Article January 24, 1901 Issue

Among the Churches

with contributions from Julia D. Linneman, A. Brown

The new free reading rooms of the Christian Science Church were opened for public inspection yesterday (January I, 1901) from 3 to 9 P.M. Several hundred persons visited the rooms during the afternoon and evening and were cordially received by a committee of members of the church. The rooms are the finest of the kind in northern New York. They are located at No. 15 Second Street, near Broadway, and although not entirely completed were handsomely decorated for the opening. The furnishings of the interior are artistic and most inviting. The visitors were cordially received, and after a thorough inspection of the rooms, were ushered into the reception parlors. A feature of the evening was an interesting address by Mrs. E. K. Betts. She said:—

It has seemed good to begin a new branch of the work of Christian Science in this city, viz., the opening of free reading rooms in a locality easily accessible to all.

In these days of modern research and scientific thought, the demand is made that whatever is accepted and believed by man must be so done on the ground of its reasonableness. Heretofore, religion has been to some extent exempted from this requirement. Religion is taught as a system of faith more than one of understanding. Yet, surely, if it be true, it must be grounded on a scientific basis. All God's creation is formed and governed by and through law. It is impossible to break God's law. Any attempt thereto must, and invariably does, result in suffering. The only guarantee of safety lies in knowing what the law is, that it may be obeyed. It would be unreasonable and foolish to work in any of the sciences without first acquiring a knowledge of the principles which govern them. How much more absurd it must be to attempt to comprehend Christianity, the Science of sciences, without an accurate statement of the Principle which underlies it, as well as the understanding of its rules and heir application.

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