Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-11

50l2. Christian Scientists all over the
world have aided in its construction
and il is intended as a tribute TO Mrs
Eddy in recognition of her labors for
her church.
The church stands in the heart of the
Back Bay at the juncture of three
streets, Norway, Falmouth and St.
Paul
1t has II entrances through series
of arches i'm its several facades. The
interior is a soft gray, and the decorat-
ed carvings are peculiarly rich and i'm
pressive. The seating capacity is ac-
coipplished in a semi-circular sweep,
ana the organ is in the front Of the
church &ith the readers desks below.
TIE auditorium is furnished with ma
hagarY ptWS and has triple galleries.
Tho church also contains magnificent
organ. Il splendid chime Of II bells. The
original Mother Church adjoinS and
fOrals part of the new temple. The con-
strurIion Of the new church has occu-
pied Il little more than two years.
The church is one or the largest,
if not the largest in the United States,
its seating capacity being SOP. It's
style Of architecture is Italian Renais-
s.tncc The ptWS and other interior
woodwork finiSnngS are of mahogany.
The wallis are concord granite and
Bedford stone. with beautiful decora-
tive carvings. The inside finish is a
soft gray 10 harmonic with the Bed
ford stone columns supporting the dome.
The height Of the building to the top
nr ~, III, ;... IN
higher than Bunker Hill Monument.
I'll" dome is s. feet iii diameter and is
covered with terra Gotta to match the
Bedford stone. The building presents
= stately. dignified ana impressive APP
pearance. and it is already recognized
as one Of III" landmarks Of Boston.
The first floor contains the various
Offices Il large foyer. Sunday school
room. cloakroomS. etc. There are
twelve exits and seven staircaSes. The
cost Of the building is something less
than two million dollars. The new
chimes consist Of eleven bells made by
the Meneely Bell Go of Troy. y. Y. The
largest bell. which is sharp weighs
1000 lbs. The smallest bell weighs 400
lbs. The organ is necessarily one of
the largest in the world. 1t is strictly
up-to-date ana contains All modern
appliances.
Christian Science was discovered by
Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy in 1866. Re
ferring thereto in her book entitled
KctroSnection and Introspection. she
declares During twenty years prior
To my discovery | had been trying to
trace all physical effects to a mental
-, hn n = T
gained the Scientific certainty that all
cauSation was Mind, and every effect
q mental phenomenon" 1t should be
noted that in this statement Mrs. Eddy
capitaliZos the word Mind thus making
il Synonymous with deity ana thus
designating the divine Mind as the
only cause or creator. 1t follows, in
her philosophy. that the universe is in
reality spiritual though it does not so
appear To our present immature ap-
prchension. Christian Science thus
bases its entire moduS operandi upon
the proposition that God is the only
real Mind. In Christian Science it is
maintained that through the realiZa-
ton of the supremacy of the divine
Mind healing is effected even as light
diSpelS the darkness, on the basis that
light is real while darkness is unreal
and therefore cannot remain i'm its
presence. Thus it is that in Christian
Science healing there is no pretence Of
human force. but rather a yielding of
human will to the divine
The original Mother Church" which
adjoins the new building seats about
1900. and yet three Sunday services are
required to accommodate the atten-
dance. 1t is said that when this edi-
flee was planned some of the members
were disturbed on account of its size.
They thought that the provision Of SO
large an auditorium was entirely I'M
called for. the attendance at that
time being only about $50.
Mrs. Eddy organized The First
Church of Christ. Scientist, III Boston
in 1879 with twenty-siX members. So
slow was the growth of the movement
at first that in 1889. ten years later.
there were only eleven churches. From
that time, however. the growth was
more rapid. In 1899. there were 3O1
churches. At the presnt time. 1906,
there are 651 churches and 2I5 societies
CONTINUED on Page Two.)