Among the Churches

with contributions from S. C. Hayford, Martha Sutton Thompson, C. T. Byrd

Forward not Backward.

In a communication to the Tribune, Miss Clara Shepard, C.S.B., First Reader of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Sioux City, says:—

A remark which was reported to me, hinting that Christian Science was dying out, because we were moving from our former office rooms, made me wish to tell a little of what we are doing as a religious body in this city. We were simply moving out of the old into the new, for the demand of the work increases, and larger and better rooms must be had to accommodate the needs of the people and the better accomplish the good the cause represents. We now have three rooms instead of two, the larger one to be arranged in a comfortable manner for a reading room, where any one wishing to know something of Christian Science may come and read the authorized books on the subject, and also the monthly and weekly, published by this denomination. The rooms will be open every day in the week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Sunday.

Our church in the month of December collected and paid out over twelve hundred dollars from those only who have been helped by the Truth which Christian Science teaches. And every one gave, glad of the opportunity to express in some way the gratitude they felt for the great good this religion has brought them. There are many hundreds in this city whom Christian Science is blessing. All manner of evils have been destroyed for those unfortunately under their influence, and not knowing how to overcome temptation. Sickness of every kind has been healed. Death in some degree has been overcome.

Sioux City (Ia.) Daily Tribune.

Another Small Church.

The small churches are sharing nobly in the great work which is required at the present time. I was pleased to see an account in the Sentinel of January 25 of the work of a small church in Vermont. I wish to speak of some of the work of another. Some interest was awakened in Barre, Vt., over ten years ago by the healing through Christian Science of a few persons. About five years ago a church was organized by one of the Mother's students. Most of the original members have since moved away, and are helping to swell the attendance in larger places. Only a few persons carry on the work. The present Readers are students of one of the Mother's students. During the past year a large amount of literature from the Publishing House has been distributed. Pledges were given for the money to have a lecture several months ago; but as the engagements were full for the New England lecturers, they were obliged to wait until another year. A small building fund has been started. The work is growing in a deepening sense of harmony and personal responsibility. And here where there is so much activity and growth in everything else, there is surely destined to be a wonderful growth in Christian Science.

Rev. S. C. Hayford, Barre, Vt.

A Word from North Dakota.

I have always corrected every untruthful or mistaken article pertaining to Christian Science or Scientists appearing in our local papers, during my ten years residence in Grand Forks. Long since, Christian Science has had fair representation in these papers, and antagonistic articles are rarely copied from other periodicals.

Our church has gone through some troubled waters, but it stands loyal, undivided, and enters upon the new year with a new lesson learned. The work in this field marks the healing of many hopeless cases of sin and disease.

By the abnegation of self and exaltation of the spiritual idea we endeavor to work out our salvation by walking in the narrow path our dear Leader is treading before us. This is the only way we can hope to pay our great debt to her.—Martha Sutton Thompson, Grand Forks, S. Dak.

Church at Savannah, Ga.

First Church of Christ, Scientist, was organized March, 1899, with twenty-one charter members. The existence of a church called forth renewed comment on, and interest in, the Christian Scientists and their belief, all of which was followed by visits from the ranks of the thinking public. Many came inquiring, and spent a while daily in the rooms, simply to inform themselves of what Christian Science really is. It is needless to report the result—increased membership—for where one really informs himself of Christian Science, there is that longing for a broader view and desire for a higher life that awakens us to the transforming Christ Love, and lifts us into a world of which we had never dreamed.—C. T. Byrd, Savannah, Ga.

The Observer says: "The Bible is not a neglected book. The Christian converts of Tahiti, on the approach of the French army, hurried as fugitives to the mountains, leaving their Bibles behind them. But they came back at great personal risk, declaring that they must have their Bibles for they could not live without them."

The Watchman has the following: "The more we see of life the firmer is apt to be our persuasion that we get the best of any power or advantage we may happen to have by using it for the welfare of others. The riches that we can amass in that way are truly laid up in heaven."

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February 22, 1900

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