Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-11
Six Identical Services TO ACCommo-
date the 10000 Members.
An Address From Mrs. Eddy Dealing With Chris
tan Science Tenets Of Much Interest.

fOetGn. June 10.-one of the most
remarkable religious demonstrations
rv,r Witnessed in New England oc-
CURED today when the magnificent new
Christian Science Temple in the Back
I:ay district was dedicated. From eV-
cry state in the Union and from all
i::r:s nf the world came members Of
that faith to b. present at the dedica-
tur, services. IT was estimated that
,nnr. tnaE 20 600 Christian Scientists
were in the city today.
nv services were held to accOmmO-
d:.t. TIE vast thrnngs. but even then
there were thousands who We're una
III. Ia gain admission to the temple.
The seating capacity or III" l.rW editIce
exceeds 1000 ana al each service To-Day
hundreds 81 ood il. the aielos ana in the
rear Of the church.
The first service was held at : O'Clock
t!iS morning. As early as o'clock hun
,.rt,iS of Christian Scientists We're
STARRING in line waiting patiently for
t..- doors 10 omen. At ) O'Clock there
we're. 1T least 1000 in the street outside
The church ana On hour later this num-
her had swelled to 5000. At ! o'clock
there we're 10, 900 persons waiting, twice
the seating capacity of the new temple.
AS quickly as one service vas com
rletcd ard the congregation haG de-
parted the temple was quickly filled
again. and still there were thousands
outside who had been unable to gain
admission. All day long the hot June
sun poured down on the heads Of the
waiting throngs. but hardly a person
left his place i'm the line.
The SIX services today We're identi-
cal ana each service was about two
hours in length. The occasion com
hined both the annual communion and
the Gedcatory exercises. 1t consisted Of
tie usual Christian Science opening eX-
ercises. the reading of the tenetS of the
church; a drdicatory address prepared
hy Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy Of Con-
cord y. H., the founder of the reli-
cion. and read by w. ID. McCrackan,
the first reader of the church. and Il
lesson sermon specially prepared for
the occasion.
AT the close Of each service Edward
A. Kimball of Chicago presented a re-
Ily Of thanks to Mrs. Eddy for her
dedcatory address and for her general
work in behalf Of the church.
The reading of the address from
Mrs. Eddy was the most interesting
part of the service to the members OF
the church. The address is q lengthy
document and deals in the main with
Christian Science tenetS. Referring
especially to the dedication Of the new
temple. Mrs. Eddy wrote:
Beloved, | am not with YOU in
nj. nt -
dedication and communion season. but
] am with you in spirit and in truth.
lovingly thanking your generosity and
fidelity. and saying virtually what the
prophet said continue to choose
whom We will serve
You have generously and wisely
provided for the mother church of
Christ. Scientist. a magnificent temple.
wherein to enter and pray Greatly
impressed and encouraged thereby.
deeply do | thank you for this proof of
your progress. unity and love.
The modest edifice of the Mother
church of Christ, Scientist. began with
the cross: its excelsior extension is the
crown. It's Crnwning ultimate rises to
i mental monument, q Gapcrstructure
high above the work Of mems hands,
even the outcome of their hearts. Civ
ing TO the material Il spiritual sisni-
fcance-the speed beauty and achieve
mentS of goodness. Met,liakS this
church is the one edifice on earth,
which most perfectly figures self-ab-
negation. hope. faith love. catching a
glimpse of glory
The new church. which up to late
hour last night contained hundreds of
workmen and artisans finishing their
various contracts, was entirely COM
pleted shortly before midnight. even to
the stone walks and iron fences on the
exterior. Another interesting thing in
connection with the edifice is the fact
that although its cost exceeded $1,000
600. and was built by voluntary sub
scription, 1t was entirely free from
debt today.
The new temple is one of the most
imposing structures in Boston and is
said to be the largest church in New