^ 
 
 CHURCH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 OSEPH ARMST 

 
 THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST 
 gg'- ERECTED ANNO DOMINI. 1894. 
 
 dTMlWOHWLI. TO OUH BELOVCQ TE.ACMCR..THE REVEEW> MAftV 
 
 AtoeRt * rounDCR or CHRISTIAN SCIENCE: AUTHOD at in 
 
 se'lENCE ANOHEALTH *ITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES. Put 
 
 THE INSCRIPriON.
 
 THE 
 
 MOTHER CHURCH 
 
 A HISTORY OF THE BUILDING OF THE 
 
 ORIGINAL EDIFICE OF THE FIRST 
 
 CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, 
 
 IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOSEPH (ARMSTRONG. 
 
 ELEVENTH EDITION. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY. 
 1911.
 
 Copyright, 1897, 
 By JOSEPH ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Copyright, 1908, 1911, 
 By MARY E. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 UNIVERSITY PRESS: 
 JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IK this brief narrative of the erection of the 
 Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, 
 Scientist, in Boston, no attempt is made to elab- 
 orate the subject, or to treat of matters that may 
 be intimately connected with the history of the 
 church organization, and may indirectly concern the 
 structure, but which do not bear directly on the 
 details of its erection. 
 
 The writer's aim is simply to state the facts 
 as he knows them, and but little effort is made 
 to point out the many beautiful lessons taught 
 and illustrated by these experiences. It seems 
 desirable to preserve a record of at least a few 
 of the trials, toils, and triumphs of this laborious 
 effort, not only for the benefit of this age, but for the 
 generations to come, which, it may be confidently 
 
 iii
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 asserted, will be able to see, more fully than we now 
 can, the meaning of this demonstration, and to realize 
 that, in the building of this Church, a Christian 
 endeavor was successful. 
 
 The Church Directors, who, for more than a year 
 were burdened with the heavy care and responsibility 
 of erecting the edifice, can never forget, nor cease 
 to thank God for the wise guidance, the helpful 
 words, and the loving care of our Teacher and Mother, 
 the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy. She alone, God's 
 chosen and anointed one, deserves the credit of this 
 mighty victory for Mind's supremacy; for it was her 
 warning call and loving counsel that led on to success, 
 in the face of such seeming odds. Her nearness to 
 the great Heart of Love endowed her with power 
 from on high, before which every obstacle vanished. 
 
 The writer also wishes to thank the dear Mother for 
 the privilege of publishing in this book a facsimile 
 of two of her beautiful letters to the Directors. 
 
 It is to be hoped the future will also give credit 
 to those friends who, like obedient children, left all
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 at the Mother's call, and came to relieve the heavily 
 burdened ones. We know our Heavenly Father will 
 reward them in due season. 
 
 To those whose donations have paid for this beau- 
 tiful building, standing as a Testimonial of love for 
 her through whom the blessing of Christian Science 
 has come, the writer would say: Be your contribution 
 counted in, thousands of dollars, or in single pennies, 
 your reward is as sure as your existence. 
 
 JOSEPH ARMSTRONG.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTERS FROM MART BAKER EDDY TO JOSEPH ARM- 
 STRONG iz 
 
 THE FOUNDATION, 1 
 
 THE GREAT CONTRACT, 10 
 
 THE IRON QUESTION AND THE CORNER-STONE, * .15 
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS, 25 
 
 HELP AND SHELTER, 37 
 
 A NIGHT'S WORK, 44 
 
 THE HARMONY OF TRADES, 49 
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS, . .60 
 
 MOTHER'S KOOM, 73 
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT, 83 
 
 CONCLUSION, 97 
 
 THE FINANCIAL QUESTION IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, . . 104 
 THE EXTENSION 109 
 
 vii
 
 LETTERS FROM 
 MARY BAKER EDDY TO JOSEPH ARMSTRONG. 
 
 (Published by permission.) 
 
 CONCORD, N. H., 
 
 Give this (manuscript) to Miss to make it perfectly 
 
 grammatical. I have not the time to read it all and it needs 
 careful examination. 
 
 It (your manuscript) is prosaic in description, but to 
 builders may prove interesting. Your detailed account is won- 
 derful because of many things, your moral well drawn. 
 
 M. B. EDDY. 
 
 N. B. Uniformity must be preserved in the title you 
 mainly give to me. m 
 
 You may insert my letters that you have chosen. 
 
 M.B. E. 
 
 PLEASANT VIEW, 
 
 CONCORD, N. H., June 5, 1897. 
 My beloved Student : 
 
 I thank you for the interesting, finely gotten-up volume 
 " The Mother Church." I enclose check for one dozen, in cloth. 
 I want them to give away to people that the book will interest. 
 Again thanking you more than all, for your faithful performance 
 of your duties to which you alone were appointed by me in 
 building The Mother Church. 
 
 To read the dear book is with feelings of an old soldier to 
 fight anew the old battles. 
 
 With love, Mother, 
 
 MARY BAKER EDDY. 
 
 N. B. Please fill out the check. I leave it blank for you to 
 add the price on one dozen of " The Mother Church," in cloth. 
 
 iz
 
 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 THE FOUNDATION. 
 
 FOB other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, 
 which is Jesus Christ. /. Corinthians iii. 11. 
 
 IN September, 1893, the Kev. Mary Baker Eddy, 
 Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, 
 advised the Directors of The First Church of Christ, 
 Scientist, in Boston, to lay the foundation for a 
 church-building the following October. 
 
 At this point the history of our present structure 
 begins; but in order to describe accurately the con- 
 dition of affairs at the time, it may be well to retrace 
 briefly certain previous steps. 
 
 Our Teacher had long been hoping for a church- 
 edifice in Boston, and for several years her students 
 had been making efforts to fulfil her hope. In 
 1887-8 about four thousand dollars were contributed 
 
 1
 
 2 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 towards a building-fund, but this money was lost. 
 A site was bought; but as the students could give 
 only a small part of the price, the remainder 
 was secured by a mortgage. This they were unable 
 to pay when it became due, and the lot was sold, 
 under foreclosure, to Mrs. Eddy herself. She im- 
 mediately conveyed it to Ira O. Knapp, C. S. D., 
 for the use of the Church, a Board of Trustees being 
 appointed to care for it. 
 
 The sum of about thirty thousand dollars was soon 
 raised, enough to warrant those trustees in beginning 
 the work; but they were unwilling to build, unless 
 the Church, which had been disorganized at Mrs. 
 Eddy's request, was re-organized, under the laws of 
 Massachusetts; as, without such incorporation, they 
 claimed the title would be worthless. 
 
 Mrs. Eddy then took the lot again into her own 
 possession, and deeded it, in September, 1892, to 
 four of her students, thereby constituting them the 
 Christian Science Board of Directors. This Board 
 was to hold the land in trust for the whole body of
 
 THE FOUNDATION. 3 
 
 Christian Scientists, a law having been discovered 
 which permitted property to be held in this way. 
 The new deed required the Directors to erect a 
 church-edifice within five years, at a cost of not 
 less than fifty thousand dollars; and it was upon 
 them, Ira O. Knapp, "William B. Johnson, Joseph 
 Armstrong, and Stephen A. Chase, and not upon the 
 Church as a body, that the responsibility of erecting 
 the building rested. 
 
 The money received by the first Board of Trustees 
 was returned to the donors; and while this transfer 
 was going on, and the money was flowing back again 
 into the treasury, the newly constituted Board of 
 Directors were soliciting designs for the structure. 
 
 Several Boston architects drew plans for a brick 
 building; one of these designs being more satisfac- 
 tory than the others, because utilizing the entire 
 ground, a result especially desired. On later con- 
 sideration, it seemed more appropriate to build the 
 Church of granite from New Hampshire, the native 
 state and present home of the Discoverer and Founder
 
 4 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 of Christian Science; so the architects again made 
 drawings, this time for a stone building. The archi- 
 tect who had excelled before once more presented 
 the most acceptable plan, which not only covered 
 the whole lot, but was the most beautiful in design. 
 This lot being on a corner, and shaped somewhat 
 like a kite, was thought to be awkwardly formed for 
 a church-site, until this draft was seen, when it 
 was at once acknowledged that the land could hardly 
 be better adapted to our purpose. 
 
 This was the state of affairs when the Directors 
 were advised to lay the foundation. Our Teacher 
 doubtless perceived the need of immediate action; 
 for, although our fund now amounted to about 
 forty thousand dollars, receipts had almost ceased, 
 the students either thinking that enough had been 
 already raised, or else fearing, on account of the 
 former experience, that the money might be lost, or 
 otherwise fail of its purpose. 
 
 In obtaining estimates from builders, the Directors 
 had already learned that, during the delay occasioned
 
 THE FOUNDATION. 5 
 
 by hesitation over the land-title, additional laws had 
 been enacted, July 16, 1892, requiring such buildings 
 to be absolutely fire-proof; consequently, that to build 
 a church now would cost a third more than before 
 that date. 
 
 The Directors found themselves in a dilemma. 
 On one side was the urgent need of beginning to 
 build; while on the other hand they were con- 
 fronted by lack of material means. If they decided 
 to use brick, the new laws would increase the cost 
 by many thousands of dollars more than had been 
 as yet contributed, while stone would be even 
 more expensive. According to city ordinances, plans 
 must be municipally approved before a building-per- 
 mit could be issued; so the Directors must accept a 
 design determining the cost of the completed build- 
 ing, before they could obtain a permit, or lay the 
 foundation. 
 
 The deed of gift admitted no debt, and allowed 
 no lien on the property. More money would doubt- 
 less be received while the work was going on;
 
 6 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 but who could say how much? With less than 
 fifty thousand dollars on hand, how could the 
 Directors incur so great a risk as to accept such 
 expensive plans, in order to obtain a permit 
 from the city? The advice from the Teacher and 
 Mother to lay the foundation in October was, how- 
 ever, of greater importance than any other consid- 
 eration; and those to whom the responsibility was 
 entrusted finally decided to choose the most desirable 
 plan and go forward, leaving the result with God. 
 This decision was reached the last of September, 
 and then the permit was anxiously desired, so that 
 work might be begun on the foundation; but much 
 was yet to be done. The architect had furnished 
 only the outlines of the roof, and it was found that 
 a detailed plan of the iron or steel frame-work must 
 be presented for the city engineer's inspection. 
 To obtain the needful plan, estimates must be 
 solicited for this part of the building; and, an esti- 
 mate being accepted, the contractor would make his 
 own exact drawings.
 
 THE FOUNDATION. 7 
 
 The Directors were dissatisfied with the estimates 
 submitted; but, in order to get the contractor's 
 plan and the permit, they were compelled to make 
 an immediate award of the roof-contract. The 
 lowest bid was accepted; but the contractor, for 
 reasons unnecessary to relate, refused to keep his 
 agreement, or to submit specifications to the city. 
 After delays of one kind and another, the official 
 agreed to waive this point for future consideration; 
 and meanwhile, late in October, he granted the build- 
 ing-permit. 
 
 In this experience regarding the roof may be 
 recognized the hand of divine Love, guiding and 
 protecting those who trust Him. Human law 
 would have forced the Directors to obligate them- 
 selves for an expensive roof, before any provision 
 had been made for the foundation, or for the walls 
 on which the roof was to rest. 
 
 It may be well to mention here what was rather 
 unusual, the fact that the Directors, although 
 still retaining the services of the architect, had be-
 
 8, THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 come sole owners of his plans. It had been at first 
 arranged that he should receive a percentage on the 
 cost of building, one half payable on the bestowal of 
 the contract, and the other when the Church was 
 completed. Before any contract was arranged, the 
 architect desired an advance payment; and the re- 
 sult was, that the Directors bought his plans outright, 
 obtaining a bill of sale. 
 
 Such details, which may seem insignificant, had 
 a greater influence on the erection of the Church 
 than may appear on the surface; and the writer, 
 knowing their latent import, could not feel that hia 
 account would be complete if they were not noted. 
 
 The contracts for excavation, pile-driving, and 
 stone foundations were signed on October 19, 1893. 
 Charles River once overflowed much of this Back 
 Bay region where the church-lot is situated; and, 
 so near the harbor, the water is affected by even 
 the lowest tides. The land has been filled in to the 
 height of ten or twelve feet above high-water mark; 
 and foundation-piles for building must be driven
 
 THE FOUNDATION. 9 
 
 down far enough to remain permanently under 
 water, so as to be unaffected by atmospheric in- 
 fluences. It was at first, thought that our piling 
 must be driven eighteen or twenty feet below 
 the foundation grade, but hard ground was struck 
 much nearer the surface. A gentleman familiar 
 with the Back Bay before the land was filled in, 
 states that our site was the point of an island which 
 was not always submerged. Be that as it may, 
 solid bottom was found on which the piles could 
 rest, thus ensuring a firm foundation. 
 
