In response to many requests we herewith publish the remarks of the First Reader of the Mother Church, delivered at the Communion service held on the first Sunday in January, 1898, as the same were preserved by stenographic notes. One of the marvels of modern genius is the art which enables the listener, trained therein, to take down almost verbatim the words coming from the lips of the speaker, who himself, immediately after the utterance of the words, often would not be able to reproduce them.
At the semi-annual meeting of the First Members of this Church six months ago, there were admitted into church membership about fourteen hundred applicants. At this semi-annual meeting, upwards of twenty-three hundred have been admitted, making almost four thousand new members of this Church within the year. What does this mean? What significance has it for the cause of Christian Science? What significance has it for the cause of Christianity? What significance has it for the world? These are questions well worthy the consideration of all good people. If those twenty-three hundred applicants, coming as they do from all parts of this country and other countries, had met here in Boston and formed themselves in military array and marched through the streets, methinks it would have been regarded as a very respectable army in size and in its make-up, and would have made an impression, even upon this city of frequent processions. Now, is all this evidence of a great religious movement a mistake? Is it founded in error? Or does it portend to the world what its adherents believe as firmly and as truly as they believe in God and their own existence, that it is the second coming of Christ?
The favorite text of our beloved Mother and Leader should also be our favorite text, and it shall be our text now.
