Article August 17, 1907 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

with contributions from Mary Baker G. Eddy

A letter in this article was later republished in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany: My. 197:23-30

The handsome new church edifice completed for First Church of Christ, Scientist, of this city, at a cost of five thousand dollars, was dedicated with simple yet impressive ceremony at Carolina Place, Seventeenth and Market Streets, Sunday morning and evening [July 28]. Although built for temporary use, the church is one of the prettiest and most convenient houses of worship in the city, and it was thronged both morning and evening with members of the congregation, and the public at large who had gathered to witness the exercises. The dedication was in every way a perfect success and marks a new era in the life of the denomination in Wilmington. The church is of the colonial style of architecture and is pleasing in every respect. The order of exercises for the dedication on Sunday consisted of a solo, "Feed my sheep," words by Mrs. Eddy; Scriptural selection; prayer; reading of telegrams, cablegrams, and church history; Lesson-Sermon, and the benediction. The exercises were listened to most attentively by the large overflow audience which was present at both services. The dedication of the new church attracted large numbers of visitors to the city, among whom was Mrs. Sue Harper Mims, C.S.D., of Atlanta, Ga. To the general public the reading of the church history was perhaps among the most interesting features of the ceremony. It was in part as follows:—

In 1897 a resident of Wilmington was healed under Christian Science treatment, and received class instruction. The patient and student, thus healed, came home convinced that Christian Science is synonymous with primitive Christianity, and that its students, in the degree to which they live the Christ-life and think the Christ-thought, can do the Christ-works. The following Sunday the Christian Science service was read aloud for the first time in this city. It was read in a private parlor by one person, without a hearer save God. However, the seed was sown, and from that day to this Christian Science has never been without a witness in our midst; and until time shall be no more, will its gentle, loving ministry be with us, fulfilling the scripture of Isaiah, "to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. ... To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

In 1898 a little group of six persons met in one of the homes represented, and held the first united service in the local history of this work. In 1902 the Christian Scientists of the city met in a hall, and organized themselves as First Church of Christ, Scientist. On this date began our real church history. In touching on the inner life of this church, I cannot fail to speak of our gratitude to God for the book, the work, and the life of Mary Baker Eddy. Through them we have learned, as we never knew before, how to love our fellow-man and to follow Christ. In a message to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Boston, Mass., she said, "Follow me only as I follow Christ." Those who know the true history of that life can testify to its consecration—its purity—its love for God and man.

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