DEDICATION AT CANON CITY, COL

From the Canon City Times we extract the following interesting account of the dedication of what this paper calls "the pretty chapel" of First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Canon City, Col. In addition to the account in the Times we also publish, in its order, the interesting address of Mrs. Minnie Shaffer Avery, Second Reader of the church. We congratulate our brethren of Canon City, Col., upon this happy and successful event.

The Times says:—

The Christian Science chapel which has just been completed by First Church of Christ, Scientist, on Main Street, near Ninth, was dedicated Sunday, August II. The edifice is of Grecian design, and is built of brick with a white brick front with a large porch supported by white pillars. The size of the building is 42x54½. In the front part are two rooms 12x12, one for storing books and chairs, and the other for a reading room. The auditorium is 32x40 and will seat two hundred and fifty persons. The walls are almost white, with a border of oak leaves and acorns. The windows are of stained glass. The circular window on the south is by the celebrated artist, Henry Read, and is entirely a Colorado product. A Denver artist who saw this window, says that from an artistic standpoint, it has no superior in Denver. The pulpit and its furnishings are white and gilt. Charles Heyle, a member of the church, and one of the trustees, was the architect, and superintended the building.

The first contract was let April 7, since which time the work has been rapidly pushed.

The chapel was beautifully decorated for the dedicatory exercises with a profusion of flowers and smilax. The programme opened with a violin obligato by Miss Bertha Schmitz of Denver, followed by congregational singing. A portion of Scripture was read, next silent prayer and the Lord's Prayer. Miss Amy Ragsdale rendered an appropriate solo, "Love watches over all."

Frank P. Smith, for the trustees, formally turned over to the church the building, stating that all bills had been paid and that there were funds on hand to meet all further requirements. The cost of the building has been about $4,500.

Following was the address of dedication by Mr. H. D. Avery.

"With our hearts full of love and gratitude for this manifestation of God's Love, we extend to all a most hearty welcome to this, our first service in our own home. Your presence adds much to the joy of this occasion.

Our God of Love is, and teaches his children to be, no respecter of persons. We want to reflect the same love and we believe in giving to all the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.

The desire for religious liberty imbued our Pilgrim Fathers with courage which enabled them to break away from old established customs, and guided them safely to the shores of our blessed land. The thought of freedom has steadily enlarged, and because it has the highest sense of freedom, ours is the greatest nation on earth to-day.

Through the unfolding of truth, revealed by the teachings of Christian Science, we see for the first time it is not God's will that we should be sick and suffer; and this knowledge once gained, every man, woman, and child can assert their God-given rights and proclaim to the world that man, made in His, God's, image and likeness, has power and strength to dispel the illusion of sin, and assert his freedom in the name of Almighty God.

An understanding of our relation to Him restores harmony and is the only emancipator of the whole world from sin, sickness, and death.

We are startled at the great changes wrought by the power of Mind over matter—a brief but good definition of Christian Science. No one ever tried more faithfully than I to gain health by material means, nor gave materia medica a fairer chance to prove wherein it was a demonstrable science. Every condition seemed most favorable with the best care and attention by a boy's best friend, his mother. If a mother's love could have restored me to health, I should have been spared years of suffering and experimenting with climate and drugs. Nothing could cause me to forget that mother's love which I feel we seldom appreciate, and in return for which we often do so little.

Now, dear friends, would you condemn me, or any Christian Scientist, whose heart goes out in love and gratitude to our Leader who, through years of toil and struggle the world can never know, made it possible for me, and all who will, to be healed? Christian Science is "the stone which the builders rejected." Do you know the hidden treasures of our famous gold camps of Leadville and Cripple Creek were prospected over for rears, and their prospects as mining sections pronounced by expects as worthless?

Dear friends, so it is with Truth. Jesus taught and lived it—the power of God's love to heal and save—but the healing was lost sight of three centuries later when Constantine united Church and State.

It was again revealed to suffering humanity and demonstrated to this age by one who had so reached the heights of spiritual perception as to discern her true relation to God, and at a time when all other means failed, arose from her supposed death-bed to proclaim to the world that the healing Christ had never left us. Mary Baker Eddy then withdrew from society about three years, and made a close study of the Scriptures only, in her own words, "to find the Science of Mind, that should take the things of God and show them to the creature, and reveal the great curative principle,— Deity" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 39). During this time, she laid the foundation of her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which was published in the year 1875. It is now in its 214th edition of one thousand copies each.

A few years ago the teachings of Christian Science were investigated by so few it was little understood, but the false impressions are disappearing through the true understanding which is being intelligently presented by those best fitted for that purpose. The lectures given by the Board of Lectureship all over our land and in foreign countries, are meeting with large, eager crowds of earnest seeker for Truth.