 The first stone was laid Wednesday, November 8, 
 1893, and when the foundation wall was finished, it 
 was carefully covered with boards, for protection 
 during the winter. 
 
 This demonstration of an actual beginning on 
 the Church inspired Christian Science workers in 
 the field with such confidence and energy, that 
 money once more began to flow into the Treasurer's 
 hands.
 
 THE GREAT CONTRACT. 
 
 THE God of heaven, lie will prosper us ; therefore we his 
 servants will arise and build. Nehemiah ii. 20. 
 
 I WILL direct their work in truth, and I will make an ever- 
 lasting covenant with them. Isaiah Ixi. 8. 
 
 AS soon as arrangements had been completed for 
 the foundation, Mrs. Eddy recommended that 
 preparations be made for beginning work on the 
 Church itself early in the ensuing spring, and that 
 the work be finished in the same year, 1894. 
 
 Money was coming in all the time, and there 
 might be thirty thousand dollars left after the 
 payments were made for the foundation; but what 
 was this with which to contract for such a building as 
 was desired? The Directors, however, were begin- 
 ning to learn that all things are possible with God, 
 though His ways are not man's ways. They knew 
 that God was speaking through their Teacher, and 
 would voice the words necessary to guide them in the 
 
 10
 
 THE GREAT CONTRACT. 11 
 
 right direction, if they would only follow willingly 
 and obediently. With scarcely one third of the 
 needful money on hand, and debt forbidden, it 
 seemed unreasonable to think of contracting for so 
 costly a building; but the voice of Truth was im- 
 perative, and something must be done. 
 
 After careful and prayerful consideration of the 
 problem many days and nights, the Directors de- 
 cided that they might begin and build at least the 
 walls. 
 
 Several of the best-known builders in the city were 
 asked for estimates; but many of them refused, 
 making it difficult for the Directors to select the most 
 reliable parties for so important an undertaking. 
 Responsible New Hampshire builders were found, 
 however, who offered to erect the brick and stone 
 walls, with the necessary iron or steel beams, for a 
 reasonable amount; yet the price was much greater 
 than the present fund. To promise a dollar beyond 
 the assets would be a forfeiture of the land-title; and 
 the Directors had already made it a rule to base no
 
 12 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 calculations on pledges or promises of money, but to 
 act only on what was in their possession. 
 
 Mrs. Eddy had not yet been informed of the 
 situation, nor of the mental struggle it was causing 
 the Directors, yet a letter from her solved the whole 
 problem. She suggested that a contract might be 
 made for the walls, which would include a provision 
 giving the Directors a right to stop the work at any 
 time after the masonry had risen above the level of 
 the auditorium floor; that is, of course, if parties 
 could be found who would enter into such an 
 unusual arrangement. It seemed wise to have but 
 one contract for this part of the work. 
 
 The New Hampshire men were found perfectly 
 willing to enter into the conditional agreement, and 
 the papers were signed, December 6, 1893, by the 
 four Directors on one side; and on the other side 
 by three men representing as many firms, who were 
 not only to build the walls, but to furnish brick, 
 iron, the grey and the pink granite. Thus it 
 reads :
 
 THE GREAT CONTRACT. 13 
 
 The party of the second part [the Directors] to have the 
 privilege to stop the work, at any point above the level of 
 the audience-room floor, on four weeks' notice; and the 
 work to be resumed on four weeks' notice, providing that 
 not over one year shall intervene between the time of stop- 
 ping and starting the same ; and, if not stopped by the party 
 of the second part, said contract shall be finished on or 
 before August first, 1894. 
 
 The document further stipulated that the con- 
 tractors have until September to finish the tower, 
 from a point ten feet above the walls of the main 
 building. Eighty percent, of the work actually 
 completed was to be paid for at the end of each 
 month; and the remaining twenty percent, when the 
 work was finally completed " to the satisfaction of 
 the Directors." This last clause was somewhat out 
 of the ordinary form, which stipulates for the ap- 
 proval of the architect alone. 
 
 Before a single layer was begun on the walls, 
 our Teacher and Mother, consulting only with In- 
 finite Mind, quietly wrote to certain students, offer- 
 ing them the privilege of contributing a thousand 
 dollars each to the building-fund. In response to
 
 14: THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 this offer forty-four thousand dollars were added to 
 our supply, which, together with what had been 
 coming in as usual, assured the contractors that they 
 could go on with the work to completion.
 
 THE IRON" QUESTION AND THE CORNER-STONE. 
 
 EXCEPT the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that 
 build it. Psalm cxxvii. 1. 
 
 UPON this rock I will build my Church ; and the gates of 
 hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew xvi. 18. 
 
 MARCH began with excellent weather for wall- 
 building; but, to the Directors' surprise, the 
 work was not begun. 
 
 A visit of inquiry to Concord and Woodsville, 
 !N". H., where the contractors resided, brought an 
 assurance that all was right, and labor should begin 
 at once. April came, however, and nothing had 
 been accomplished; not even the necessary municipal 
 permit had been obtained for the use of the street 
 during the process of building. 
 
 The contractors were then summoned to Boston, 
 and the reason of the delay was ascertained to be a 
 
 deadlock between the builders and the firm from 
 
 15
 
 16 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 which they expected to buy the iron or steel beams. 
 The Directors had been informed that the metal was 
 bought in December, and they never dreamed of 
 trouble in this direction. Now it appeared that the 
 proposed purchase had never been completed, be- 
 cause of a difference of opinion between architect 
 and dealer, as to the amount of iron called for by 
 the plans. On the insistence of the Directors, an 
 agreement was reached, and part of the iron 
 -promised in ten days, the rest to follow at intervals 
 sufficient to prevent further delay in building. 
 
 Mrs. Eddy had already been asking when the 
 Directors would be ready to lay the Corner-Stone ; 
 but they were unable to answer the question, for as 
 yet only a few stones had been delivered. 
 
 One of the contractors remained in Boston to com- 
 mence operations, and the next point to be gained 
 was to have him obtain a permit from the city for 
 the use of the street while building. The fact that 
 he did not live in the State made the matter some- 
 what troublesome, for he must give bonds to provide
 
 IRON QUESTION AND CORNER-STONE. 17 
 
 for any possible cases of accident, and must have a 
 resident bondsman. This was adjusted satisfactorily, 
 the permit at last gained, the exact lines of the 
 building-lot located by a surveyor, and the first stone 
 of the Church wall laid April 24. 
 
 The first supply of iron from Pennsylvania did 
 not arrive when promised, and at nearly the same 
 time the Directors were advised to fix upon May 1, 
 as the date for laying the Corner-Stone. 
 
 According to the design, this Stone was to rest in 
 the wall over an arch which must first be spanned 
 by four heavy, curved, iron beams. How were these 
 beams to be obtained in time? Two plans were 
 proposed: one, that a Director go to Pennsylvania, 
 see that this indispensable part of the iron was at 
 once shipped, and follow it to its destination; the 
 other, that the curved beams be bought in Boston, 
 at the Directors' own expense. Both suggestions 
 were rejected: because, as it was argued, a journey 
 to Pennsylvania would interfere with the contracting 
 manufacturers, and to buy the iron at home would
 
 18 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 be to pay for it twice. Our Teacher and Mother 
 was consulted, and the date for laying the Corner- 
 Stone was postponed. 
 
 The pressure to go forward and do something be- 
 came more imperative every day; while, at the same 
 time, everything material claimed to discourage and 
 hinder the Directors, " fears within and foes with- 
 out." The stronger the demand, the more impossi- 
 ble it seemed to obtain materials, or to advance the 
 work. 
 
 All this time, during the month of May, almost 
 nothing could be done, because no iron had arrived. 
 Upon the foundation was to be built a twenty-inch 
 brick wall, faced with eight inches of grey granite. 
 All that had been done up to this time, all that could 
 be done until the beams were in place, was to lay the 
 stone face, and a part of its brick backing, leaving 
 projecting bricks and iron bars with which to tie the 
 whole together when the rest of the brick could be 
 laid. 
 
 Several feet of this incomplete wall had been
 
 IRON QUESTION AND CORNER-STONE. 19 
 
 built, when further counsel from our Teacher and 
 Mother designated May 21, 1894, as the day for 
 laying the Corner-Stone. 
 
 To make sure that it was on hand when needed, the 
 Directors had already sent for this Stone; and it was 
 now in the little wooden shanty, put up for the use 
 of the contractors as an office, near the corner itself. 
 The Stone was to be polished and engraved at the 
 quarry; and, not being quite ready when sent for, 
 was finished on the Church-grounds. The copper 
 receptacle for memorial books and papers had also 
 been provided, so that everything was in readiness, 
 except the wall where the Stone must be laid. 
 
 To get the curved iron beams from Pennsylvania, 
 and in accordance with the contract, for May 21, 
 proved to be impossible, and it seemed unwise to 
 postpone the date again; so the beams were ordered 
 from a Boston firm, who promised, as the best they 
 could do, that the iron should be delivered by 
 May 20. 
 
 Three days before the Stone was to be placed, the
 
 20 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 Directors met at the Christian Science Publishing 
 House, then on Boylston Street, where the copper 
 box was in readiness, and the following articles, 
 wrapped separately in oil-silk, were put within it: 
 
 THE BIBLE, in finest morocco binding. 
 
 SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, by 
 the Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, eighty-fourth edition, in the 
 Same size and binding as the copy of the Bible. 
 r Also, by the same author: 
 
 RETROSPECTION AND INTROSPECTION. 
 
 UNITY or GOOD. 
 
 No AND YES. 
 
 RUDIMENT AL DIVINE SCIENCE. 
 
 PEOPLE'S IDEA OF GOD. 
 
 CHRISTIAN HEALING. 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MIND-HEALING, 
 
 DEFENCE OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE (out of print, a copy 
 being furnished by a student). 
 
 Five Numbers of the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SERIES. 
 
 AN ADDRESS, in manuscript, written for the Occasion. 
 
 Beside these : 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE JOURNAL, June, Vol. VI., 1894. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY BIBLE LESSONS, for 
 April, May, and June, 1894. 
 
 THREE CARDS: the first containing a list of the students 
 who contributed one thousand dollars each to the building- 
 fund;, the second, a grateful acknowledgment of the same 
 by our Teacher; the third, a list of the Board of Director*, 
 written by Mrs. Eddy's own hand.
 
 IRON QUESTION AND CORNER-STONE. 2t 
 
 The Directors took the box to the factory which 
 had furnished it,, where they saw it hermetically 
 sealed, and then drove with it to the Church-site. It 
 was about half-past five in the afternoon. The work- 
 men were just leaving, and the carriage waited down 
 the street, till all but the superintendent had gone. 
 Alone the Directors entered the little shanty where 
 the Stone lay, and put the sealed box in its resting- 
 place. A copy of the Mother's Address was read 
 (the original being already in the box), the iron lid 
 was fitted into the Stone over the coffer, and the 
 superintendent called in to cement it firmly into 
 place. 
 
 It had already been decided by the Directors that 
 the Stone, with its valuable contents, should not be 
 out of their sight, or that of some trusty individual, 
 till permanently placed in the wall. Accordingly, 
 two young men, James A. Neal and Thomas W. 
 Hatten, students of Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, had been 
 chosen as watchers; and they remained in the shanty 
 three stormy nights, while one of the Directors
 
 22 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 stayed there during the daytime. So this precioua 
 Stone was guarded every moment. 
 
 These busy days went by, but still no iron came 
 from Pennsylvania. Students were blaming those in 
 charge for all delays, but suggested no remedy for 
 the difficulties; while our contractors seemed utterly 
 helpless. The Directors saw they must take the iron- 
 question into their own hands; and, accordingly, on 
 May 19, they sent one of their number to Pennsyl- 
 vania, to remain until the iron, at least for the first 
 floor, was shipped, and then to trace its course to 
 Boston. 
 
 On his arrival, this Director found that nothing 
 had been done at the mill; but when he explained to 
 the proprietors what was wanted, they agreed to put 
 all their forces day and night on this job, and finish it 
 at the earliest possible moment. 
 
 Monday morning, May 21, three of the Directors, 
 the fourth being in Pennsylvania, met on the 
 grounds. They found that the superintendent of the 
 building had been called away for the day, a most
 
 THE CORNER-STONE.
 
 IRON QUESTION AND CORNER-STONE. 23 
 
 unusual and unexpected thing, leaving only a fore- 
 man in charge, who had but little idea of the plan 
 of the work. It was declared impossible that the 
 wall could be made ready that day. 
 
 The Directors were obliged to take charge of affairs 
 themselves; and, calling every man on the grounds 
 to one point, they had the work begun of preparing 
 the place for the Corner-Stone. The long, curved 
 iron beams were slowly laid over the piers, a dif- 
 ficult process because of the weight and shape of the 
 beams, and at last bolted securely together. Then 
 the wall was begun, and was almost finished, when 
 it was discovered that the stones, fitted and shaped 
 for the rounded corner, were laid too far on one side 
 for the ground-plan ; so it was necessary to take down 
 the masonry, and begin again. 
 
