Show ON OM SMALL SHALL BEGINNING IS EDDYS EDDY'S CHURCH ROWS GROWS j f TO TO- POWER IN IN MICHIGAN l 1 It v H 4 i 4 1 a r ij f 1 lt i t r. r f a S t r rr r K C ni f attra a aY iii Y G v n rY I 1 2 A. A MRS MARY BAKER BAER G. G EDDY Y 1 Detroit Free Press Pres i is heard hend these days regarding I Iline a line of or religion There ate art those I 1st st that the church is losing its Its Mr that the influence it once wield wield- waning and that nothing short of I revolution tion can arouse It ring the lethargy into which it Uen en mists point to the increasing r of ot non churchgoers non ers in in support sir contention Even E the most it t at times find Ir Ives assailed by fear as they eure eur- eur ur le e vast numbers particularly particular in urge fie cities who scho never enter the tho theof f of ot a sanctuary if J of f fact there is little for alarm if statistics are to be upon noon The number of those who ho I indifference may be increasing ere is little to strengthen the beit be be- I it t it jt is out of f proportion to to t those ose ed ted with religious sous organizations organisations identified with the work ork lough ough of comparatively comparative 1 recent dating back in the religious his his- l f Michigan Michigan- but a a. trifle more than wades cades and ranking amon among among among- the it t of sectarian bodies Christian has firmly established itself and nd idy and n consistent growth has halO rach uch uc as to dispel any doubt r re its Us its future whatever the fate of id d by Mrs Eddy l tian Science owes its origin to try ITY ary Baker G G. G Eddy the head of lurch and one one of the tho foremost fit fig fig- the public mind It was in in a t farmhouse near Concord N X H IL th ich city ity sho she at present resides ary Baker later later- to become faas fayas fa fay as S the discoverer and founder stun sHan Science first saw the l light ht The Toe daughter of Mark Illk an and I 1 B. B Baker she is the only ur sur of her fathers father's family number mong ong its members some of the tho I I y eminent men in the earl early history J republic S e yet a child the family removed 1 on N. N HM IL H. where the fo foundation education was laid At an early earh re r re i developed rare talent for both md nd d poetry but it was not until cars ars later that her works an- an I save under a nom de do plume 75 nine nille years ears after Gr havin having rev re- reva a revelation while hile living in Lynn j Mrs Eddy gave e a to the world worM the In an Science lence text book c Science With Ke Key to the Scrip s thi this a being the first firt complete exU ex ex- U n of the jl doctrine made public In II rs re Eddy re received eed e ed her first pupil t s rapidly did the movement grow 3 1 years rears later the t e aph nl colle college e in Botton Boston w was s h with wito iv Mrs Edd Eddy as resident president there are other er institutes the science e is is taught b by her pu pu- I iZ e a Parent institution i is the only din a charter ter for instruction in iu tho tholo ogy M y i ot of spiritual power othI oth oth- I the science of mind healin healing after arter r for fn- fn the First Church of was granted in iri charter members being en with Mr Mrs Eddy Edd as its pastor u ch now numbers more than 72 embers and from it during the tho j 3 enty years eara have sprung more 00 other congregations tion in differ differ- its of the country all 4 g 0 their th ir love 10 for lor their Prosper Prosper- leader leads sir faith in her cork worl students student in 1891 erected a church s in the Back Ba Bay district of Bos Boa a form cost of over Al Al- formally lly tendered 1611 to her as a the tb board of f dir directors re she se pre pre- o ba haveit t it stand in the name o of f rth reb fa and gently but o accept t ho o tolen token of firmly re re- re a. a ears cars f aft after r the er erection of th the e et nt cathedral the C corner r in stone stono of the th e d in that city was wa s ib d a Im June 1906 1006 it was as f olma 11 9 Christian Christinn Scientists Scientist from ail al 1 I the 1 country bein being in rii he fl floor attend attend- area of the tho auditorium auditoria m o D square feet The height hei bt in the cupola is 22 1 feet ands a i et and th tho the o 0 the i t. t cornice cornic o from the Braun round d d the Inside side the th hei height ht front from th tho d the R e auditorium i is s t T lh style of architecture i is s t renaissance nals ance the walls granite being o of and Bedford stow stone e d decorative carving I It t h ne of the lar cst oraM arana i Ii in Id 41 and ha has s a 3 chime chIma of of eleve en n I e a cathedral cost 0 ted i im small sums by b members member S hilt all over the world fa In Detroit story conerly of dates Christian from Science the i in n car earlier tic Mrs Jr r f Annie Annio r. r Knott FC Ons Ona of Mrs hs the tho Christian now as nB- nB o Knott then V liv liviu to 0 with th her little family b be convert t to o Christian S Science I I I I I I I Having studied for a year she came came to Detroit rn in n the early arh- arh part of 1855 first locating on Park street street where whore she began be an anthe the healing