AN APPRECIATION

with contributions from Marie Russell

[In a lecture before the University of Berlin, Germany, where he is at present serving as exchange professor, Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of the University of Californis, made the following statements in regard to the Christian Science denomination. The church edifice to which he refers, however, is the original Mother Church, an extension to which, completed in 1906, and seating five thousand people, is now used for services. This edifice also was dedicated free of debt and cost two million dollars.—Editor.]

A noteworthy characteristic of the time is the sudden appearing of religious bodies which are in no wise—not even in name—commected with the old churches. The Christian Scientists are a striking example thereof, having had six hundred and sixty-eight churches and eighty-five thousand members in the year 1908, although this denomination was only founded in 1879, and its Founder, Mrs. Eddy, is still living. Boston is the center of this cult and the seat of The Mother Church. The services are held in a luxurious edifice finished in 1894, which cost one million marks [about $240,000], and was dedicated free of debt.

The belief of this faith—according to its own way of expressing it—"does away with all material medicines, and sees the remedy for all ills as well as for sin in immortal Soul; and that the mortal mind is the source of all suffering with which mortals are stricken....The fundamental truths of Christian Science are the unreality of matter, the spiritualization of man and the universe, the omnipotence of God, and the powerlessness of evil."

In spite of the scorn and ridecule with which it has met, the rapid growth of this religious body has been a matter of surprese, and many intelligent and well-educated people belong to its membership. No one who has watched its results closely can deny that this religion has brought much sunshine and peace into the lives of innumerable individuals and into many homes.

Beneath the mighty ocean deep,
A pearl lay in its shall asleep,
Until a diver brought to sight
The luster of its wondrous light.

My heart within a dungeon lay,
It languished there by night and day,
Till 'neath Truth's wand the fetters broke,
And life and love in me awoke.

Marie Russell.

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