God, and that in him be no
evil: that man is born in his image and
is capable of perfection; and that
divine power will heal from sickness as
well as sin, as taught by Jesus, should
be recognized and again given to the
world by a woman? The seed of pure
and undefiled religion could be sown In
no better or more fertile soil than the
mind and consciousness of good, pure
woman.
Mrs. Eddy was brought UP in an at
mosphere of pure religious thought and
devotion OF old New England stock,
reared in a pious, educated. refined
family. herself of singularly devout
religious tendency, and with a thought
alert in matters of religion, no better
instrument could have been chosen for
the renewal and upbuilding of a true
spiritual religion.
Its Founding and Beginning
Although the founder and leader of
the Christian Science church. Mrs.
Eddy does not claim to be the dis
coverer of the truth upon which 1t is
founded. or that the religion it teaches
is new. On the contrary the Christian
Science religion is the religion of
Jesus. the Christ, in Its breadth and
fullness, including both regeneration
from sin and healing from disease. and
Christian Scientists are striving to
obey the command of Jesus to his
disciples: LAS We go preach. saying.
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick. cleanse the leper, raise
the dead, cast out devils. Freely we
have received, freely give" 1t was
the work of Mrs. Eddy to bring to the
world anew this old religion of Jesus
with it's message of healing that had
been lost and forgotten. Mrs. Eddy
was attracted to the efficacy of divine
healing by her own recovery by that
means when her condition was regard
ed as hopeless. From that time she
devoted herself to the study of the
Bible with the view of rediscovering
the principle by which disease was
healed in Jesus time, and for some
time afterward. The result of her
studies was the foundting of the Chris
tan Science church and the giving to
the world of her book. Science and
Health, with Key to the Scriptures
which has revolutionized religious
thought in the minds of multitudes of
people and caused the Bible to be new
ly understood and appreciated as never
before. This book, Science and
Health has now reached a sale Of
nearly 100000 copies. and its teachings
have become household words in thou
sands of families.
Its Growth and Present Condition
In its early history Christian Science
grew but slowly. 1t was opposed and
by other religious bodies.
1t had to prove itself by it's works and
this 1t has done. Mrs. Eddy early put
her teachings into practice. She obeyed
the command of the Master by preach
ing the gospel and healing the sick.
She proved the truth of what she
preached by her works. One by one,
In the beginning, were unbelievers
brought to know the truth by the
healing work she did, and now thou
sands OF her students are doing this
great work of healing that has re-
stored untold numbers to health. To-
day the churches are crowded by eager
earnestly seeking a knowl-
edge of this practical, every day rell-
gion, that redeems from sin and heals
disease by the same means and through
the same divine power.
What is known as the Mother Church
of Christ Scientist of Boston was
founded in 1879, with Mrs. Eddy as its
pastor. It's first church edifice was
constructed in Boston and is nearing
1t is a magnificent struc-
ture, it's cost being about two million
dollars, and its seating capacity over
six thousand. The membership of that
church has now reached close to forty
composed of Christian Sci !
entists from all sections of this coun- |
try and from foreign lands. There are
now over eight hundred branch |
churches and about three hundred
church societies which have not be-
come fully organized churches. In Cali |
fornia there are thirty-four churches |
and fourteen societies. Fine church
buildings have been erected in many |
of the large cities in this country, as |
we'll as number of the smaller towns |
The following church edifices and their |
aoatfno rama oifIy and ooct ,,,o - 10 ,....,