work and teaching The Tho next year rear she went to Boston graduating in ing from the normal class with the founder of the religion Mrs Mary Baker Bak Bak- er Ed Eddy d Returning to Detroit in 1881 she taught her first advanced class In 1890 she was ordained pastor that being the tho form of service in the carl early years jears In 1898 she was called to the tho lc lecture turo field eld by Mrs Irs Ed Eddy d although continuing continuing ont nu ing her home here and teaching her hor classes as usua usual In 1903 she sho was called caned to Boston as associate editor of the Christian Science publications a. a position tion she has hils since filled with ability Modest Nod st in the tho extreme was the the beginning beginning be be- ginning of the tho church in Detroit Services Services Services Ser Ser- vices were rere held for some time timo in the parlors of Mrs Irs Knotts Knott's home then on John R R. R Street These were informal consisting of reading and the singing sinsin of hymns from the st hymnals the Christian Scientists not hav having n one ono of their own at this time Only four or five fire persons were wore numbered amou among the faithful at the outset and two years later in 1859 1659 in spite of the increased interest when the Detroit Christian Science association was as organized there were cre but ci eight ht actual l members The Thc same year attendance at the Sunday meetings s grew rew until it was decided d to secure a ball hall in the building where the W. W H. H Elliott store now sta stands ds In 1891 1591 still sUB larger lar quarters were required and the Sunda Sunday meetings were transferred transferred transferred trans trans- to s ball At the same time a free freo rea reading ing room and dis dis- was 35 established hed on an Broad Broadway Broadway- ay- ay then Miami literature avenue avenue literature being given gi away and free treatment accorded accord accord- ed d poor people who desired it First Church Organized It was in 1892 1592 that the Church Church- of Christ Scientist was or organized the same fame form of services 3 at as in in the past Continuing until when hen Mrs Mrs Irs Eddy wish wishing n the adoption of an impersonal pastor in in all the churches to do away with the personal opinions as to the tho scripture an and its meaning requested ted the installation of the bible and anti the textbook text textbook textbook book Science and Health with Ie Key to the Scriptures This change chanc while whilo producing f something of a stir at first among those who lilted to hear a personal personal personal per per- sermon pennon was followed b by greater interest than ev ever r. r To such an extent the mo movement moment ment pad had grown in 3 1596 that tha t it was necessary to seek larger quarters quarter s and the were generous generou s enough to rent the Church of Our Father Fath er for the tha testimonial meetings held o on n Friday evenings c During this year ear it f t was found n necessary in ord order r to conform con form with the un universal vcr al order of this thi s church to disband and reorganize th the title of ot H First Church of Christ Scientist Scientist of Detroit Ten years car ago the ne need d of a permanent perma perms nent neat home homo became so imperative that a committee was appointed for the tho purpose purpose pur pur- po pose c. c Emmanuel church o on n Alexandrine avenue being decided upon The actual membership of the church a athis at to t this time was 1 although h the o attendance was more than double this number One of ot the principles principle of ot th the e denomination is never ne to dedicate a au u edifice with a debt on it With 0 toward the purchase e of the con congregation was confronted b by the S task of raisin raising the remainder before tho the edifice fieo could be tak taken over Tins This was wa s accomplished within ninety days no sic 0 subscription list was circulated all contributions contributions con being voluntary an and Janu Jallu January January ar ary 25 1898 1895 the formal transfer ws was s made the dedicatory dedicator services ic 8 being het held d in February It was soon lIoon discovered discovers d that the organ was insufficient in ent for th the e services and from tho the membership another an other was ws raised for this purpose Although h the possessor of comfortable comforts ble quarters the society has for some sum sometime sometime o time had in mind the erection of ot a a. handsome stone edifice which would world b ba p a credit to the city Owing to the the- par part t it has hils been taking in aiding the extension exten eaten sion to tho the mother church in iu Boston BOton in ha having contributed for that purpose this event be postponed and in in order that the tho present resent building might ht bo ilo made mado available ble for a time tim something like has hns been ex expended in a adding ding a new foyer refitting and refurnishing the auditorium and Sunday school room and installing sittings sittings sittings sit sit- tings until l now it is possible to accommodate flOD DOO persons errors The membership of the church is ie about and the attendance attendance