 Finally all was ready; the Corner-Stone was put 
 on rollers and pushed into place by hand. Then the 
 workmen withdrew. The three Directors uncovered 
 their heads; and, laying each a hand on the Stone, 
 they prayed silently, and repeated the Lord's Prayer 
 in unison.
 
 24 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 So the simple ceremony was performed at close of 
 day, alone with God; and, as the Mother had quoted 
 in a letter on this subject, " His voice was not heard 
 in the street." The sun, which had been behind the 
 clouds for three days, burst forth in brightness, just 
 at this moment, and shone upon the Corner-Stone.
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS. 
 
 AND they gave the money, being told, into the hands of 
 them that did the work, ... to the carpenters and builders, 
 that wrought upon the house of the Lord. 
 
 II. Sings xii. 11. 
 
 WE are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we are 
 perplexed, but not in despair. 11. Corinthians iv. 8. 
 
 SOON after the laying of the Corner-Stone the 
 Director returned from Pennsylvania, with a 
 portion of the iron-work for the first floor. He had 
 been absent two weeks; and, after watching the manu- 
 facturing process day and night, had followed the 
 iron from point to point on its journey, tracing its 
 entire course to the last change, and had thus pre- 
 vented the freight-car from being side-tracked, or 
 otherwise hindered. The arrival of this iron proved 
 that every demonstration, every effort to be obedi- 
 ent, makes the next step possible. 
 
 Larger foundation-stones had been used than 
 the contract required, and this necessitated the 
 
 25
 
 26 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 floor-beams being made correspondingly shorter. 
 The alteration was noticed in time for the architect 
 to make a new drawing, which he forwarded to the 
 Boston iron-contractor, who, in turn, sent the sketch 
 to the Pennsylvania mill, but without instructions 
 as to what it signified. He then informed our ar- 
 chitect that, as the beams were already rolled, their 
 recutting would cost twenty-five dollars. The state- 
 ment was incorrect, for the iron-work had not yet 
 been touched. 
 
 A month later, when the work was really done, 
 no attention was paid to the altered measurements 
 on the architect's last drawing; consequently, when 
 the beams arrived, they were found to be too long. 
 This caused delay, but the difficulty was overcome 
 by chipping off the stone, so as to allow the beams 
 more space in the wall. 
 
 Meantime the Directors were being troubled by 
 another problem. The building-fund was still in- 
 sufficient to guarantee all the contracts required for 
 different parts of the Church; but it was now time
 
 BUILDING THE ROOK STAGING.
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS. 27 
 
 that plans should be settled and agreements made 
 for the entire work. From this time to the end 
 these questions were constantly to be considered: 
 What section must next be built, in order to protect 
 and strengthen what is already done? What work 
 must be put in at the same time other parts are being 
 constructed? What contracts would require the 
 most time for obtaining necessary materials? Most 
 urgent of all was this question: What could be paid 
 for? 
 
 There should be a contract for the roof, in 
 order that the iron frame be made in time, and 
 the roofer have his materials ready for finishing as 
 soon as the walls were up. As fast, therefore, as the 
 necessary amount was in the hands of the Treasurer, 
 contracts were signed to meet the more pressing 
 demands, the Directors now making each individual 
 agreement themselves, so as to bring matters more 
 under their immediate care, and avoid all possible 
 mistakes or delays. 
 
 the end of June it became evident that the
 
 28 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 iron columns for the support of the auditorium and 
 galleries would be needed very soon, and the builders 
 were so notified. This iron, like the floor-beams, was 
 included in the original "great contract," and had 
 been sublet to some Massachusetts manufacturers. 
 After much urging, several columns were delivered; 
 but, upon examination, they proved to be altogether 
 unfit for use. The company insisted that they were 
 good, and refused to replace them. The first week 
 in July the columns had all been furnished; and the 
 City Inspector of Buildings, who examined every 
 part of the work as it progressed, condemned the 
 entire lot. Nevertheless, the firm still claimed that 
 their castings should be accepted. 
 
 It was the middle of July. There was no prospect 
 of continuing the work under two weeks; and if the 
 order were to be duplicated from the same mill, the 
 delay might be indefinite. Another firm was found, 
 who agreed to furnish this iron to our contractors 
 in two weeks; but even then, when the columns were 
 delivered, several days more must be spent in setting
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS. 29 
 
 them up and laying the beams upon them; so that 
 the work on the walls, which had come to a stand, 
 could be resumed. This, at the best, meant nearly 
 a month of lost time. 
 
 During the delay nothing, practically, was done. 
 All the workmen left, but two or three stone- 
 layers and one brick-layer. The iron foundry was 
 prompt, however; and, before the specified time, 
 enough columns were ready so that the work could 
 begin again. 
 
 The building advanced rapidly for a time, but it 
 was not long before progress was again impeded. 
 The floor-beams were slow in coming, and many were 
 not drilled in the proper places. To rectify all this 
 was slow work; and so the weary days dragged on 
 through August and September. Once more the 
 same Director was sent to Pennsylvania, where he 
 remained till he saw all the iron of the contract man- 
 ufactured and shipped. There was, therefore, no 
 more hindrance from this quarter, except for the 
 cutting and fitting of the beams.
 
 30 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 The discontent of the masons was causing great 
 inconvenience. It is customary for masons to be paid 
 weekly, but our contractors sometimes neglected to 
 provide the money as often as once in two weeks. 
 When the men threatened to quit work, the builders 
 would have let them go; but, in order to prevent 
 delays, the Directors advanced the amount. On 
 one occasion, the money to pay the men was col- 
 lected from the Christian Science students who 
 happened to be on the premises. After this the 
 Directors reserved a sufficient sum, from their 
 monthly settlement with the contractors, to ensure 
 the wages of the laborers. 
 
 The iron frame was to have been placed on the 
 roof between August 20 and September 10; but at 
 this period the walls were very far from completion, 
 nor was the roofer ready with his iron. The rail- 
 road strike in Chicago had cut off from the mills their 
 supply of coal, so that the metal could not be 
 moulded when promised. 
 
 until the last of September did the roof-iron
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS. 31 
 
 begin to arrive. It was hoped the frame would be 
 set up in a few days; but in this, as in so many other 
 things, there was disappointment. The contractor 
 found many excuses for postponement; and, when he 
 finally announced himself ready to begin, two weeks 
 were spent in erecting scaffolds and derricks. At 
 last, after all these tedious delays, which seemed so 
 unnecessary to the Directors, the roof -work was fairly 
 under way; and the contractor was urged to add to 
 his force, until he had as many men on the building 
 as could be profitably employed. 
 
 At every step difficulties multiplied; and affairs 
 became more and more complicated, till the com- 
 pletion of the Church within the time specified, 
 seemed impossible. The struggle grew harder and 
 more hopeless, to human sense, as each day brought 
 its added burden: as if one must make a journey, 
 upon which life depended, yet could find no train; 
 then, when that was found or built, no engine; then; 
 no coal, no track, and so on, with impediments mul- 
 tiplying almost beyond imagination. Nevertheless,
 
 32 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 the Directors knew that God was directing our 
 Teacher and Mother, and would not demand the 
 unachievable of so faithful a servant. This knowl- 
 edge and faith gave them strength to press on; and, 
 as the Children of Israel looked to Moses to lead 
 them safely through the Wilderness, so they had con- 
 fidence that God would, through our Leader, show 
 the way out of this apparently desperate condition. 
 
 It was clear, if the Church was to be completed in 
 1894, the final contracts for the interior should be 
 made at once; yet no liability could be incurred be- 
 yond the limits of the money on hand, which was 
 not yet sufficient to finish the structure. Those who 
 knew nothing of these conditions, insisted that all 
 contracts be closed at once; but the Directors, striv- 
 ing to be faithful to their trust, and to their own 
 highest sense of right, continued to follow the wise 
 guidance of God's chosen one. 
 
 All this time the author had hoped for some 
 way of escape from what seemed such an impossi- 
 bility as to finish the Church within the appointed
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS. 33 
 
 year; but after a visit to the Mother, and a brief 
 conversation about the building, his doubts vanished 
 forever. Like Elisha's servant when his eyes were 
 opened, he saw that " They that be with us are more 
 than they that be with them " (II. Kings vi. 
 14 17), and from this hour he knew as an absolute 
 certainty that, whatever the seeming, the work 
 would be done! 
 
 On October 18 our Teacher requested one of the 
 Directors to take especial charge of the work, and 
 give it all his time. 
 
 For a month past three workmen had been engrav- 
 ing an Inscription on the pink granite tablet, built 
 into the circular wall of the tower. On October 20 
 the work was completed, and the boards of the 
 staging knocked off, so the words could be seen. 
 The first sight of this Inscription was most impres- 
 sive, even to those who knew how it was to read :
 
 34: THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST. 
 
 ERECTED ANNO DOMINI, 1894. 
 
 A TESTIMONIAL TO OUB BELOVED TEACHEB, THE REVEBEND 
 MABY BAKER EDDY: DISCOVEBER AND FOUNDEB OF CHBIS- 
 TIAN SCIENCE: AUTHOB OF ITS TEXT-BOOK, SCIENCE AND 
 HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCBIPTUBES : PBESIDENT OF THK 
 MASSACHUSETTS METAPHYSICAL COLLEGE, AND THE FIBST 
 PASTOB OF THIS DENOMINATION. 
 
 During this month a contract for stained glass was 
 concluded with the firm that seemed best able to 
 bring out the ideas of Christian Science in this direc- 
 tion. One of the contractors had spent some time 
 in Europe, visiting the great churches. He showed 
 much interest in developing designs for interior 
 decoration, and was employed by the Directors to 
 procure samples of material from the different dealers, 
 so that a meeting could be held in his room, and 
 a color-scheme be arranged that would harmonize 
 with the glass. There were brought together samples 
 of carpets and cushions, marble for dado, baseboard, 
 and stairs, beside specimens of wood already ordered 
 for the pews, and fresco-designs for which estimates
 
 CONTRACTS AND CONTRACTORS. 35 
 
 had been submitted. The tints for all materials were 
 chosen at this meeting. 
 
 Less easy was a decision about the flooring, and 
 for some time it seemed impossible to decide what 
 should be used. Mosaic was desired for floors as well 
 as dados; but this was not only more costly than 
 wood, but required more time, now an important 
 consideration. At the last possible moment enough 
 money came in to warrant a choice of the preferred 
 material. The contractor would not promise his 
 work in less than two months, even including extra 
 night hours; and after the Directors had agreed to 
 his estimates, there was a suspense of several days, 
 while he was considering whether, after all, he would 
 undertake the job. 
 
 As the time grew shorter, more and more questions 
 pressed for settlement, each seeming more diffi- 
 cult than the last. Funds were still insufficient, and 
 great care was needed for the wise expendi- 
 ture of what contributions the Treasurer held. 
 
 The interior of the building showed nothing but
 
 36 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 rough brick walls, bare iron floor-beams, and dreary 
 piles of debris; while mechanics and builders were 
 declaring that it would require six months' more 
 work to make the place ready for use. 
 
 Under this pressure the Directors struggled on 
 through October and came to November, while every- 
 thing seemed to be saying: "You cannot finish the 
 Church in 1894! " 
 
 All these months there was beautiful weather, 
 with scarcely any rain, a remarkable season. 
 On the morning of November 6 our Church, unpro- 
 tected by roof, floor, or window, was full of snow, 
 the earliest snowstorm that had fallen in the city 
 for many years. From this time on, though the work 
 never ceased, the weather was frequently something 
 to contend against. 
 
 Confronted by this fearful array of material evi- 
 dence, the Directors pushed on with unfaltering trust 
 in the divine, omnipresent power of God.
 
 IN NOVEMBER.
 
 HELP AND SHELTER. 
 
 HE that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High 
 shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say 
 of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in 
 him will I trust. Psalm xci. 1, 2. 
 
 THE contract for heating and ventilating ap- 
 paratus was given to Edward P. Bates, C. S. D., 
 of Syracuse, !N". Y., who, after arranging for his 
 own work, placed his whole time at the service of 
 the Directors. The offer was accepted, and from 
 November 12, till the building was entirely finished, 
 he and Mrs. Bates remained there constantly. As 
 Mr. Bates had much experience in building, and his 
 wife also was familiar with the technicalities of 
 architectural plans, they proved invaluable assistants, 
 bringing into the work fresh ideas, as well as new 
 courage. 
 
 As one result, another architect, with his draughts- 
 man, was employed to assist in improving the 
 
 37
 
 38 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 interior designs, the former leaving his office in 
 Hartford, Conn., in order to give his entire attention 
 to our Church. 
 
