Arizona republican., 1906-06-11
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
 TEMPLE DEDICATED
Forty Thousand Members Participa-
 ted in Yesterdays Services.

Boston. June 10.-One of the most remarkable religious demonstrations ever witnessed in New England occur red today when the new $1,00O,OOO Christian Science temple, in the back bay district was dedicated From every state in the union and from all parts of the world came people to be at the dedicatory services. It was estimated that more than 10000 Christian Scien- lists were in the city today. Six ser vices were held to accommodate the vast throngs. but even then thousands were unable to gain admission to the temple The seating capacity of the new edifice exceeds five thousand and at each service today hundreds
 stood in the aisles and rear of the church As quickly as one service was
 completed and the congregation had departed the temple was filled again and there were thousands of people outside who were unable to get in.
 The meetings combined both annual : re- union and dedicatory exercises. It | consisted of the usual Christian Sci ence opening exercises, reading of the tenets of the church, a dedicatory ad-
 dress prepared by Mrs Mary Baker 4 c. Eddy and read by w. D. MacCrack- en. first reader of the church and a 1
 the close of the lesson sermon, in addi-
 tion to the usual custom, in response ito an invitation of the first reader, the entire congregation knelt in silent communion followed by the audible recitation of the Lords prayer.
 The congregational singing was a
 feature of the services. At the close of each service Edward 4. Kimball, of Chicago, presented a reply of thanks
 to Mrs. Eddy for her dedicatory ad- T dress and for her general work in be-
 halt Of the church
 The church is one of the largest, il
 not tine largest in the United States it's seating capacity being 5,012 Its style of architecture is Italian Renais-
 sance. The pews and other interior
 woodwork finishings are of mahogany lThe walls are Concord granite anC Bedford stone, with beautiful decora- tive carvings. The Inside finish is z
 soft gray to harmoniZe with the Bed ford, stone columns supporting the dome The height of the building t, the top of the lantern. is PA feet, jus
 one foot higher than Bunker Hill mon
 unent The dome is S2 feet in diam
 eter and is covered with terra cotti
 to match the Bedford stone. The build [ ling presents a stately, dignified ant impressive appearance, and is dread. : recognized as one of the landmarks O Boston.
 The first floor contains the variou . offices, a large foyer. Sunday schOo ! room, cloak rooms, etc. There ar
 twelve exits and seven staircases. Tn s cost of the building is something les 1 than two million dollars. The ney I chimes consist of eleven bells. Tn . largest bell, which is e" sharp, weigh GA .OOO pounds. The smallest bell weigh - 400 pounds. The organ is necessaril 0 one of the largest in the world.
 e Mrs. Eddy organized the Firs = Church of Christ, Scientist in Bosto t 4n 1879 with twenty-six members. s t slow was the growth of the movemen = at first that in 1889. ten years late n there were only eleven churches. Fror s that time, however, the growth wa o more rapid. In 1899, there were 30 e churches. At the present time, 19Ot s there are 657 churches and 275 sOcie t ties not yet organized as churche s making 932 societies holding churc s services. In 1889 there were only 45 - members in the entire connection. I S 1894 the total membership was 253 = Five years later it had reached 1S 13 y These figures show that the principG e growth has taken place during the pas e seven years. The membership at tn n present t.me is about 72,0OO but ths e there are multitudes interested in tE n movement outside of the actual churc s membership is evidenced by the larg e attendance at the Christian Scienc
 services and the fact that nearly 400 s 900 copies of the Christian Scienc = text book are at present in circulatiol