Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-30
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS
DEDICATE TEE|R CHURCH
Services Yesterday Mark Wiping
Out All Obligations for New
100000 Edihce.

Wilmington Christian Scientists yester-
dav dedicated their church cdIuce at Park
Place and Van Buren, street with services
in the morning and evening which at
tracted large and deeply interested con-
grcgations.
The regular lesson of the day was sup
plcmentcd hv the First Reader Joseph
Ill Mendinhall, who read the founder $
Interpretation of dedication, and by the
Second Reader. Mrs. Frances i. Thatcher,
who reviewed the inception and develop
mcnt of the Christian Science movement
here, which en- minated yesterday IN the
dedication of the church edihce costing
more than S90,0 900 The significance OF
the rejoicing over the dedication lay IN
the circumstance that the church was
clear of debt with large oversuhscrp-
tion) as all churches of the cult must be
before dedication is admissible.
While the first steps in Christian
Science here were taken about 1900, il
was not until u wears later that the
movement attained any considerable
momentum, and from that time the
growth IN church activity has been strong
and constant
The carly Scientists began their meet
ings here IN homes ot the members, then
IN rented audtormns, eventually build
ing and occupying u small, temporary
structure in Van Rurcu Sttect While the
membership Was not larrc II WIS through
earnest cooperation I u"i, te on
str tfon "S Scientists express thtt
the present cdifcc was erected and
paid for vhilc the activities II tie con
grccatiop also extended to The waf 10
the (hrtstian Relief, Camp Welfare and
hy various other avenues through which
tho soldiers on tho battle fronts and the
war sufferers ~ Belgium and France were
aided rlothtd. fcd ard lulniStcrpd unto
RclatNclf large sums were applied 70 this
branch at church work during the long
period OF the war
The church. which has hccn occupied
several months for worship and he
Sunday school portion several months
earlier, is architcctuails designated as
Cl5Ssic nrohalh more drfnltc> dc
scriird Is Grccan Its exterior. as vcl
as The Rnmaucsquc interior, arc cN-
trcmck artistic and attractive. the
beauty and Appropriateness Of both have
been the subject ot much comment and
thcy have hccu ul)i1od either u Whole ~
III part IN other urchtcrts With ii, sum
Nor BACKGROUND If foilagc ard blossoms,
The graceful Nhtc modcrnzcd tre,h /
tempic, with Its commanding sweep "i
Wide deep steps III three long Eight.
giving j dienitjed altvatIon tic spot IS
one 81 I he most ft'stic N the cit Ius
tratlng tho rarr beauty evolved rieu
architecture p,rl5etly hannonRss vlh
lIs environment
The church hts capacity for 0o ptr
sons. with sunday school section in
lower floor ampl, for seating loO puri~
o. more The decoration schcn, Il III t
shade uf deep toned ovory. cont1a~tlt (
rlchly with 1tt furniture u Cr,a>~a'u
Wai inut
The readers platform III tito front i
archuccturaly balanced hy the seating II
the rear with rises mcz2aninc Ike. and
Is especially available for lecturers ,tc
4 large pipc organ. delightfully."- rich IA
tone, is screened hack of and above the
reader desk. only tho console being
visible Another notable architectural
feature IS the yauitcd foyer. which ln-
yltcS lhe worshipcr> g pause for the
exchange of greetings after ScrS ices
There are Special rooms for The readers.
the musicians HE nshcrS and he hoaId
Of directors where they may ii quirtudr
prcparc for thor parts IN
the services Lavato1les lat and coat
rooms also are provided for the com
vcnicncc ot hc attendants
Tho First Church al CEri~f Scientist ni
Wilmington illustrates fhe hIgh degree d
artistic excellence, with q perfection ey-
tending - all dctail that is always stuvcn
for In church construction hy Scientists
The dedication ~cr1 ices yesterday at
tractcd many prominent SeIen SIS m
cludIng Seycrai torucr member, 81 tho
congregation now living elsewhere. aud
the occasion MAS marked by rejoicing and
gratitude