 Beside the one lady who was already giving her 
 time to the work, Mrs. Caroline W. Frame, C. S. B., 
 of New York City, and Mrs. Emilie B. Hulin, 
 C. S. B., of Brooklyn, were called to Boston to assist 
 our progress. They devoted themselves to selecting 
 furniture and fittings for Mother's Room; and, al- 
 though all questions must be deferred to the Di- 
 rectors for decision, yet their taste and experience 
 in house-furnishing was of great value. They also 
 looked after the windows, to urge the work forward, 
 to see that subjects were properly brought out, and 
 that all was made harmonious. 
 
 The original plan had been to finish the audi- 
 torium and Mother's Room in wood; but now marble 
 was suggested, and the arched entrance to Mother's 
 Room was designed. It was also decided to raise 
 the ceiling of the auditorium three feet and omit 
 the plastered beams and panels at first designed.
 
 ALMOST READY FOR THE ROOF.
 
 HELP AND SHELTER. 39 
 
 The contract for roofing included terra-cotta, 
 ready-roofing of paper, slates, and copper guttering. 
 The terra-cotta work had been sublet to the same 
 party who was to attend to the fire-proofing of the 
 floors; and the foreman for all this business was a 
 man of great executive ability, who took much in- 
 terest in the building. 
 
 As soon as the iron roof-frame was in place, the 
 roofer was daily urged to employ more help, in or- 
 der to hasten this most needed part of the building. 
 He began with only two or three men; and even after 
 a week's continued urging, only a few more had 
 been employed. The foreman then explained that he 
 had engaged thirty different men during this time; 
 but as soon as they agreed to go on the roof, they 
 seemed stricken with fear. Some would go up, 
 only to come immediately down, and slip away 
 without a word; while others would not even 
 mount, but only look up at the roof, and then 
 walk off. When the Directors learned this fact, 
 the difficulty was overcome, and in two days all the 
 men needed were at work.
 
 4:0 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 While the terra-cotta did not wholly exclude 
 rain, still it made quite a shelter; and it was there- 
 fore a surprise to find that the roofers, after laying 
 the blocks from the summit down to within five feet 
 of the gutter, ceased work, leaving this space un- 
 covered all around the building. On inquiry it 
 appeared that the architect had been persuaded by 
 the roof-contractor to change the plans for the gut- 
 ters. This would require an extension of the en- 
 tire iron frame five feet, and meant several weeks' 
 delay. The new arrangement was countermanded 
 at once, and the contractor ordered to begin 
 again on the original plan, which he himself had 
 approved when the contract was made. 
 
 Once more work was resumed, but again ceased. 
 The contractor claimed, if the blocks were laid to the 
 outer edge of the roof, that the water would there* 
 by be conducted into the walls, where it would 
 freeze, and throw them down. The Directors 
 were unwilling to accept this excuse; and two of 
 them went at once to the office of the roofing com-
 
 HELP AND SHELTER. 41 
 
 pany, to see about having the work finished according 
 to agreement 
 
 The company was one of the oldest and most 
 reliable in Boston. During the conversation with 
 the members present, every argument and excuse 
 they could bring forward, in regard to weather, 
 for example, was so answered, that at last the 
 senior partner had to admit that the work could 
 continue without interruption, and even prom- 
 ised to be at the Church himself the next morning, 
 to see that operations were resumed. There were 
 still many difficulties to overcome before the roof 
 was finished, but nothing else caused so much delay. 
 
 The Director in charge, with his assistants, now 
 found it necessary to oversee the work continually, 
 and remained on the premises all day and a part of 
 the night. By the middle of November the roof 
 was closed in with terra-cotta, and window-open- 
 ings were covered with canvas. The interior was 
 heated by stoves and lighted with electricity, so that 
 work might continue until midnight, or even later.
 
 42 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 It was in the evening that most of the fire-proofing 
 was laid in the floors and concreted over, first 
 in the auditorium, and then in the vestry. The 
 only risk run in laying these floors before the roof 
 was complete, was that water might drip through 
 upon them, and freeze; but this never occurred. 
 These hollow terra-cotta bricks, about ten inches 
 long by six in width and thickness, are not only 
 fire-proof, but are very light and strong. The blocks 
 are cemented together between the iron beams of the 
 floor-frame, resting on its flanged edges; and in 
 twenty-four hours, when the cement has set, are 
 solid, and capable of resisting great pressure. 
 
 One morning, when, after a long struggle, plenty 
 of men were at last on hand for the work on the 
 floors, one of the masons looked up and exclaimed: 
 "Well, sir, I believe you 11 get it done!" He 
 meant that the Church would be ready for use 
 in the appointed time. This was in a dark hour, 
 when even those from whom testimony opposed 
 to the senses was expected, lacked faith to voice an
 
 THE DARKEST HOUR.
 
 HELP AND SHELTER. 43 
 
 assurance such as this. Many students, visiting the 
 place, would look blankly at the bare walls, and say: 
 " You can't get it done, can you? " 
 
 Like a message from Heaven came the following 
 lines, quoted by our Teacher and Mother, to lighten 
 these heavy days, and increase our confidence in her 
 perpetual elevation above the clouds of sense. 
 
 TO THE C. S. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
 
 Friday, 10 A.M., November 23, 1894. 
 When the mists have risen above us, 
 
 As our Father knows His own, 
 Face to face with those who love us, 
 
 We shall know as we are known. 
 Love, beyond the Orient meadows, 
 
 Floats the golden fringe of day ; 
 Heart to heart we bide the shadows, 
 
 Till the mists have cleared away. 
 
 MOTHER,
 
 A NIGHT'S WORK. 
 
 IN the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the 
 night with a light of fire. Psalm Ixxviii. 14. 
 
 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by 
 them, and they set the house of God in his state. 
 
 II. Chronicles xxiv. 13. 
 
 THE ready-roofing being laid over the terra-cotta, 
 and the gutters cemented with pitch, the roof 
 was practically water-tight, and could thus stand for 
 months. While the slate and copper were being put 
 on, there were several heavy rains and some snow; 
 yet this caused no uneasiness, as the work on the 
 interior could continue without hindrance. Neither 
 was the finishing of the exterior delayed by the 
 weather; for, through all the wind and storm of 
 November and December, the work advanced stead- 
 ily, although sometimes the roofers were obliged to 
 shovel off the snow before beginning their daily task. 
 As soon as the roof would keep out water, and 
 
 44
 
 A NIGHT'S WORK. 45 
 
 the walls were in a proper condition, it was ex- 
 pected that the plasterer would set his men to work, 
 without waiting for other parts of the Church to be 
 finished; but this was not in accord with his ideas, 
 for "he expected to have the building exclusively to 
 himself for some eight weeks. Valuable time was 
 lost over this point, and but little accomplished. 
 
 Meantime the iron frame was getting into place 
 for the vaulted ceiling. As fast as one part was 
 prepared, it was desirable that the wire lathing 
 should at once be added, in order to make 
 ready for plastering. The contractor being still 
 reluctant to work in what seemed to him so irreg- 
 ular a fashion, here was more delay; but at length 
 he agreed to let his men work one night, with extra 
 wages assured, and the Directors furnishing light and 
 heat. The arrangement was that as many men as 
 feasible should be set to work on the auditorium 
 ceiling, which would be the longest job; the strips 
 under the galleries having already been plastered at 
 intervals when other mechanics were not in the 
 way.
 
 46 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 The night selected was Saturday, December 8, 
 with the hope that the work would be finished before 
 morning, and the plaster dry during the Sunday 
 following. Scaffolding had been put up a day or 
 two before; so, when the plaster was provided, there 
 was nothing more to do but mix it with water and 
 apply to walls and ceiling. A patent preparation 
 was to be used, which dries very quickly, is 
 powdered like flour, and can be brought into a build- 
 ing in bags, and piled up ready for use. 
 
 On Saturday morning the contractor agreed to 
 have enough material on hand for beginning work by 
 five in the afternoon; but about three o'clock, when 
 at least seventeen tons of dry plaster were expected, 
 one lone team drove up through the dismal rain 
 and fog, and stopped at the Church. Upon in- 
 quiry it was learned that no arrangement had been 
 made for delivering any more than this one load, of 
 four tons. 
 
 Something must be done at once, or all this labor 
 and planning, to save a few hours' time, would be
 
 A NIGHT'S WORK. 47 
 
 lost. The Directors sent Immediately to the tele- 
 phone to find out if this driver could not be allowed 
 to bring another load; but after half an hour's 
 waiting for a clear line, word came that the team 
 could not be out any longer. 
 
 Effort was then made to communicate with the 
 plaster warehouse; and after more delay, the agent 
 was reached just as he was locking up for the night. 
 "You must be insane! " was his first reply, through 
 the telephone, to a request that sixteen tons more 
 plaster be sent at once. After some explanatory 
 debate, he went out to look for teams, and shortly 
 returned to the wire, with the welcome message 
 that three teams more were already loaded, and a 
 fourth team would be soon on the road. By nine 
 o'clock all the bags were lying on the Church floor. 
 
 Unless the plasterers could work the full hours 
 agreed upon, they refused to do anything; but, be- 
 fore time for the long labor to begin, it was known 
 that more material was coming; and, at five o'clock, 
 there were fifteen men mixing the plaster, and
 
 48 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 some fifteen more ready to put it on. All seemed 
 inspired with energy and activity, till spectators, 
 long acquainted with such work, declared they had 
 never seen plasterers cover space so rapidly and so 
 well. The workmen themselves were amazed at 
 what was accomplished. The Scientists in charge 
 remained to encourage and cheer every effort, and 
 by morning two coats of plaster were on the audi- 
 torium. Thus was a great victory won. 
 
 Monday, December 10, the finishing touches were 
 put on the ceiling; and Thursday of the same week 
 the painters began to do their part.
 
 THE HARMONT OF TRADES. 
 
 SPEAKING the truth in love, may we grow up into him in 
 all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the 
 whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that 
 which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual work- 
 ing in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the 
 body, unto the edifying of itself in love. 
 
 Ephesians iv. 15, 16. 
 
 FROM the middle of September to December 
 first, the great problem to be solved was, How 
 can it be managed so that mechanics of different 
 trades shall work together simultaneously on the 
 Church? This must be done, if the building 
 was to be finished in 1894; yet each contractor 
 in turn expected and demanded to have the place 
 cleared of all workmen except his own. When 
 the Directors asked any one contractor to go to 
 work while others were still busy, each declared 
 it impossible. This caused in every case a delay 
 of two or three days. Then each contractor would 
 
 49
 
 50 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 agree to make the trial; while the Directors, on their 
 part, promised to see that no other contractor in- 
 terfered. 
 
 The staging for the iron roof-frame was erected, 
 and work begun on the roof, before the walls were 
 finished. Next, the plumbers, who, like all the 
 other contractors, were behind with their work, 
 began operations; and a few boards were spread on 
 the floor-beams above, to protect the workmen be- 
 low from the pieces of iron, bolts, tools, and other 
 materials, constantly falling from the roof. 
 
 As soon as the roof-frame was in place, men 
 began putting on the terra-cotta blocks and other 
 roofing materials, at the same time the terra-cotta 
 slabs and concrete were being laid for the floors. 
 
 When a part of the floor-blocks were laid and 
 concreted over, the mosaic work was commenced; 
 and, while these various undertakings were getting 
 under way, the iron frame for the ceiling was being 
 put up, and still other contractors were finding 
 places for their men.
 
 THE- HARMONY OP TRADES. 51 
 
 The mosaic was laid around the bottoms of the 
 heavy posts that upheld the staging for the ceiling 
 work. As fast as a part of the iron was in place, 
 this staging was removed, and the spaces where the 
 posts had stood were filled in with mosaic. 
 
 Bits of mud and iron, and occasionally a tool, 
 would fall from the hands above, but nobody below 
 was in the least injured. 
 
 The only accident that occurred during the build- 
 ing was to a painter, who stepped through a hole 
 in the unfinished vestry floor, and sprained his 
 ankle. A Christian Scientist came at once to his 
 aid, and relieved him of pain. His contracting em- 
 ployer, however, fearing there might be damages 
 to pay, insisted that the man be sent to the rail- 
 road station in a cab, and return to his home in the 
 suburbs. He resided about ten minutes' walk from 
 the station; and the next morning he was able to 
 run to catch his train, in order promptly to re- 
 sume his place. 
 
 As the work progressed with wonderful rapidity,
 
 52 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 other mechanics began their labor, side by side with 
 those already busy, until, by. December first, every 
 industry having aught to do with building the 
 Church was represented there, making a force of some 
 two hundred men. To keep them moving together 
 harmoniously meant rapid and continuous action 
 by those in charge. !No one set of laborers must 
 be allowed to fall behind, lest this disturb some 
 other set, and bring the work to a standstill; 
 for the men could only labor together in proportion 
 as the work of each separate trade was kept out of 
 the way of that following. 
 
