Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-10
MOTHER CHURCH DEDICATION
Interesting Event Which is Attracting
Thousands Of Christian Scientists.
ONE OF LARGEST CHURCHES IN COUNTRY
Some Facts About the Growth of the
Denomination, Its Founder
and what She Teaches
and Believes.

BOSTON. Mass, June s.-The dedication
tomorrow Of a magnificent new addition
} TO the mother church Of the Christian
/ Science denomination in Boston is an
event OF the highest significance in the
I history OF this religious body. The in
terest OF all Christian Scientists Is cen
J tered on Boston and thousands from all
parts Of the world are thronging the his
toric old city. The regular communion OF
the Christian Science church always
brings a multitude Of its adherents to Bos-
ton, but the dedication Of the new struc-
ture this year has made the attendance
unusually large.
The church is one OF the largest II not
the largest I'm the United States, It's seat
Ing capacity being 50l2. Its style OF
architecture Is italian Renaissance. The
pews and other interior wood work finish
ings are OF mahogany. The walls are Con-
cord granite and Bedford stone, with beau
tiful decorative carvings. The inside finish
is a soft gray to harmonize with the Bed
ford 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 monument The dome is
50 feet in diameter and is covered with
terra Gotta to match the Bedford stone
The building presents a stately. dignfed
and impressive appearance, and 1t is al
ready recognized as one of the land marks
Of Boston.
The first floor contains the various ON
ces. q large foyer, Sunday school room
cloak rooms, etc. There are twelve exits
and seven staircases The cost Of the
building is something less than 5000 OOO
The new chimes consist of eleven bells
made by the Meneely Bell company of
Troy, N. Y. The largest bell. which Is
sharp. weighs 10000 pounds. The small
est bell weighs 400 pounds. The organ is
necessarily one of the largest in the world.
II 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 entitled "Retrospection
and Introspection," she declares: During
twenty years prior to my discovery had
been trying to trace all physical effects
TO q mental cause; and in the latter part
of 1866 1 gained the scientific certainty
that all causation was Mind, and every
effect a mental phenomenon" 1t should
be noted that in this statement Mrs. Eddy
\ capitalizes the word Mind, thus making
Il synonymous with Deity, and thus
designating the divine Mind as the only
cause or creator. 1t follows in her philoso-
ply, that-th universe is in reality spirit
ual, though 1t does not so appear TO our
present immature apprehension. Christian
Science thus bases it's entire modus oper-
Andi upon the proposition that God is the
nly real Mind. In Christian Science It is
4aintained that through the realization
.Sof the supremacy of the divine Mind heal
ing is effected even as light dlspels the
darkness, on the basis that light is real
while darkness is unreal, and therefore
cannot remain in its presence. Thus It Is
that In Christian Science healing there II
no pretense of human force, but rather 9
yielding Of human will to the divine.
History declares that from early child
hood Mrs Eddy had been spiritually in
clned and that even in her youthful days
she was interested in deep religious sub
jects and philosophic study. One who
knew her we'll 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 deep foi
him to follow. Her superior ability, hei
breadth and independence of thought anC
her spiritual mindedness were all prophet,
OF that eminence as a teacher, an organ
izer and a leader to which she has at
tained, and to those who have followed tn,
course of events in the advance Of tn,
Christian Science movement Mrs. Eddy
far-seeing wisdom, initiative insight ant
executive ability have become more ant
more impressive.
Remarkable Growth.
The original mother church." which ad
Joins the new building, seats about l,2OC
and yet three Sunday services are re
CURED to accommodate the attendance. /
is said that when this edifice was planne
some Of the members were disturbed Of
account of its size. They thought that tn
provision of SO large an auditorium wa
entirely uncalled for, the attendance a
that time being only about $50
The FIRST church organization of Chris
tian Scientists was formed in Boston 4
1879 with twenty-six members. So sloV
was the growth Of the movement at frs
that in 1889, ten years later. there wer
only eleven churches. From that time
however, the growth was more rapid I
1893 there were so1 churches. At the pres