Article August 12, 1911 Issue

The new census shows that the only two religious denominations...

with contributions from Chas. C. Sandelin

Los Angeles (Cal.) Herald

The new census shows that the only two religious denominations classed in the Protestant body that are making any real numerical progress in this country are the Christian Scientists and the Methodists, with the Baptists perhaps deserving a place in the category. Comparatively speaking neither of the other two approach the denomination founded by Mrs. Eddy—that is, in percentage of increase. The growth of the Christian Science movement has been the great religious phenomenon of the new century. It has done more than survive skepticism, derision, misrepresentation, and open opposition born of jealousy; it has triumphed over them so emphatically that today it practically leads all the non-Catholic bodies in ratio of growth, while its visible manifestations, the churches, as compared generally with new ones of other denominations, are incomparably superior as fitting temples of religion.

Mrs. Eddy's followers have reduced to a practical basis for a practical age the gospel of life. Jesus said: "The works that I do shall he do also." These works are healing the sick, saving the sinner, and helping humanity, and Christian Scientists are willing to be judged by the fidelity with which they follow him in this "gospel of doing." That they are successful is shown by their growth, by the testimonies of thousands who have been raised from hopeless beds of pain, by those eased from the bonds of appetite, by those uplifted from thoughts and acts of sin; and in so far as they do these things, ought not all Christians to rejoice instead of revile?

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