at at- is about a singular feature feature fea fea- ture taro being that the mid midweek weck meeting i is as well attended as that of Sunday The Tho church supports two handsomely equipped reading rooms at 20 Witherell street for the free use uso of ot the tho public and where all aU t the tiro c literature on Christian Science may be r r l. l An idea of the interest in this religion is conveyed by the attendance here which era a. averages b O er or persons per ner month In the tho State But the act activities es of tho the Christian Scientists Scientists' in Michigan Iichi an arc not confined to p Detroit There are sixt sixty organizations in the state and about fifty other places Maces where services are read each beng betag be be- lUj ng tag a nucleus of a now new society later on OD Grand Rapids the second largest society society so so- in the state bas has built a a. handsome edifice representing an outlay of 63 OO 00 Christian Science was first brought here herein in the summer of 1885 1585 by Miss L. L of Evanston Ill Services were commenced in 1859 1839 and the church was legally incorporated in 1593 1393 under the name lame of First of Christ Scientist fist with eight charter members The pr present sent membership is with an aye ave rage age attendance of Durin During the time ime the Grand Rapids church was pay pay- paying in ing ng for its own edifice it also contributed contrib contrib- contributed for the tho extension of the mother church the sum of Christian Science services were first held in Jackson in 1890 1590 the society occupying oc oc- occupying a rented hall ball until 1902 when a church was organized the Jewish synagogue synagogue syn syn- purchased and after extensive ve improvements dedicated freo free of debt as ashe the he First Church of Christ Scientist Tho The organization began with fifteen members and now has seventy nine with an average attendance of about r rIn In Ba Battle Creek services were held as carl early as 1890 1590 and a a- achurch church charter granted in 1898 1996 In In 1906 pro property pert was purchased and improved ved to tote the extent of of 1000 The same year rear the Second church chorch was organized and is growing grossing rapidly Plymouths Plymouth's is Distinction To the little society at Pl Plymouth belongs be bo- longs the distinction of being the the first firstin in n the state to build and dedicate its own edifice It is tastefully furnished and seats scats about persons At Ann Arbor the Christian Scion Scion- tilts organized the tho First church in in 1901 althou although h services and work had bad been going oin on there for some years jears In 1902 they ney bou bought ht property on South Division street street- and aud improved ved it at considerable expense providing a nice chapel and reading room They had but thirteen charter barter members but now have fifty fifty- two wo with an attendance of over oyer At the U. U of M. M tho the students interested ip in n Christian Science or organized a society in n February 1906 with nine chart charter r members and which pow now ow numbers thir thir- y tyone ty The work in K Kalamazoo began besan in the early earh and a church T was as or organized abo about t the year 1893 1593 with nine charter members services seT heir being held in a hall hallor for or a time In 1902 1002 the tho a society purchased pur chased its present edifice There Thero is 18 a. a strong trong membership and the society is in ina ini a i very or prosperous condition The cities of f Charlotte Marshall Albion Adrian drian St. St t. t Joseph Alpena Marquette Hough ton on Bellevue uc Flint Mount Pleasant Owosso Peto Petoskey key Port Huron Sault Ste Ste. Marie Traverse City and Ypsilanti all have flourishing societies a number of them owning their own edifices Saginaw or organized its church in 1895 1805 with thirteen members at the present time ime having two seventy with a congregation congregation con con- of double that number The erection of a handsome edifice has been the completed structure together ether with the tho site and furnishings to cost Lansing has a flourishing ouri hing society so so- G with a membership increasing rapidly rapid 1 and tho the prospect of shortly owning a home of its own Muskegon liar has a growing society and is also look look- looking ing ng forward to the securing of permanent perma nent Went quarters Michigan an stands eighth in the list of authorized practitioners in Christian Science mind hoal howling healing Michigan an was ryas ns also one of the ten states honored with witha a a. paper p-aper at the World 14 Congress of Re li con he held d in Chicago in 1893 Mrs tire Knott being chosen to prepare and deliver de- de liver iver it Creditable as is the showing numerically cally tally throughout the state the true growth of or the doctrine is u not not- correct correctly reflected b by Y the figures Quoted It is 18 conservatively estimated that the minier mini nuni bar ber er of people in Michigan who reI rely on Christian Christim Science for their physical help helps help's is s not far from and that three thre times imes that number are arc Interested |