Church Dedications

Note: Christian Science churches are dedicated only when free from debt.

Corvallis, Oregon (First Church).—The beautiful white colonial edifice of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Corvallis, was dedicated on June 27, 1943. Through its classic doorway, patterned after those of the early Willamette Valley meetinghouses, came members and friends from various parts of Oregon, California, Washington, and Idaho to attend the morning and evening services.

A short history of the church was read by the First Reader, excerpts from which follow:

"On July 6. 1909, the adoption of by-laws, the election of First and Second Readers, and of three directors, formally instituted f Christian Science Society, Corvallis. In the fall of that year quarters were rented in the First National Bank Building, where services were held until the fall of 1914. A charter, establishing the society as an authorized branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, was granted in 1911, at which time a Sunday school was organized and Wednesday evening meetings were begun.

"In 1914 a residence at the corner of Fourteenth and Jefferson Streets was leased and remodeled for church use. Services were held there until the present building was completed.

"In July. 1919, the society became First Church of Christ, Scientist. Six years later the church was incorporated under the laws of the state of Oregon.

"Construction of the present structure was begun on April 1, 1936, and the first service was held in it on Sunday, August 2, 1936. In 1940 the Reading Room was moved from quarters provided for it in the church building to its present ground-floor location in the business district, at 232 South Second Street.

"The members wish to thank all those whose time and means have made possible the dedication of this church edifice free and clear of all indebtedness. A generous grant from the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy is also gratefully acknowledged."

Gazette-Times

Wheeling, West Virginia (First Church).—The church edifice of First Church of Christ. Scientist, Wheeling, was dedicated on Sunday, June 27, 1943. In order to accommodate the many friends and members, two dedication services were held, one in the forenoon and another in the afternoon.

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Wheeling, through effort and sacrifice on the part of its members, aided by gifts from friends, and with the assistance of the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy, was freed from all indebtedness, and was thus able to dedicate its edifice.

The regular order of service used in all Christian Science churches throughout the world was followed, except that before the regular Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly, a brief history of the church was read by the First Reader.

In the year 1906 a small group of earnest students organized a Christian Science Society in Wheeling, which was officially accepted as a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Several months later the title was changed to First Church of Christ, Scientist, Wheeling. The church had as its first meeting place a room in the Schmulbach Building, now known as the Wheeling Steel Building. Continued growth made it necessary to seek larger quarters. Accordingly, in January, 1912, the auditorium of the American Order of United Workmen Building on Chapline Street was secured for church services.

In 1924 plans were made to build a church edifice. Work was begun early in 1925, the cornerstone being laid in April of that year. By the following October the basement, containing the Sunday school room, was finished sufficiently so that services could be held in it. Services were held there until April, 1926, when the edifice was completed.—Wheeling Intelligencer.

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