Article August 3, 1907 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

After a period of eight years the congregation of First Church of Christ, Scientist, of this city, saw on June 16 the consummation of their most earnest desires—the dedication of their church, free from all debt or encumbrance. A little over eight years ago the Christian Scientists of this city purchased from the St. James' Presbyterian congregation their old place of worship, on the corner of Richmond and Kent Streets. The congregation has used this building as a place of worship, and gradually reduced the mortgage until it has finally been wiped out. At first the struggle was hard, but as time went on the congregation grew, and at last, as the direct outcome of a special effort started about a year ago, all the debt has been paid and the church building dedicated. The dedicatory services yesterday were very simple, but impressive. They opened with devotional exercises, followed by the dedicatory address by the First Reader, Mr. W. H. Huyck, who said in part,—

The dedication of a temple is always an important epoch in the history of a church. It is the consummation that crowns toil with triumph—an event that marks a state of progress, that denotes prosperity, and that points to wellearned peace. To-day, without pomp or display, we are assembled together in unity and love, to dedicate, free from all debt or encumbrance, our temple to the sacred service of the only true and living God. We are come here to consecrate anew this house of worship to the risen Christ—to the truth which resurrects mankind from the grave of material beliefs, to the consciousness of life in Spirit. Surely the present occasion is a white mile-stone, which marks an advanced stage in the progress of Christian Science in the city of London.

In all Scripture there is perhaps no more appropriate text to use in connection with this dedication service, than the words written by the apostle to the Christian scattered throughout Asia, and found in the First Epistle General of Peter, 2: 5, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, gives in our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 595), the spiritual significance of temple as "Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth, the shrine of Love."

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