Article December 7, 1907 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

The magnificent First Church of Christ, Scientist, was well filled yesterday morning at the Thanksgiving service, at which, in addition to the Lesson-Sermon, there was a brief period set aside for testimonials appropriate to the day. Those who wished to speak were allowed two minutes, the Reader holding his watch and announcing when their time was up. In all twenty-two persons availed themselves of the opportunity. Most of the speakers made especial reference to their thankfulness for the fact that Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy had brought to them, individually, her conception of the teachings of Christ.

Many of the women who testified spoke in such low tones that their words were inaudible except to those in their immediate neighborhood. The second woman to testify gave thanks for the fact that sixteen years ago she had been brought to believe in Christian Science, had found peace, and had never been ill since that time. The next speaker, also a woman, from her position in the first balcony, said she came from Minnesota, and was exceedingly grateful for the example given by Mrs. Eddy and for the light she had given her followers. Three or four others spoke in the same vein, and the seventh to testify said she was grateful for her bodily health and her knowledge that God is Love. About sixteen years ago, she said, she broke the ligament of one of her knees, and one of the best surgeons in the country had informed her that she would probably never be able to walk again. She heard of Christian never be able to walk again. She heard of Christian Science and prayed long and fervently for guidance, finally accepting the teachings of Mrs. Eddy, and to her joy was well and able to be at home that Thanksgiving day.

Four other speakers expressed their gratitude for Christian Science, and the next, a woman, said that eight years ago she had been healed, after sixteen years of pain, of a disease which the doctors had told her was incurable, so she had good cause to be thankful. Another woman said that in 1889 a little child of a member of the Christian Science faith had been healed of cancer of the stomach, and that this one manifestation of God's love and power had brought her and one hundred other people into the Christian Science faith. A man in the first gallery said it was the first real Thanksgiving day he had known, as he had only nine months ago taken up the study of Christian Science. In that time, he said, it had brought him from a state of mental chaos to spiritual, social, and bodily health, for which he desired to express his thankfulness. The last woman to testify said that thirteen years ago she had known nothing about Christian Science, except for the ignorant prejudice against it she heard expressed by some of her friends. Since then it had rescued her sister from quick consumption, and had brought to herself peace and light.

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