 The Director in charge, who had full authority to 
 decide any question, must, every few minutes, visit 
 all parts of the work as it advanced; because the 
 different gangs of men all protested at working in 
 company, and were only held together by the Di- 
 rectors' promise that one trade should not inter- 
 fere with, or trespass on the rights of another. 
 
 Questions were continually arising, as to how this 
 or that should be done. One change would often
 
 THE HARMONY OF TRADES. 53 
 
 necessitate another; and, in connection with the 
 question of how something should be done, was 
 always the underlying question of expense. 
 
 It is certainly worthy of note, as showing that the 
 power of Mind was really building our Church, that 
 these explications of mechanical difficulties often 
 given by one without experience in this particular 
 branch of labor, and with no architectural plan at 
 hand for consultation were always accepted by the 
 workmen, and proved satisfactory. 
 
 Although, as has just been said, the matter of cost 
 had always to be considered, and this necessity 
 continued until the award of the very last contract, 
 yet it should be stated, that the question of money 
 scarcely affected the building of the Church. Be- 
 ginning with October, the Treasurer was advised to 
 tell no one what funds were on hand. Even the 
 Directors could only ask him, Can such or such a 
 thing be afforded? But, as often happened, while 
 the Directors were in doubt which material or 
 design to choose, enough money would be received,
 
 54: THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 during the time of deliberation, to render the price 
 no longer a prime consideration, and leave them 
 free to adopt the most appropriate suggestion, though 
 sometimes the most expensive. The last month's 
 contributions were very generous; but the Directors 
 were careful of expense until the very end. 
 
 The municipal permit for using the streets bound- 
 ing the Church-lot, included only the Falmouth 
 Street side. The way on the north side, now called 
 Norway Street^ had not then been accepted by the 
 city, but it was lawful for the contractors to use one 
 half the width of this street for unloading, mixing 
 cement, and preparing other materials. At a time 
 when loads were arriving hourly, and every foot of 
 space was needed, Norway Street was accepted by the 
 city, a contract was made for a sewer-pipe to be laid, 
 and our builders were ordered to move their effects 
 immediately. Much of our work had therefore to be 
 abandoned for a few days, till arrangements could be 
 made for workmen and materials in the narrow limits 
 of Falmouth Street.
 
 THE UNTIMELY SEWER.
 
 THE HARMONY OF TRADES. 55 
 
 The laborers who had been busy on this side 
 thought themselves already overcrowded, and when 
 called upon to share their space with the workmen 
 from Norway Street, they set up a strong protest; 
 but the Director in charge, knowing that in Divine 
 Mind no man can encroach upon his neighbor, 
 assured the men they need fear no interference or 
 molestation. Soon all found places, and the work 
 went on as smoothly as if each mechanic had 
 the street to himself. The Director thanked God 
 for deliverance, and took courage. 
 
 To give some idea of what was done during the 
 month of December, besides the superintendence of 
 the work, the following list of contracts is given, 
 with the dates when they were signed: 
 
 Decorations, December 5. 
 
 Vestry chairs, December 5. 
 
 Marble, December 6. 
 
 Pulpit, and the furniture for Mother's Room, 
 December 7. 
 
 Electric fixtures, December 8.
 
 56 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 Marble for Mother's Room, December 12. 
 
 Stereo-relief work, December 13. 
 
 Sidewalk, December 14. 
 
 Bronze torches and brackets, December 18. 
 
 Onyx mantel for Mother's Room, December 20. 
 
 From the first of December to the morning of 
 January 6, no busier place than our Church could 
 have been found in Boston. The whole structure, 
 within and without, was alive with workmen. Heav- 
 ily loaded teams were arriving at all hours during the 
 day, and far into the night; and the creak of wheels 
 and derricks was constantly heard, as roofing 
 materials, brick, and stone were being raised, by hand 
 or steam, to roof and tower. Plaster, paint, 
 glass, and other necessaries for interior finish, 
 were being carried up the long planks, through 
 the Church door; and to all these indications of 
 activity, were added the calls from workmen above, 
 giving orders and directions, answered by those 
 beneath. 
 
 Inside the building, from boiler-room to audi-
 
 BUSY DAYS.
 
 THE HARMONY OP TRADES. 57 
 
 toriura ceiling, a still more active scene met the 
 eye, if that were possible. Concrete was being 
 mixed and spread in one part, mosaic laid in an- 
 other. The painter followed close after the plasterer. 
 The plumber, the electrician, workmen putting in 
 the heating and ventilating apparatus, mingled 
 with the others. A constant stream of laborers 
 clattered up and down the unfinished stairs, carry- 
 ing in new material, or taking out rubbish. 
 
 Every workman seemed to feel the importance of 
 punctually finishing the work. Among the different 
 contractors and their gangs of employees there was 
 never a word of dispute. On the contrary, it was re- 
 markable how carefully each artisan recognized the 
 rights of every other. Side by side with artists set- 
 ting the delicate pieces of colored glass were those 
 chiselling and hammering the metal casements or 
 the iron staircases. The beautiful onyx mantel was 
 put up in the Mother's Room, while at the same time 
 rougher work was being done; yet nothing was in- 
 jured, and no man interfered with his neighbor.
 
 58 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 About the middle of December, the auditorium 
 was filled with the scaffolding put up for the plas- 
 terers; and, on every stage of it, men were busy 
 plastering, painting, decorating, fitting in the sun- 
 burst and windows. The mosaic floor had been laid, 
 but was covered with heavy paper and boards, to pre- 
 vent soiling from paint and plaster. The dado was 
 being set, with marble baseboard and cap. Gallery 
 posts were being wire-lathed and plastered. The 
 stereo-relief contractor had just begun his work. 
 Electric fixtures were being put in, doors fitted and 
 hung, and terra-cotta laid in the gallery. Every- 
 body seemed in earnest, anxious to accomplish as 
 much as possible. The buzzing of the sawing- 
 machine, cutting metal for window-frames, the clank 
 of steel tools upon the stairs, the pounding of wooden 
 hammers on mosaic floors, these were the sounds 
 that rose above the general hum of activity. 
 
 Surely it can be said that no other building was 
 ever erected in such a way. When Solomon built 
 his Temple, the men who wrought were personally
 
 THE HARMONY OF TRADES. 59 
 
 interested therein, and worldly wealth was at their 
 service; but, in our Church, all things material 
 seemed opposed to its advancement. 
 
 In this harmonious working of the trades, and 
 their earnest effort to finish on time, was recognized 
 the hand of our Heavenly Father, turning back the 
 armies of the aliens, bringing to naught the plans 
 of the wicked, and revealing Himself as Divine 
 Principle, governing human affairs. It was a new 
 demonstration of the oneness of Divine Mind, and 
 the universal brotherhood of man; of the nothingness 
 of material, and the omnipotence of spiritual law, as 
 taught in Christian Science.
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 
 
 AND I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of 
 carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 
 
 Isaiah liv. 12. 
 
 LET us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him : for the 
 marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made 
 herself ready. Revelation xix. 7. 
 
 SOON" after the work on the building was fairly 
 started, different societies and churches in our 
 ranks, as well as individual students, began asking 
 for the privilege of paying for special objects; and 
 this was granted, but on condition that the money 
 for such purposes be turned over to the Treasurer 
 of the building-fund, and the gifts be subject to 
 whatever changes our Teacher and Mother or the 
 Directors might think necessary. 
 
 In this way were purchased doors, dado for stair- 
 ways and vestibules, electric fixtures, mosaic floors; 
 marble treads for the vestibule steps, marble window- 
 
 60
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 61 
 
 sills, cushions and platform; the pulpit and its 
 furnishings, with handsome copies of the Bible and 
 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures; the 
 Mother's chair, to be kept on the rostrum; con- 
 tribution-baskets, with extension handles invented 
 by the giver, and the tubular chime of fifteen bells. 
 The concert-grand Steinway piano, for the vestry, was 
 the donation of one young lady; but the chief single 
 benefaction, costing several thousand dollars, was the 
 organ, one of the finest in Boston, a tribute of 
 gratitude from a gentleman whose wife had been 
 healed through Christian Science. 
 
 In the middle of November a student came from 
 the West to see about furnishing the Church with 
 bronze doors, but the expense was so much more 
 than he expected, that, after a week's investigation, 
 the project was abandoned, and the money given for 
 a window and the general fund. 
 
 A well-lighted auditorium had been especially 
 desired by the Directors, as one of the chief char- 
 acteristics of the Church; but as it became evident
 
 02 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 that the painted figures and colored glass would admit 
 only a dim and subdued light, some further means 
 of letting in the sunshine must be adopted. Some 
 one suggested that light be let" in from above, 
 but this seemed impracticable. The architect was 
 consulted, as well as others who might have ideas 
 on the subject; and as the roof had not yet been con- 
 structed, the plans were examined, to ascertain where 
 an opening could be made. It was found feasible, 
 with slight additional expense, to insert a skylight, 
 measuring ten feet by twenty, directly above the 
 auditorium ceiling. 
 
 What could be used in the ceiling itself to let 
 through the light thus secured from the roof above ? 
 This was the next question; for such an adjunct 
 must not only be ornamental in itself, but har- 
 monize with the decorations of the interior. After 
 many plans had been examined, and many sug- 
 gestions received from artists and students, the 
 beautiful sunburst now in use was selected, with its 
 one hundred and forty-four electric lamps for addi- 
 tional illumination.
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 63 
 
 To ensure still more light, and forestall any 
 possible darkening of our windows by the erection 
 of high walls on adjacent lots, the architect planned 
 three light-shafts, which, though necessarily de- 
 tracting from the size of the auditorium, really 
 add to its symmetry, owing to the peculiar shape of 
 the building. One shaft extends from the roof 
 down behind the organ, to light the pastor's study 
 and the vestry below. The other two shafts are 
 directly behind the two windows representing Mary 
 at the Resurrection and the Woman God-crowned, 
 and the two smaller windows above them, on the 
 gallery level, thus brightening the pictured glass, 
 beside diffusing more light through the entire room. 
 It was truly said, there had been brought to 
 the Church light from Heaven, which no man could 
 take away. 
 
 Still another feature adopted to secure more light 
 as well as more beauty was that of bronze window- 
 frames. The Romanesque style of architecture in 
 which the Church is built gives heavy walls and
 
 64 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 small openings. It was found that heavy wooden 
 casings would not only leave the windows too small 
 for the best delineation of subjects in stained glass, 
 but would also darken the interior somewhat. An- 
 other point considered was the liability of wooden 
 frames to rapid decay. After full discussion, it was 
 determined that all window-casings should be of 
 bronze, thus enlarging the area of glass in each 
 window about six inches. Not knowing of any other 
 building supplied with such frames, the contractor 
 made original designs for them. 
 
 To secure uniformity of workmanship, as well as 
 harmony in color and style, the windows were all 
 entrusted to the same Boston manufacturers. As 
 the ideas of the designers were often far from the 
 true interpretation of subjects to be brought out 
 in the glazing, the presence of some Christian Sci- 
 entist was required, who could be relied upon to 
 watch the work daily. It was necessary to have a 
 person quick to catch the spiritual meaning of the 
 Scripture to be illustrated, or of the subject chosen
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 65 
 
 to present the thought; and this was not all, for 
 skilled artisans would not willingly endure dictation 
 from an outsider, and wisdom must be used, or the 
 workmen would refuse to proceed. The Directors 
 wished to express in the designs the spiritual thoughts 
 taught by Christian Science, while the artists at- 
 tempted to follow traditional religious views as well 
 as preconceived notions of art; and their material 
 beliefs, inculcated by the popular theories of the day, 
 constantly opposed the spiritual idea. One artist 
 said, " I see that your windows mean something ! " 
 thus recognizing the difference between ordinary 
 requirements and those now demanded. 
 
 A number of window-subjects were chosen by our 
 Teacher and Mother, while others were selected by 
 donors, or by the Directors. The first one given 
 as a testimonial was the rose-window at the left of 
 the platform, representing the Raising of Jairus' 
 Daughter, which was partly copied from a plate in 
 one of the early editions of Science and Health. 
 In the six lower sections, palms and lamps signify 
 light, intelligence, and victory.
 
 66 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 The Directors' rose-window, on the right side of 
 the pulpit, was the next to be designed. In a con- 
 versation with our Teacher and Mother, early in the 
 summer, she spoke of the four-sided city as described 
 by Saint John; and, as there were four Directors, 
 this suggested to them the idea of their giving the 
 other rose-window to the Church, and using the New 
 Jerusalem as a theme. After careful study of the 
 subject, in connection with the beautiful spiritual in- 
 terpretation of the Holy City, " coming down from 
 God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for 
 her husband," as found on page 567 of our textbook, 
 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the 
 figures for the window were selected. 
 
