Pulpit and Press | Page 9

the Lepers," and "Cast out Demons."
The cross and the crown and the star are presented in appropriate
decorative effect. The cost of this church is two hundred and
twenty-one thousand dollars, exclusive of the land--a gift from Mrs.
Eddy--which is valued at some forty thousand dollars.
THE ORDER OF SERVICE

The order of service in the Christian Science Church does not differ
widely from that of any other sect, save that its service includes the use
of Mrs. Eddy's book, entitled "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures," in perhaps equal measure to its use of the Bible. The
reading is from the two alternately; the singing is from a compilation
called the "Christian Science Hymnal," but its songs are for the most
part those devotional hymns from Herbert, Faber, Robertson, Wesley,
Bowring, and other recognized devotional poets, with selections from
Whittier and Lowell, as are found in the hymn-books of the Unitarian
churches. For the past year or two Judge Hanna, formerly of Chicago,
has filled the office of pastor to the church in this city, which held its
meetings in Chickering Hall, and later in Copley Hall, in the new
Grundmann Studio Building on Copley Square. Preceding Judge Hanna
were Rev. D.A. Easton and Rev. L.P. Norcross, both of whom had
formerly been Congregational clergymen. The organizer and first
pastor of the church here was Mrs. Eddy herself, of whose work I shall
venture to speak, a little later, in this article.
Last Sunday I gave myself the pleasure of attending the service held in
Copley Hall. The spacious apartment was thronged with a congregation
whose remarkable earnestness impressed the observer. There was no
straggling of late-comers. Before the appointed hour every seat in the
hall was filled and a large number of chairs pressed into service for the
overflowing throng. The music was spirited, and the selections from the
Bible and from Science and Health were finely read by Judge Hanna.
Then came his sermon, which dealt directly with the command of
Christ to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out
demons." In his admirable discourse Judge Hanna said that while all
these injunctions could, under certain conditions, be interpreted and
fulfilled literally, the special lesson was to be taken spiritually--to
cleanse the leprosy of sin, to cast out the demons of evil thought. The
discourse was able, and helpful in its suggestive interpretation.
THE CHURCH MEMBERS
Later I was told that almost the entire congregation was composed of
persons who had either been themselves, or had seen members of their

own families, healed by Christian Science treatment; and I was further
told that once when a Boston clergyman remonstrated with Judge
Hanna for enticing a separate congregation rather than offering their
strength to unite with churches already established--I was told he
replied that the Christian Science Church did not recruit itself from
other churches, but from the graveyards! The church numbers now four
thousand members; but this estimate, as I understand, is not limited to
the Boston adherents, but includes those all over the country. The
ceremonial of uniting is to sign a brief "confession of faith," written by
Mrs. Eddy, and to unite in communion, which is not celebrated by
outward symbols of bread and wine, but by uniting in silent prayer.
The "confession of faith" includes the declaration that the Scriptures
are the guide to eternal Life; that there is a Supreme Being, and His
Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that man is made in His image. It affirms
the atonement; it recognizes Jesus as the teacher and guide to salvation;
the forgiveness of sin by God, and affirms the power of Truth over
error, and the need of living faith at the moment to realize the
possibilities of the divine Life. The entire membership of Christian
Scientists throughout the world now exceeds two hundred thousand
people. The church in Boston was organized by Mrs. Eddy, and the
first meeting held on April 19, 1879. It opened with twenty-six
members, and within fifteen years it has grown to its present impressive
proportions, and has now its own magnificent church building, costing
over two hundred thousand dollars, and entirely paid for when its
consecration service on January 6 shall be celebrated. This is certainly
a very remarkable retrospect.
Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of this denomination and
Discoverer of Christian Science, as they term her work in affirming the
present application of the principles asserted by Jesus, is a most
interesting personality. At the risk of colloquialism, I am tempted to
"begin at the beginning" of my own knowledge of Mrs. Eddy, and take,
as the point of departure, my first meeting with her and the subsequent
development of some degree of familiarity with the work of her life