Kansas City Journal

Page 65

         [Journal, Kansas City, Mo., January 10, 1895]

         [Extract]

12    GROWTH OF A FAITH

         Attention is directed to the progress which has been

         made by what is called Christian Science by the dedication

15    at Boston of “The First Church of Christ, Scientist.”

         It is a most beautiful structure of gray granite, and its

         builders call it their “prayer in stone,” which suggests

18    to recollection the story of the cathedral of Amiens, whose

         architectural construction and arrangement of statuary

         and paintings made it to be called the Bible of that city.

21    The Frankish church was reared upon the spot where, in

         pagan times, one bitter winter day, a Roman soldier parted

         his mantle with his sword and gave half of the garment to

24    a naked beggar; and so was memorialized in art and

         stone what was called the divine spirit of giving, whose un-

         believing exemplar afterward became a saint. The Boston

27    church similarly expresses the faith of those who believe

Page 66

1      in what they term the divine art of healing, which, to their

         minds, exists as much to-day as it did when Christ healed

3      the sick.

         The first church organization of this faith was founded

         fifteen years ago with a membership of only twenty-six,

6      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

9      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

12    the injunction to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise

         the dead, cast out demons.” They hold with strict fidelity

         to what they conceive to be the literal teachings of the

15    Bible as expressed in its poetical and highly figurative

         language.

         Altogether the belief and service are well suited to

18    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.

21    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

24    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

27    with which our civilization has developed.