Article March 23, 1907 Issue

Last evening, following the regular Wednesday evening...

Berlin (Wis.) Journal

Last evening, following the regular Wednesday evening testimony meeting, Berlin Christian Scientists, held a short business meeting and voted to start a fund to build a church edifice by setting aside the regular Sunday collection the first week in each month. When the small number identified with this sect in Berlin is known a smile may pass over the face of the reader. However, when the accomplishments of these people elsewhere is remembered, it would seem that there is no cause to smile. This is not said boastfully. Little Oconto had the first Christian Science church ever built. Green Bay, with fifty members, has an $18,000 outfit—a handsome Bedford stone church of Carnegie library style. DelavanA correction was made in the April 13, 1907 Sentinel: "The newspaper article copied from the Berlin  (Wis.) Journal, on p. 535 of the Sentinel  for March 23, stated that 'Elkhorn ... has recently dedicated a pretty church building.' We are informed that this applies to Delavan instead of Elkhorn." , smaller than Berlin, with less than a score of members, has recently dedicated a pretty little church building. These people do things differently than others, but they do them. There is no solicting (sometimes unkindly called begging by persons who grudgingly subscribe to church funds). There are no entertainments or sales to raise money, no supreme effort on dedication day by a professional collector. And yet the money comes, and no Scientist church can be dedicated until it is wholly paid for. No one impoverishes himself or herself contributing, no one in or out of the church is urged to contribute. There is no "have to" about it. That old adage. "God helps those who help themselves," is put this way by the Scientists: "God helps those who let Him." The Scientist holds that the (so-called) mysterious Power Supreme, commonly designated as God, is the unfailing source of supply; that the Principle which is Life, Truth, and Love has no knowledge of poverty and want. "The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, ... and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow," "Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defense, and thou shalt have plenty of silver." This to the materialist may sound absurd; but that is the way Scientists look at it, and it works out with them. They know that when the proper time comes to build a church, they can do so and pay for it.

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This is certain: Christian Scientists are growing in numbers...
March 23, 1907
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