Article July 21, 1906 Issue

The dedication of a church in Boston, built at an expense...

The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)

The dedication of a church in Boston, built at an expense of about two million dollars, calls public attention to the flourishing fortunes of the Christian Scientists. The growth of this denomination has been something wonderful. History may be searched in vain for a parallel to this development. It was in 1866 that the apocalyptic vision was vouchsafed to Mrs. Eddy. Nine years later she recorded the substantial Principle of the new faith in Science and Health—a book which, in spite of ridicule and angry vituperation, had held its own among revelations and shows no sign of yielding to-day in the struggle for existence.

It the mere number of Scientists astonishes us, their character and material circumstances are still more extraordinary. Considering that the faith has met with nothing but unsparing ridicule from the learned world; that Mark Twain and most other men of letters have taken a shy at it; that few preachers have failed to denounce and few doctors to malign it, is it not marvelous that the great body of Scientists are people of high intelligence and comfortable fortune? The new faith, unlike many religions, has made its first appeal, not to the poor and lowly, but to those of the middle class. We cannot help wondering whether it will ultimately convert the multitude, as it already has the elite, and become one of the worldwide cults.

The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)

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