A million voices now sing its praises, churches are being built rapidly, and thousands are being reclaimed from hopeless invalidism to healthy, useful men and women.

In our grand State of Colorado, where we are so blessed with delightful climate and so many natural advantages, where we can look out and behold scenery unsurpassed for grandeur and beauty, where we can behold the grand towering mountains which cause us to pause and contemplate the vastness of nature, where we can drink in the cool, refreshing mountain breezes; where the earth seems laden with an inexhaustible supply of minerals; where fruits of all kinds grow in such abundance; if material conditions could heal, we should be a most happy and healthy people. But as we look out, we see sorrow, suffering, sin. and death on every side. Surely we need Christian Science in Colorado.

May this Church be a refuge for the weary and heavy laden, and may all who come, find within it health and "the peace of God that passeth all understanding."

For this cause, we dedicate this, our Christian Science chapel, to the ever-present God.

Letters of congratulation were read from Montrose and New Castle, and there were also messages from Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

A hymn, responsive readings, and the benediction closed the service.

The attendance was large and many could not gain admittance. Forty were here from Victor, thirty from Florence, besides others from Denver, Pueblo, and other places, and the services were repeated in the evening for the benefit of those who could not attend the morning exercises.

Address of Mrs. Minnie Shaffer Avery.

At this glad time, a brief history of the work in Canon City may prove of interest.

Fifteen years ago, the glad tidings of the gospel of health reached the ears and hearts of a few of our citizens. Some hopeless invalids were restored to health, and usefulness. and from this, a little band of earnest seekers for Truth met in the different homes for the study of the Bible and the book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy. Ere long, a room was given for this purpose in what is now the Postoffice Block, and regular Sunday and mid-week meetings were held.

In 1894, when meetings were being held at 422 Main Street, fifteen members organized First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Canon City, Col. After our Methodist brethren moved into their beautiful new home, we held our services in their old church for a year and a half.

We had already purchased our lot and had plans for a church building, but no definite action was taken. Last March the old M. E. Church was torn down for the erection of a fine business block, and we were compelled to go into an undesirable hall. Even this, we could use only on Sundays, and our Wednesday evening meetings were held at a private house.

We at once decided to build us a chapel which would be sufficient for our present needs. Our Trustees, one of whom was the architect and superintendent, began work at once with the understanding that the contracts would be let only as sufficient money came in. The work went on very rapidly and never once was it stopped for lack of funds.

And to-day, our chapel is dedicated free from debt and we have not asked help outside of our congregation, although toward the last, help came in from many quarters with the assurance that it was a happy privilege to acknowledge in a material way the blessings received. We have found the Bible promise, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, . . . and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Much credit and praise is due to our Board of Trustees for their faithful, conscientious work. The dear children of the Sunday School have cheerily and with a sweet spirit of sacrifice contributed liberally, and they have the credit of furnishing our cozy reading room besides aiding the general fund.

Though we are very happy in our new home, let us remember that the material structure is but the symbol of our building in Mind. Let us here give the definition of church from our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker G. Eddy:—

"Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.

"The Church is that institution which affords proof of its "utility, and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs, to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of Divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."

The church in all ages has elevated the race, but the Church of Christ, Scientist, seeks the undivided garment of Christ's teaching. In the same verse with Jesus' command to "Preach the Gospel," is "Heal the Sick;" and his own words were, "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." "To, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

Christian Science has entered many a home in our little city and given hope, health, and happiness where fear and disease had brought discouragement, grief, and sorrow. Many also who have come here and failed to find the promised relief in our beautiful climate have turned as a last resort to Christian Science. In it they found health and strength, and returned to their homes. These would increase our membership, but our loss is another's gain, and they are laboring to show their fellow-men that primitive Christianity is at our doors.

Is a sick man a good Christian? Christ-like? A sick man's body is his idol. He is afraid to take it out in the rain or the bright sunshine, afraid to get its feet wet, afraid to feed it and afraid not to feed it. In short, it is his master, not his servant. How, then, can he work for God when his body takes all his time and thoughts? Surely Christian healing is very necessary to enable mortals to do Christian work.

But the physical healing of Christian Science is the least part. Our Leader tells us in "Rudimental Divine Science" it is but "the bugle call to thought and action in the higher range of infinite goodness." It is a religion that destroys false appetites, evil passions and motives, self-seeking, and impurity, makes more Christ-like men and women, chastens the affections and satisfies the heart.

One of the tenets of our church is, "We solemnly promise to strive, watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, to love one another, and to be meek, merciful, just, and pure" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 493).

May no unholy thought ever find an abiding place in our little chapel, and may the Presence and Power of God's Love, which fills it, inspire each heart and consecrate each life to God's service.

We can all do more than we have done,
And not be a whit the worse;
It never was loving that emptied the heart,
Nor giving that emptied the purse.

Selected.