The first church organization of this faith was founded fifteen years
ago with a membership of only twenty-six, and since then the number of
believers has grown with remarkable rapidity, until now, there are
societies in every part of the country. This growth, it is said,
proceeds more from the graveyards than from conversions from other
churches, for most of those who embrace the faith claim to have been
rescued from death miraculously under the injunction to "heal the sick,
raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and cast out demons." They hold with
strict fidelity to what they conceive to be the literal teachings of the
Bible as expressed in its poetical and highly figurative language.
Altogether the belief and service are well suited to satisfy a taste for
the mystical which, along many lines, has shown an uncommon development
in this country during the last decade, and which is largely Oriental in
its choice. Such a rapid departure from long respected views as is
marked by the dedication of this church, and others of kindred meaning,
may reasonably excite wonder as to how radical is to be this
encroachment upon prevailing faiths, and whether some of the
pre-Christian ideas of the Asiatics are eventually to supplant those in
company with which our civilization has developed.
(_Montreal Daily Herald_ Saturday, February 2, 1895.)
EXTRACT.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
Sketch of Its Origin and Growth--The Montreal Branch.
"If you would found a new faith, go to Boston," has been said by a great
American writer. This is no idle word, but a fact borne out by
circumstances. Boston can fairly claim to be the hub of the logical
universe, and an accurate census of the religious faiths which are to be
found there to-day, would probably show a greater number of them than
even Max O'Rells famous enumeration of John Bull's creeds.
Christian Science, or the principle of divine healing, is one of those
movements which seek to give expression to a higher spirituality.
Founded twenty-five years ago, it was still practically unknown a decade
since, but to-day it numbers over a quarter of a million of believers,
the majority of whom are in the United States, and is rapidly growing.
In Canada, also, there is a large number of members. Toronto and
Montreal have strong churches, comparatively, while in many towns and
villages single believers or little knots of them are to be found.
It was exactly 100 years from the date of the Declaration of
Independence, when on July 4, 1876, the first Christian Scientist
Association was organized by seven persons, of whom the foremost was
Mrs. Eddy. The church was founded in April. 1879, with twenty-six
members, and a charter was obtained two months later. Mrs. Eddy assumed
the pastorship of the church during its early years, and in 1881 was
ordained, being now known as the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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