 The definite outlines of the proposed window were 
 not taken into consideration when this design from 
 the Apocalypse was thought out ; and the window had 
 been planned, of course, without regard to any sub- 
 ject. Now, upon examination of the drawing, the 
 Directors found a wonderful harmony between their 
 ideas and the plan of the window.
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 67 
 
 This circular window was divided into two rows 
 of twelve openings each, the outer panes separating 
 the circle into segments; while each inner light had 
 the shape of a keystone, or sustaining wedge of an 
 arch, sometimes supposed to be the stone designated 
 by the Psalmist as " the headstone of the corner." 
 Twelve was a most significant number for the pur- 
 pose; and, dividing the segments into four groups of 
 three each, there was one cluster to represent each 
 side of the celestial city. In the central pane of 
 each triplet was placed the main symbol of the 
 group, with explanatory figures in the two panes 
 flanking it. The four main figures were the Bible, 
 or Word of God; the Madonna and Child, repre- 
 senting Jesus; the Southern Cross, standing for 
 Christianity: the Golden Shore of Love, symbolizing 
 Christian Science. In the twelve lights of the outer 
 circle were as many stars, also arranged in four 
 clusters of three lights each, one larger star and two 
 smaller ones for each division. 
 
 The rounded central light was the proper place for
 
 68 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 an open Science and Health, with Key to the 
 Scriptures; and this suggested the name, Window 
 of the Open Book, signifying that the radiance from 
 this new Revelation shows the meaning of all the 
 Bible promises and prophecies, as symbolized by 
 the figures surrounding the centre. 
 
 The architect's plan for this window further 
 included six long lower lights which would come 
 below the line of the gallery. The six water-pots, 
 chosen for these places, typify the six days of ma- 
 terial creation, included in the belief that man has 
 a material origin and existence; and they also call 
 to memory the marriage in Cana, with its spiritual 
 lessons, teaching that, as mortals empty themselves 
 of error through the understanding of Truth, they 
 are being prepared for union with divine Principle, 
 as shown in Christian Science. 
 
 This rose-window has been symbolically read from 
 top to bottom. Reversing this order, the eye rises 
 from the water-pots, representing mortal conscious- 
 ness, to rest upon the cross; then on, past Science
 
 TESTIMOmAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 69 
 
 and Health, to the topmost ring of lights, where the 
 woman is standing upon the moon. So in our human 
 experience: "We have this treasure in earthen ves- 
 sels," as stated in II. Corinthians iv. 7 ; then we grad- 
 ually rise, by way of the cross, till, through Christian 
 Science, man, as the divine idea of God, is fully 
 realized. 
 
 The other windows are here mentioned in their 
 order of presentation. One of the finest in the 
 Church is a double window, the Resurrection of 
 Lazarus. Its rare perspective, made more striking 
 by the stone mullions and clasping irons, give it an 
 appearance of being outside the wall, as if one were 
 gazing upon a scene of light and color beyond. 
 
 The designers wished to omit the wolf and the 
 lamb from the Isaiah window in the vestibule, think- 
 ing that so many figures would be inartistic; but 
 when the spiritual meaning was explained, they 
 saw at once that these types were most necessary. 
 
 The design first submitted for the Apocalyptic 
 Angel, with the Little Book, represented the seraph
 
 70 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 as standing on what were intended for pillars of fire, 
 but which looked like red bricks, and wearing materi- 
 ally feathered wings, which useless appendages 
 the artist could hardly be persuaded to eliminate. 
 
 Saint John on the Island of Patmos, a double win- 
 dow, was copied from an old Bible illustration. 
 
 Next in order came the left gallery window, 
 painted with the Bible and Science and Health. 
 
 The four windows in the sides of the auditorium, 
 representing subjects proposed by our Teacher and 
 Mother, offer much food for thought. The picture 
 of the Madonna and Jesus shows us woman's thought 
 of God as the Father of all mankind, although ex- 
 pressed as yet in a feeble way. The next window 
 portrays woman anointing Jesus as her ideal man, 
 who now expresses her thought of God's Fatherhood 
 in a still higher degree. Mary at the Resurrection 
 signifies that woman is first to perceive the risen man, 
 that is, to recognize man as above and beyond 
 what is called death and materiality. She has now 
 faintly seen that man is spiritual, and to her Jesus
 
 TESTIMONIAL WINDOWS AND OTHER GIFTS. 71 
 
 says : " I have not yet ascended to my Father and 
 your Father," thus indicating the Master's recogni- 
 tion of her thought. 
 
 In a smaller window, above the Magdalene, is de- 
 picted an open Bible, whose record closes, as we 
 know, with the prophecy of a God-crowned woman. 
 This woman is the subject of the fourth window of 
 the series, and above it, in a small separate window 
 corresponding to the one where the Bible is painted, 
 is another open volume, Science and Health with 
 Key to the Scriptures, our textbook. 
 
 The woman of the Apocalypse, and the teachings 
 of Christian Science in the book, together signify 
 that the perfect idea of God and the spiritual 
 universe are revealed; and Christian Science, when 
 understood, also reveals that the prophecy of Saint 
 John is fulfilled, and the spiritual idea is the God- 
 crowned woman. In these windows the Bible and 
 Science and Health are shown to be our true pastor 
 and preacher, explaining the way of salvation to all 
 mortals.
 
 72 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 There is a peculiar circumstance connected with 
 the arrangement of these windows. To place them 
 in their present order, so that their story might be 
 read from left to right, it was found that the infant 
 Jesus had the best light; the Anointing of Jesus came 
 in almost as good a place; the Resurrection window 
 was rather dark; while the Woman of Prophecy, 
 representing the highest revelation of all, had less 
 light than any other window in the Church. Thus 
 we may see that while the human Jesus is recognized 
 as the Son of God by many, the risen Christ, or 
 the God-crowned ideal, is as yet but faintly seen.
 
 MOTHER'S ROOM. 
 
 JERUSALEM which is above is free, which is the mother of 
 us all. Galatians iv. 26. 
 
 HER children arise up, and call her blessed ; . . . let her 
 own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs xxxi. 28, 31. 
 
 I!N" the earliest Church plans was included an 
 apartment for the sole use of our beloved Teacher 
 and Leader, Mrs. Eddy, to be known as Mother's 
 Room; and soon after the building-lot was deeded 
 by her to the first Board of Trustees, the Christian 
 Science children were organized into a band of Busy 
 Bees, their special aim being the collection of money 
 for this room. Chiefly through the efforts of its 
 organizer, Miss Maurine R. Campbell, five thousand 
 dollars were raised by this " sweet society." 
 
 In the early months it seemed as if this apartment 
 must be finished and furnished very simply, as the 
 Bees had gathered only a few hundred dollars; but 
 
 November brought a different outlook. It was 
 
 73
 
 74: THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 decided to appropriate the adjoining alcoves on either 
 side for toilet-rooms, and one beautiful idea followed 
 after another, like the feet of messengers bringing 
 " good tidings, to Zion." Very elaborate decorative 
 designs were proposed; but Mrs. Eddy desired that 
 her room be adorned more simply and less expen- 
 sively, though willing that its finishing should cor- 
 respond with the rest of the building. The result 
 could hardly be more harmonious or appropriate. 
 
 The room is located on the auditorium stage of 
 the tower, and opens directly into the vestibule. 
 The entrance as originally planned did not satisfy 
 the Directors, and after several consultations, the 
 architect was requested to design a marble archway 
 more in harmony with Mother's Room. Early in 
 December a plan was approved, and the marble, 
 which was to be of the finest Italian, worked with 
 great care, was ordered with the other marble. 
 
 In preparation, the opening for the doorway was 
 widened on either side, and the wall above cut out 
 to the ceiling of the main vestibule, so when the arch
 
 MOTHER'S ROOM. 75 
 
 
 
 arrived, the workmen began to set it immediately. 
 The parties who took the contract for this work were 
 very competent and had command of the best 
 facilities. On a Friday, at six in the afternoon, 
 the upright sections of the arch were in place to 
 the finely carved cornice. 
 
 To complete the task before Sunday seemed an 
 impossibility, yet this was what those in charge had 
 resolved upon. The workmen were asked how long 
 it would take, and the reply was, " It is six days' 
 work to set and finish the arch ready to fill in around 
 it." 
 
 Arrangements were made with them to labor on 
 continuously till the job was ended. The Scien- 
 tists remained in the building that night to render 
 all the assistance possible, and a midnight meal was 
 furnished the workmen. At six o'clock the next 
 morning, in exactly twelve hours instead of six 
 days, the arch was completed, and in an hour or two 
 more the mason had filled in the wall around it with 
 brick.
 
 76 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 Two coats of plaster were then applied immedi- 
 ately to the newly set brickwork, and the painter 
 followed with two coats of paint, matching perfectly 
 the vestibule walls, which had been painted several 
 days previously. This work was all done by six 
 o'clock Saturday afternoon. 
 
 The archway leads by five marble steps into a small 
 lobby, brightened by electric lamps, artistically hid- 
 den behind the high cornice. The light illuminates 
 the vaulted ceiling, and reflects a soft color, from the 
 rose-tinted walls, upon the white door, with its 
 golden knob. Above the door, in letters of gold on 
 a white marble tablet, is the word LOVE. Near the 
 ceiling on each side, are three small stained-glass case- 
 ments, admitting enough light from two outside win- 
 dows, in the two dressing-rooms, to bring out the 
 glazed colors, and enhance the general effect. Inlaid 
 with different-colored stones, in the mosaic landing 
 before the door, may be read: 
 
 MOTHER'S ROOM, 
 THE CHILDREN'S OFFERING.
 
 pleasant View, 
 
 CONCORD, N. H 
 
 ,, 
 
 . //, 
 
 X
 
 MOTHER'S ROOM. 77 
 
 The thoughts leading to these arrangements came 
 one by one to the individual Scientists overseeing 
 the work, and seemed like inspirations from Love. 
 Mrs. Eddy herself gave many helpful suggestions 
 relative to all parts of the work, especially to 
 decorations. 
 
 The following letter shows the source of two 
 beautiful features connected with the entrance just 
 
 described : 
 
 PLEASANT VIEW, 
 CONCORD, N.H., Dec. 11, 1894. 
 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE DIRECTORS, 
 
 MY BELOVED STUDENTS, 
 
 Permit me to make this request relative to the 
 Mother's Room, and if you think best, grant it. On 
 the marble floor at the entrance engrave the word, 
 Mother; and on the arch above the word, Love. 
 
 Ever affectionately yours, 
 
 MARY BAKER EDDY. 
 
 The apartment itself is fifteen feet in width and 
 eighteen in length, measuring from the door to the 
 middle of the bay. Here the first section of terra- 
 cotta flooring was laid. The room was plastered and
 
 78 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 painted before the tower was roofed; but it was 
 protected from the weather by the bell-deck, which 
 had been covered with terra-cotta, cement, and 
 ready-roofing. 
 
 The baseboard, both for the main room and the 
 adjacent dressing-room, is of pure white Italian mar- 
 ble without dark veining. In the toilet-room Afri- 
 can marble, of Numidian red, is used alike for basin 
 and baseboard, and the water-pipes are gold-plated. 
 
 The subjects for the three testimonial windows 
 are taken from Christ and Christmas, an illustrated 
 poem by Mrs. Eddy. The Star of Bethlehem sym- 
 bolizes the ray of Truth penetrating the darkness of 
 mortal mind. " The light shineth in darkness and 
 the darkness comprehendeth it not;" nevertheless 
 it shines on, because it is from that divine source 
 declared by Saint John to be the Life of men. 
 
 Suffer Little Children to Come unto Me represents 
 the unbiased and innocent child-thought, finding and 
 appropriating the revelation of Science and Health 
 with Key to the Scriptures, which explains the words 
 and works of Jesus, the prophets, and *he apostles.
 
 MOTHER'S ROOM. 79 
 
 The face of the woman in the central window, 
 Seeking and Finding, is not a portrait of our Teacher 
 and Mother, but is a type which presents the thought 
 of her searching the Scripture with unalterable 
 trust in the divine Wisdom, above and beyond mor- 
 tal concept. In this sacred search the Star of Beth- 
 lehem, or gleam of Truth, is never lost sight of, 
 but shines steadily on the inspired page. 
 
 The last contract awarded was for the beautiful 
 mantelpiece, constructed of onyx blocks from Pueblo, 
 Mexico, on exhibition at the World's Fair, Chicago, in 
 1893. Onyx of this opalescent green tint is said to 
 be an object of worship with the Mexican Indians. 
 Though this contract dated from only five days be- 
 fore Christmas, the mantel was in its place by New 
 Year's. 
 
