Article January 24, 1920 Issue

Among the Churches

Current Notes

Paris, Illinois.—The edifice of First Church of Christ, Scientist, erected in 1916 at a cost of approximately thirteen thousand dollars, was dedicated free of debt at a special service held at the church Sunday evening [Nov. 2]. There was a good attendance.

As early as 1896 a few people experienced the benefits of healing through Christian Science, and during the next four or five years meeting were held at the homes of those interested, at the Women's Club rooms on the west side of the square, and at the Masonic Temple, corner of Main and Washington Streets. From 1907 to 1912 no public services were held. Interest was again revived in 1912, when a group of ten Scientists met during the subsequent four months at the homes of its members and also at a musical studio on the south side of its square. In March, 1913, rooms above the Citizens' Bank were engaged for services, and it was during the occupancy of these rooms, on April 30, 1913, that the Christian Science Society was organized. The first public Christian Science lecture was delivered at Shoaff's Opera House on April 22, 1914.

In July, 1915, a building fund was started. A Christian Science Sunday school was organized the following September. In December of the same year the lot for the present church site on East Court Street was purchased. On January 26, 1916, the Christian Science Society was dissolved and application was made under the laws of Illinois for the incorporation of "First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Paris." The articles of incorporation were received the following month. In the spring of 1916 ground was broken for the new church, and on July 10 of the same year the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremony. The first service was held in the building October 8, 1916.—Paris Gazette.

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