Article October 26, 1907 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

with contributions from Poldene von Senfft, Edgar A. Gerst, Ellen Bentinck-Beach

The Christian Scientists of Frankfurt a M., Germany, approach their second anniversary—as a community—with hearts full of gratitude to God and to their dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy. The initial step toward starting this work was taken in 1905, when the local band of Christian Scientists invited a practitioner to settle here and open regular services. Visiting Scientists had already sown "good seed," which had borne healing fruits; also the Herold, with its glad message, was welcomed in several households. But very few possessed or could read the text-book, and the work began without the usual leaven of an English-speaking element.

At the first Sunday service (Oct. 2, 1905), held in the Scientist's dwelling in a room that the little German comunity rented and had fitted up for church purposes, nineteen persons were present; at the succeeding Wednesday meeting twenty-three or four, and these numbers formed the average for a while. As applications for Truth-healing flowed in and the beneficiaries of Christian Science increased in number, our congregations grew, and in January, 1906, the Christian Science Society of Frankfurt a M. was organized and its business direction entrusted to a board of management. Meanwhile most of the regular attendants at the service had become subscribers for Der Herold; and our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, was in the hands of all who possessed even an elementary knowledge of English.

The fact that a demonstrable understanding of Christian Science cannot be attained without individual study of our text-book, has been so clearly proven that from the beginning steadfast efforts were made to awaken in patients and congregation the desire to read in the original the "little book" whose leaves contain the secret of all healing. The ready response these efforts met from people, for the most part hungry for Science, made it possible and profitable, early in 1906, to start an English Sunday service to supplement the German one. About a month later, the congregation having outgrown the original church-room, the adjoining room had to be thrown open. By summer time these rooms were in turn overcrowded, and a committee appointed for the purpose began to look for suitable accommodation elsewhere. Here difficulties cropped up similar to those experienced in other parts of the German field. Hall proprietors asked exobitant rents, and houseowners declined to let their premises for the holding of religious meetings. However, divine Love was keeping in reserve for us a home and "peaceable habitation" far exceeding anything expected or sought for. From outside sources the needs of this field had reached the ears of a German Scientist who formerly resided in Frankfurt and who owns house properly here, and just when our search committee had exhausted their fruitless efforts, this dear student came forward, offering—for Science purposes—the use of a large and accessibly situated villa, just vacant, on terms that only love for the Cause of Christian Science and desire for its furtherance could have dictated.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

A song of gladness and thanksgiving continually fills...