 Among the furnishings were many individual 
 gifts. The rug before the fireplace, presented by 
 a lady in the name of a child, was made by the 
 Esquimaux from a hundred eider-duck skins. It was 
 bought from Dr. Cook, the Arctic explorer, as tb* 
 following letter explains:
 
 80 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 15 Hart Street, 
 
 BROOKLYN, N.Y., December 18, 1894. 
 I send you to-day the Eskimo blankets as selected. 
 I hope that they will prove of interest and value to 
 you, a souvenir from " Greenland's icy moun- 
 tains." Yours very truly, 
 
 F. A. COOK, M. D. 
 
 Other remembrances were an elaborately carved 
 imported chair; the onyx table; the large china lamp 
 and shade; the desk-lamp shade; an Assyrian bridal 
 veil; the jardiniere and cloisonne clock; two water- 
 colors, by an English artist; valuable vases, book- 
 marks, and embroideries; the sofa-pillow, covered 
 with white and gold tapestry, matching the other fur- 
 niture ; the Athenian hanging lamp, two centuries old. 
 Silvery green plush draperies and antique Persian 
 rugs of similar tint harmonize with the delicate fres- 
 coing of the walls. The little onyx beehive contains 
 the names of twenty-eight hundred Busy Bees. 
 Everything was provided for the beloved Mother's 
 actual occupancy, as witness such tokens as a hand- 
 kerchief, a tiny pin-cushion, dressing-gown, slippers, 
 and every needful toilet-article.
 
 MOTHER'S ROOM. 81 
 
 Loving touches still continue to be added to this 
 room, and ever will be, as long as hearts turn in grati- 
 tude to the one who gives her life for them and the 
 world. 
 
 The most recent addition is a gift from Mrs. Eddy 
 herself to the Church, a large oil-painting, meas- 
 uring six feet by five, of the little rocking-chair, 
 covered with black hair-cloth, in which she sat while 
 writing Science and Health. It would seem impos- 
 sible for such a room as this to afford space for so 
 large a picture; but the arrangement is so skilful as 
 to increase the beauty of both. The picture rests 
 on the floor, and is lighted by electric lamps, fastened 
 on the upper edge of the frame, and concealed by 
 green draperies. The effect of the painting, so 
 placed, is to enlarge as well as enrich the room; 
 for it is so realistic that, looking at it, one seems to 
 be gazing into another apartment. 
 
 On a bookmark, given by two little girls, are 
 printed some lines from Whittier, which express the 
 thought of many who enter this room.
 
 82 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 And so I find it well to come, 
 For deeper rest, to this still room ; 
 For here the habit of the soul 
 Feels less the outer world's control; 
 
 
 And from the silence, multiplied 
 By these still forms on every side, 
 The world that time and sense has known 
 Falls off, and leaves us God alone.
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 
 
 BE strong, . . . saith the Lord, and work: for I am with 
 you. Haggai ii. 4. 
 
 BEHOLD, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will 
 dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God him- 
 self shall be with them, and be their God. 
 
 Revelation xxi. 3. 
 
 MES. EDDY'S counsel was that the Church 
 should be in readiness for public service the 
 last Sunday of the year 1894, as may be seen from 
 the following letter: 
 
 PLEASANT VIEW, 
 CONCORD, N.H., Dec. 19, 1894. 
 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE DIRECTORS, 
 MY BELOVED STUDENTS, 
 
 The day is well-nigh won. You will soon rest on 
 your arms. Thank God you have been valiant sol- 
 diers loyal to the heart's core. " Who is so great a 
 God as our God?" 
 
 Present no contribution-box Dedication day. 
 When you know the amount requisite and have re- 
 
 83
 
 84: THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 ceived it for finishing the church building, close all 
 contributions and give public notice thereof. 
 
 Hold your services in the Mother Church Dec. 30, 
 1894, and dedicate this church Jan. 6th. The Bible 
 and " Science and Health with Key to the Scrip- 
 tures " shall henceforth be the Pastor of the Mother 
 Church. This will tend to spiritualize thought. Per- 
 sonal preaching has more or less of human views 
 grafted into it. Whereas the pure Word contains 
 only the living, health-giving Truth. 
 
 With love, Mother, 
 
 MARY BAKER EDDY. 
 
 To have the building ready for use by December 
 30, a mighty effort must be made. Every part of 
 the work must be pushed, and every moment of 
 time utilized. Even then, to human sense, the task 
 seemed utterly hopeless. The decorating must be 
 done, and platform and pulpit built. The gallery 
 was as yet hardly begun; while the vestry, Mother's 
 Room, vestibules, Directors' Room, and other sec- 
 tions of the edifice, needed much more labor than 
 seemed possible in ten days. Men must be kept busy 
 every hour when work could be done, day and night.
 
 Pleasant Wiew. 
 
 Concord N.H
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 85 
 
 "Work on the roof, tower, walls, stairways, metal 
 window-frames, glass, plastering, concrete, mosaic, 
 wood-work, painting, marble-work, wiring for elec- 
 tric lights, plumbing, all must be pushed, and 
 no one trade wait for another to move out of the 
 way, if the building was to be used in 1894. 
 
 The marble, ordered December 6, had not yet 
 reached Boston. On December 15, there was no 
 one part of the Church really completed, except the 
 walls; and ventilating flues had yet to be erected on 
 these. 
 
 Every step, up to this time, had been made through 
 demonstration of Divine Science, the work of our 
 beloved Teacher and Mother. Not a point could be 
 carried without her aid; for she alone could show 
 the way God's way and make it possible to do 
 what mortal sense declared impossible. With this 
 knowledge, those having the work in charge con- 
 tinued to press on in the face of all seeming dis- 
 couragements, trusting Love to deliver them, and 
 enable the workmen to complete the building.
 
 86 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 The work on the tower seemed very slow. A 
 steam derrick had been hired to lift the stone and 
 other material; and, a few days before the walls were 
 finished, the roofer tried to make a bargain for 
 the use of this derrick to raise the heavy iron 
 for the tower roof. The derrick was on a plat- 
 form at the top of the tower; and, if he could 
 have the use of it, several days' time would be saved, 
 that otherwise must be spent in taking down this 
 derrick, and putting up another. 
 
 Confusion seemed to rise up between the men, and 
 they were unable to come to any agreement on the 
 matter. At this point Mrs. Bates was told of the 
 situation, and asked to see what could be done. She 
 went at once in search of the man who controlled the 
 derrick. He was at the top of the tower. Without 
 hesitation she climbed up to find him, though this 
 meant the ascent of three ladders, each one twenty or 
 twenty-five feet long, set up on loose planks, inside 
 of the tower wall. 
 
 This task was not only accomplished, but she
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 87 
 
 made definite arrangements with the owner to let 
 the derrick for one day to the Directors. The 
 roofers were then notified to have their materials 
 ready on the grounds; and on the appointed day all 
 the iron for the frame, and the terra-cotta blocks, 
 were lifted to the tower platform, the slate and cop- 
 per being hauled up later by hand. 
 
 Mrs. Bates also made a second trip to the bell- 
 deck within a few days, remaining there three 
 hours, in order to settle a dispute between the men 
 and keep them at work. 
 
 "With the masons there had already been some 
 trouble, on account of the irregularity of the con- 
 tractors' payments; and now a new difficulty arose. 
 In addition to the original contract, certain stones 
 were to be removed from the top of the tower, so 
 that the copper roof might be laid on the bell-deck, 
 and the stones then were to be put back in place. 
 When the original contract was finished, the masons 
 took out the stones as agreed, but refused to replace 
 them. This was a genuine strike, for the men stayed
 
 88 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 around the place two or three days, not allowing 
 others to finish the work. Tired of so thankless a 
 job, however, they soon retired from the ground, and 
 gave no more trouble. 
 
 The first day, late in December, that the terra- 
 cotta was being laid in the iron frame of the tower 
 roof, was very cold and windy, especially at an 
 altitude of a hundred and twenty feet above the level 
 of the street. The Director who had especial charge 
 of the building felt impelled to visit the seven men 
 who were engaged in this work. He accordingly 
 climbed the three ladders inside the tower to the 
 bell-deck, where he saw swaying almost vertically 
 above, in the open belfry, between him and the 
 roof-frame, a fourth ladder. This ladder was made 
 of two scantlings which had been broken and patched, 
 while several of the strips nailed crosswise for steps 
 had been broken, and left unrepaired. When the 
 foot of this frail ladder was reached, seventy-five feet 
 above the street, the Director's heart failed him, 
 and he said to himself, " I cannot mount ! " Of
 
 NEARING COMPLETION.
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 89 
 
 course the workmen had used this same means to 
 reach the roof; but they knew by experience what 
 could be done, and were used to such undertakings. 
 
 After a moment's silent prayer for strength from 
 Mind, he slowly began the ascent. According to 
 sense-evidence the support appeared insufficient to 
 bear his weight, with the wind blowing so fiercely 
 through the arched openings of the tower; but he 
 finally reached the roof. Here the wind blew 
 stronger than ever, and it seemed impossible to hold 
 on, or even think. Again, in silent prayer and 
 demonstration, harmony was realized, and fears were 
 overcome. The roofers were encouraged, and even 
 the wind seemed to be quieter. 
 
 The Directors were obliged to look after each con- 
 tractor, to see that he fulfilled his engagements. 
 More than this, they watched every workman, lest, in 
 the rush, some detail be slighted or hindrance arise; 
 for well they knew, not an hour could be lost. 
 
 The Italian mosaic-layers, of whom there were sepa- 
 rate gangs for dados, floors, and borders, were perhaps
 
 90 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 the most troublesome to deal with; because, as they 
 spoke but little English, it was difficult to talk or 
 reason with them. They were usually happy and 
 good-natured, singing about their work; but if any 
 one of them happened to be vexed, he and his com- 
 rades would threaten to leave. 
 
 During the process of building a constant stream 
 of students poured into the Church, and every acces- 
 sible part of the work was visited. This never dis- 
 turbed the mechanics, except in one instance, when, 
 during the last week in December, some strangers 
 stepped on a piece of mosaic bordering, just laid in 
 soft mortar. The work was spoiled, and the Italian, 
 muttering something in his own language, called his 
 assistant and left the building, to be seen no more 
 that day. 
 
 The contractor for stereo-relief mouldings, to be 
 put on the gallery front and cornices, had only 
 nine days for his work; but he promised to have 
 it done, or allow his unfinished mouldings to be 
 thrown into the street Another contract, remark-
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 91 
 
 able for the short time in which it was fulfilled, waa 
 that for the pulpit and for furniture in Mother's 
 Room, wherein the contractor agreed to have the 
 articles ready in time, or forfeit fifty dollars for every 
 day's delay. 
 
 The pews were to come from Michigan by Christ- 
 mas; but the agent, seeing the condition of the 
 edifice in October, did not believe they would be 
 wanted in December, and inserted this clause in the 
 contract, "by December 25th, or as soon as the 
 church is ready." "When the Directors wrote to the 
 manufacturers to hasten the work, they replied that 
 the agent in Boston had informed them that our 
 Church would not be ready for two months. The 
 Directors now saw, if the pews were to be in 
 the building by December, that it would be neces- 
 sary to send some one to the factory, who would 
 insist that the work be finished and delivered ac- 
 cording to agreement. 
 
 Mr. J. A. Neal was accordingly dispatched to 
 Michigan; and, when he explained the situation to
 
 92 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 the manufacturers, they put all their force on this one 
 job. Mr. Neal remained until the pews were made 
 ready, and then traced their course to Boston. 
 
 When the agent, with the man who came from the 
 factory to set up the pews, entered the auditorium 
 on Friday before Christmas, and saw it full of work- 
 men and scaffolding, they were alarmed for the car- 
 load of pews, which could not be wisely left at the 
 freight-house, yet could not be set up in the Church, 
 where there was not even room to store them. 
 
 That night the workmen stayed until morning, and 
 students, both ladies and gentlemen, came in to help. 
 The whole network of staging was taken down, the 
 rough covering removed from the mosaic, and the 
 floor washed. 
 
 When the Michigan man came in on Saturday 
 morning, he was astounded at the transformation. 
 Even the architect, who had watched the progress of 
 the work so closely, said that what had been accom- 
 plished that night seemed like a miracle. To make 
 room for the seats, all the workmen had been cleared
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 93 
 
 out except one, who was fitting the capitals on the 
 pillars. The pew-agent refused to go to work until 
 this mechanic was also sent away. No time could 
 be lost in controversy, so the other artisans were 
 recalled. On Monday he still refused to work, but 
 on Tuesday he began setting up the pews while other 
 men were busy in the room. 
 
 Tuesday was Christmas Day, but the work con- 
 tinued as usual. 
 
 In order to have the exact shade of plush desired, 
 the covering for the cushions had been ordered 
 directly from Lyons, France; and New York 
 upholsterers had pledged themselves to have them 
 ready by the middle of December. It was learned, 
 however, that they had done nothing, and would not 
 before January; so the plush was brought to Boston, 
 and there the cushions were made ready in season. 
 
