Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-06-10
SCIENTISTS GATHER
IN BOSTON TODAY.
Dedication of a New Church
There
SERVICES OF MUCH INTEREST
Christian Scientists Of Many States
Assemble for the imposing Exercises.
Something of Christian Science, Its
Teachings and Objects.

Boston, Mass, June 10.-The dedi-
cation today Of magnificent new ad-
dition to the Mother Church OF the
Christian Science denomination, in
Boston, is an event of the highest
significance in the history OF this re-
ligious body The interest OF all
Christian Scientists is centered on
Boston and thousands from all parts
of the world are thronging the his
toric old city. The regular Commun-
ion of the Christian Science Church
always brings multitude OF its ad-
herents to Boston, but the dedication
of the new structure this year has
made the attendance unusually large.
Built as the result of spontaneous
recognition of Mrs Eddy's life work
and of the imperative demands of the
marvellous growth of the movement,
expressing the liberality Of thousands
of Christian Scientists, and embody-
ing the best in architectural design
and modern construction, this new
building is logically the central feat
ure of this years gathering, although
Christian Scientists say that they lay
the greater stress upon the spiritual
awakening which has inspired the gen.
erous hberality expressed.
Facts About the New Church.
The church is one of the largest, if
not the largest, in the United States,
its seating capacity being SOP. It's
style of architecture is Italian Re
| naissance The pews and other inte-
riors woodwork finishings are of ma
hogany. The walls are Concord gran
lite and Bedford stone, with beautiful
decorative carvings. The inside fin
ish is a soft gray to harmonic with
the Bedford stone columns supporting
the dome. The height of the building
| to the top of the lantern, is 224 feet,
just one foot higher than Bunker Hill
diameter and is covered with terra
Gotta to match the Bedford stone. The
building presents a stately, dignified
and impressive appearance, and it is
| already recognized as one of the land
marks of Boston.
The first floor contains the various
Offices, a large foyer, Sunday-school
| room, cloak rooms, 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 Company of Troy,
N. Y. The largest bell, which is C
sharp, weighs 1000 pounds The
smallest bell weighs 400 pounds. The
| organ is necessarily one of the largest
in the world. 1t is strictly up-to-date
and contains all modern appliances.
Discovery of Christian Science.
Christian Science was discovered
by Rev. Mary Baker G.. Eddy in 1866
Referring thereto in her book emit
| tied "Retrospection and Introspec-
tion," she declares During twenty
| years prior to my discovery had been
trying to trace all physical effects to
mental cause; and in the latter
part Of 1866 gained the Scientific
1
and every effect a mental phenome-
non" 1t should be noted that in this
| statement Mrs. Eddy capitalizes the
word Mind, thus making II synony.
nous with deity and thus designating
the divine Mind as the only cause OF
creator. 1t follows, in her philosophy
that the universe is in reality spiritual
though it does not so appear to our
present immature apprehension. Chris
tian Science thus bases it's entire mo-
dus operandi upon the proposition that
God is, the only real Mind In Chris
tian Science it is maintained that
through the realization of the suprem
acy Of the divine Mind healing is eff
fected even as light dispels the dark
ness, on the basis that light is real
while darkness is unreal and therefore
cannot remain in it's presence Thus
it is that in Christian Science healing
there is no pretense of human force
but rather a yielding of human will to
the divine.
History declares that from early
childhood Mrs. Eddy had been spir
itually inclined and that even in her
youthful days she was interested in
deep, religious subjects and philoso
phic study. One who knew her well
in her girlhood has referred to her
gift of expression as very marked, and
that she often conversed with her pas
tor upon subjects which were too deem
for him to follow. Her superior abil
ity, her breadth and independence OF
! thought, and her Observation-Disclosures
were all prophetic of that eminence
as teacher, an organizer and a lead
er to which she has attained, and to
those who have followed the course
of events in the advance of the Chris
tan Science movement, Mrs. Eddys
far-seeing wisdom, initiative insight
and executive ability have become
more and more impressive.
Remarkable Growth.
The original Mother Church" which
adjoins the new building seats about
1,20O, and yet three Sunday services
are required to accommodate the at.
tendance. 1t is said that when this
ediflce was planned some Of the mem
bers were disturbed on account of it's
size. They thought that the provision
OF SO large an auditorium was entirely
uncalled for, the attendance at that
time being only about $50.
Mrs. Eddy organized the First
Church of Christ Scientist in 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
301 churches. At the present time,
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