THE testimony meeting of the "students," or "Scientists," at the Christian Science Temple last evening included 250 persons. It may be that the genial light which radiates from this building is partly responsible for the large number that attends this mid-week service. Like the Hebrew congregations in this particular, this company of worshippers is fond of much light, and the church at night is always brilliant with circles and chandeliers of hundreds of incandescent lights. From the wide front doors this light streams out into Locust Street, making the whole corner bright, and at the sides of the church the amber-tinted windows shine like opals in their illumination. Nor is there any "best room" to this church, to be used only on Sundays. The auditorium, with its softly carpeted floor and its artistic frescoing, is open for any day in the week; and from the interest shown in the meetings, it is probable that a smaller room would generally prove insufficient. A few strangers were in the congregation last evening, but the majority were persons who believed that they had tested Christian Science. The devout, thoughtful spirit of the congregation was the most striking element of the service. This was especially manifest in the "silent prayer" of about six minutes, which preceded the testimony. There was not a whisper or a footfall, or even a cough, to break the silence.
The First Reader, Mr. A. P. DeCamp, who is one of the two leaders of the congregation, conducted the meeting. The other leader is a woman, for in this body of Christians there is no question as to whether "women shall speak in the churches." Rev. Mary Baker Eddy is given a place beside St. Paul in placing of inscriptions on the church.
Mr. DeCamp read the eighth chapter of St. Matthew and a passage from Rev. Mary Baker Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In this passage Mrs. Eddy claimed that the nerves of the body are not the source of pain or pleasure, giving as proof instances of teeth which have ached, seemingly, after their extraction, and fingers which had itched or burned when the whole arm had already been amputated. This, she said, proved that sensation was in the human mind, not in matter; and the great mistake of mortals hitherto had been to suppose that man is made both of matter and Spirit, whereas he is only Spirit.