 It had been arranged to lay a sidewalk around 
 the tower-entrances; for, as the boiler-room would 
 extend under this part of the walk, it was believed 
 the heat would prevent the cement from freez-
 
 94r THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 ing. The work waa begun Friday, December 28. 
 Saturday night it was not yet finished; and the 
 weather had turned very cold, with a strong wind 
 blowing. There was danger that the wet cement 
 would freeze, and it seemed impossible to continue 
 the work. The Directors hired a tent, and had it 
 stretched over the walk, and fastened to the Church 
 wall. The big doors were kept open, and all possible 
 heat secured from the boilers. The men worked 
 until twelve o'clock, and then watched in the build- 
 ing till morning, lest the canvas be blown down; but 
 no injury came, and the sidewalk was ready for use 
 the next day. 
 
 The same evening the Church was full of students, 
 dusting pews and sweeping floors; and exactly as the 
 clock struck twelve, midnight, the auditorium was 
 prepared for Sunday. The first meeting, held 
 December 30, 1894, was a communion service. 
 
 So, with the Mother encouraging and pointing 
 the way, and with Divine Love sustaining, the 
 Church was built in the appointed time, and the
 
 THE FINAL EFFORT. 95 
 
 following notices appeared in the January issue 
 of the Christian Science Journal: 
 
 NOTICE. 
 
 The Dedication Services of the new building of the Mother 
 Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massa- 
 chusetts, will be held on the first Sunday in January, the 
 sixth, 1895. An address from our former Pastor, the Rev. 
 Mary Baker Eddy, will be read, but she will not be present 
 at these services. 
 
 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
 
 A Card from Mr. Chase. 
 
 As Treasurer of the Christian Science Board of Directors, 
 I hereby return sincere thanks to all the donors to the 
 Church-building Fund of the Mother Church, for their most 
 generous contributions, and their prompt responses to all 
 calls sent out. There are ample funds now in my hands to 
 meet all obligations, and all contributions should cease after 
 January 6, 1895, as none can be received which were not sub- 
 scribed prior to that date. 
 
 STEPHEN A. CHASE, Treasurer. 
 
 The last card suggests the following incident from 
 Biblical history: 
 
 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring 
 much more than enough for the service of the work, which
 
 96 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 the Lord commanded to make. And Moses gave command- 
 ment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the 
 camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more 
 work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were 
 restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was suffi- 
 cient for all the work to make it, and too much. 
 
 Exodus xxxvi. 5-7*
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 LET us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Feat 
 God, and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty 
 Of man. Ecclesiastes xii. 13. 
 
 TO human and material sense, and according 
 to the evidence cognizable thereby, man 
 is wholly material, with but a vague perception, if 
 any at all, of Spirit and spiritual law. The aim of 
 Christian Science is to show mortals the way out of 
 this false, and therefore unreal, condition. Sci- 
 ence must control every human experience, until all 
 is brought into complete subjection to Spirit. 
 
 Mortals allow this control, and yield to God's gov- 
 ernment, only as they are driven to distrust and doubt 
 the evidence of the material senses, thus becoming 
 willing to abandon those senses, and accept and 
 adopt the evidence of Spirit. This usually comes 
 through suffering. First, we allow Christian Sci- 
 
 97
 
 98 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 ence to heal us of physical pain; then, when we 
 have learned something of its teachings, our old 
 theology begins to disappear. As false theories 
 about God and man are dispelled through under- 
 standing what God is, and man's relation to Him, 
 we begin to see the true nature of sin, and how to 
 overcome its claims. 
 
 To say that we see this to be true, and accept it as 
 a theory, is not enough. It must be proven by dem- 
 onstration ; and this demonstration must be that which 
 will reach the human consciousness on the plane of 
 its own experiences.. If a man is in a pit a hundred 
 feet deep, a rope ninety feet long, though held above 
 by strong and loving hands, can be of no practical 
 benefit to him. This illustrates the impotence of 
 theories in regard to an unknown God and a far- 
 away Heaven, only to be obtained through death 
 and a personal Saviour. 
 
 So, in the history of the spiritualization of hu- 
 man consciousness, the thought of Church must be 
 discerned spiritually, and yet so manifested that
 
 CONCLUSION. 99 
 
 it can be recognized by mortals. Christian Science 
 has proven itself a healer of the sick, and now 
 it must show itself the destroyer of false theorems 
 and sin. 
 
 When the Children of Israel started for the prom- 
 ised land, no doubt they expected to have an easy 
 time, as soon as they had turned their backs on their 
 enemies; but in a very short time they found 
 themselves pursued by their foes, and further 
 progress cut off by barriers seemingly insurmount- 
 able. Moses, reflecting more of God than hia 
 countrymen, bade them, " Stand still, and see the 
 salvation of the Lord! " That is, they were to see a 
 demonstration of the power of Mind over matter, of 
 Truth over error. 
 
 In building the Mother Church, to stand as 
 a symbol of all the teachings of Christian Sci- 
 ence, and of all that Christianity implies, the 
 Directors found themselves in a position similar to 
 that of the Israelites, when behind them was 
 Pharaoh's army, and in front of them the Red 
 Sea.
 
 100 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 A great struggle was inevitable. Every ma- 
 terial help was withheld, until Divine Love was 
 sufficiently reflected to meet the opposing error in 
 all its various forms, and turn the scale on the side 
 of God and His government. The spirituality and 
 divinity of Christian Science is proven, when we 
 learn that it is opposed by all materiality. 
 
 A few thousand dollars were raised by great 
 human effort, and land on which to erect a building 
 purchased; but as the money was lost, and the 
 lot about to be sold under foreclosure of mortgage, 
 failure seemed inevitable. Yet this was not true. 
 The one chosen of God to lead mortals out of 
 this dream of sin and death was not forsaken, but 
 was shown the way to save the land by herself 
 paying the cost, thus bringing victory out of seeming 
 defeat. 
 
 Again, money was solicited from the students to 
 build a Church on this same lot, now in the 
 hands of trustees for this purpose. As soon as 
 enough money was received so that the work might
 
 CONCLUSION. 101 
 
 have been begun, a question arose which checked 
 further progress in this direction. Once more error 
 was defeated; the lot was deeded to another Board, 
 under new and wiser provisions, and the money re- 
 turned to a new Treasurer. 
 
 Then came the announcement that the building 
 should be finished in 1894, and the awful struggle 
 that is, awful to human sense began. Every 
 step must be demonstrated. Error was, or seemed to 
 be, in possession, and would only yield as Truth and 
 Love were manifested. Every law of matter seemed 
 opposed. There was lack of means, time was pass- 
 ing, and every human effort proved ineffective. 
 November came and found no roof on the build- 
 ing, the walls unfinished, and snow already on 
 the ground. There were even no suitable plans for 
 interior finish, and but two months in which to com- 
 plete work that all agreed would require at least 
 six. Yet these difficulties, so insurmountable to the 
 human sense, were as nothing when weighed in the 
 balance with the unchanging demand of Love, that 
 the work should be finished within the time specified.
 
 102 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 It might be asked in this case, as in that of the 
 Children of Israel: Did God plan that these innocent 
 and confiding people should come into such difficul- 
 ties, merely to show His power in leading them out? 
 This could never be true of divine Wisdom. 
 
 The truth is, that as mortals learn something of the 
 nature of evil, and make efforts to overcome it, 
 they are then met by its different forms, resisting the 
 demands of Good. Then evil shows its true nature, 
 by claiming to be something, when it is really noth- 
 ing. The building of this Church was to be t tri- 
 umph for Divine Love; and every material means 
 and human dependence must fail, for human sense 
 must " Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." 
 
 Nothing but the hand of Divine Wisdom could 
 have guided and upheld those entrusted with this 
 responsibility through such a trial of faith as thig 
 was. Neither could they have had this divine 
 assistance, but for the nearness to God of the 
 Mother in Israel, which gave her counsel to reflect 
 the one omnipotent Mind to those charged with thi* 
 great work for God and humanity.
 
 CONCLUSION. 103 
 
 It was a victory for Christian Science, a victory 
 in which every claim of error was met and over- 
 come. Something was accomplished which must 
 be accepted by mortals as a part of the world's 
 history. The fair and impartial accounts of the 
 Church, given by the press at the time of the Dedica- 
 tion, illustrate this point. Just as a large part of 
 mankind have accepted the lives of Jesus and his 
 Apostles as historic facts, however little this may 
 affect their own living, just as proofs of astro- 
 nomical facts, reversing the evidence of the senses, 
 are universally undenied, so the erection of this 
 Church is so great a demonstration of Christianity 
 and Science as to leave on the world's thought an 
 indelible mark, which must be given a place in its 
 history. 
 
 Only future ages can fully appreciate and under- 
 stand the mighty triumph of Good over evil, of 
 Spirit over matter, manifested in the circumstances 
 connected with the successful erection of this beauti- 
 ful building, as given in this historical sketch of the 
 Mother Church in Boston.
 
 THE FINANCIAL QUESTION IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 
 
 FROM my earliest recollection when reading the 
 Bible stories of the Patriarchs, their success in 
 accumulating an abundance of this world's goods was 
 a source of wonder and speculation as to the reason 
 of their being thus specially favored. Since gaining 
 some knowledge of Christian Science, I have learned 
 that it was not because they were specially favored by 
 a personal God, but because of their better acquaint- 
 ance with and consciousness of true relationship to 
 the one true God. This was beautifully illustrated 
 in the incident recorded when Elisha fed the vast 
 number of people with the barley loaves and full ears 
 of corn, and all did eat and much remained thereof 
 (II. Kings iv. 42, 43). 
 
 In metaphysics we learn that the human mind is 
 an idolater, attributing all cause and effect and all 
 law to matter, thus enthroning matter as God, and 
 
 seeming to expect thereby to shirk all responsibility 
 
 104
 
 THE FINANCIAL QUESTION. 105 
 
 for its own falsity. The human mind claims these 
 laws of matter can cause man to be sick and die. It 
 has made money to be the standard and to de- 
 termine the value of all things. Paul says, " the love 
 of money is the root of all evil" (I. Tim. vi. 10), 
 meaning thereby that one who accepts this standard 
 of values partakes of the very essence of mortal 
 mind delusion. 
 
 It is often said of Jesus that he was poor so far 
 as material goods were concerned. But was this true ? 
 He said of himself, " Foxes have holes, and birds of the 
 air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay 
 his head" (Lu. ix. 58). No doubt Jesus saw that 
 that sensuous age in which he lived would not receive 
 his teachings. Even those he selected as students 
 were not ready to receive all of his teachings. He 
 said, " I have yet many things to say unto you, but 
 ye cannot bear them now " (John xvi. 12). And 
 for this reason he could impart his knowledge of God 
 to but a few humble followers. The final establish- 
 ment of his teaching must come at a later period 
 when the world would be more ready to receive it.
 
 106 THE MOTHER CHURCH. 
 
 Although he recognized the inability of his students 
 to receive all of his teachings, he knew the time was 
 coming when they would be received and understood ; 
 hence he promised the Comforter that should lead into 
 all truth. This seems to me a reasonable explanation 
 of why our beloved Master went about " preaching the 
 gospel, and healing the sick" (Lu. ix. 6), rather 
 than establishing himself in a local habitation. But 
 we cannot believe this Man of God who wore the 
 beautiful seamless garment, unto whom many wealthy 
 people freely gave of their substance out of gratitude 
 for the healing he had done for them, ever really lacked 
 the material needs and comforts ; to say nothing of 
 his ability to feed the multitudes as recorded of him 
 (Matt. xiv. 17-20). 
 
 In Christian Science we learn that Spirit is substance 
 and alone has value, or can give value. We reflect this 
 value in proportion as we understand and reflect Spirit. 
 We are enabled to rob matter of its claims of power 
 and to see and handle it as a mere belief or delusion. 
 This is what I understand is meant by establishing 
 the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
 
 THE FINANCIAL QUESTION. 107 
 
 When the writer first became interested in Christian 
 Science he lost all interest in business the object of 
 which was money making. He did not understand 
 the reason for this at that time, but subsequent ex- 
 perience and his growth in Christian Science has 
 taught him that the only real value is Spirit God; 
 that when we reflect the true substance in our daily 
 lives, our daily needs both temporal and spiritual will 
 be bountifully supplied. Christian Science is this 
 Comforter and has come through the revelations of 
 our beloved Leader, Mary Baker G. Eddy. 
 
 This chapter is written, not for those Scientists 
 who have learned by their own experience and growth 
 in Christian Science how to meet this question, but 
 with a hope that it may help those who must come face 
 to face with this problem of finance which has caused 
 young students so many bitter struggles. 
 
 Written, December 1, 1907.
 
 THE EXTENSION.

 
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