The Annual Meeting of the members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was held in The Mother Church edifice on Tuesday afternoon, June 13.
The auditorium was filled, and the meeting was opened by devotional exercises, led by the retiring president, Mr. Alfred Farlow.
The Secretary announced that a message (which appears on page 255) had been received from Mrs. Eddy, and the following telegram was presented by Mr. Edward A. Kimball, unanimously approved, and forwarded her in reply:—
Boston, June 13, 1905.
Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy,
Pleasant View, Concord, N. H.
Beloved Leader:— We acknowledge with rejoicing the receipt of your message, which again gives assurance of your watchful care and guidance in our behalf, and of your loving solicitude for the welfare of the nations and the peaceful tranquillity of the race. We rejoice also in this new reminder from you that all the things that make for the establishment of a universal, loving brotherhood on earth may be accomplished through the righteous prayer which availeth much.
The next item of business was the announcement of the officers of the Church for the ensuing year, as follows President, Prof. Hermann S. Hering; Clerk, William B. Johnson; Treasurer, Stephen A. Chase; First Reader, William D. McCrackan; Second Reader, Mrs. Laura Carey Conant.
Professor Hering was then called to the chair and briefly addressed the meeting. He said in part,—
"Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, through her discovery, her teaching, and her leadership, has made it possible for ideal conditions to be manifested on earth,— perfection in every direction, in all the departments of human life, in all the faculties and activities of man. Jesus' command, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," is now possible of fulfilment, —not suddenly, but in proportion to our fidelity to Truth and our spiritual growth. Therefore, whatever good we may accomplish along this line of endeavor, whatever achievements we may make through the application of this teaching, whether it be secular or religious work, whatever success we may attain in approaching this ideal, even if we actually attain the ideal, we are only doing what Mrs. Eddy has already outlined and made possible for us, —only reaching the standard her teachings have set for us."
The following address to our Leader was then presented by Mr. McKenzie, and having been approved by a unanimous vote, it was sent to her by telegraph.
Boston, June 13, 1905.
To the Reverend Mary Baker G. Eddy.
Pleasant View, Concord, N. H.
Beloved Teacher and Leader:— The members of your Church, The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in annual business meeting assembled, send their loyal and loving greetings to you, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and author of its text-book. At this stage in the progress of our Cause, we return heartfelt thanks to Almighty God, and rejoice with you not only in the numerical increase of its adherents, but in the great change in the world's thought regarding it, shown during the past year in the disappearance of much prejudice and intolerance before an advancing perception of the wholesome and redemptive effects of Christian Science.
We rejoice greatly that the walls of our new edifice are rising, not only to faith but also to sight; that this temple which represents the worship of Spirit, with its inseparable accompaniment —the Christ-healing— is being built in our day; and that we should have the privilege of participating in the work of its erection. As the stately structure grows, and stone is laid upon stone, those who pass by are impelled to ask, What means this edifice? and they learn that the truth which Christ Jesus revealed —the truth which makes free— is to-day being proven and is ready to heal all who accept its divine ministry. We congratulate you that the building is to express in its ample auditorium something of the vastness of the truth it represents, and also to symbolize your unmeasured love for humanity, which inspires you to welcome all mankind to the privileges of this healing and saving gospel. As the walls are builded by the prayers and offerings of the thousands who have been healed through Christian Science, we know that you rejoice in the unity of thought and purpose which is thus expressed, showing that The Mother Church "fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord."
We know how intently you long for the welfare and peace of the world, and for the time when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." The deep peace which has come to us in Christian Science we regard as a promise and prophecy of the universal peace which will bless all men when this Science, which you have discovered and your life has exemplified, gains universal acceptance. We rejoice that the value to humanity of your work— its contributions to science and philosophy, and above all to religion —is being recognized and appreciated more and more by thinkers of all classes.
We desire to assure you of our ever-deepening sense of confidence in your leadership, a confidence which rests upon the proofs you have given us that in all your labor as our Leader you are divinely guided. We are thankful that with greater spiritual growth we are better able to understand what you characterize as the spirit of your life-purpose; namely, "to impress humanity with the genuine recognition of practical, operative Christian Science." That we may faithfully and adequately sustain you in the carrying forward of this purpose, is our sincere prayer.
The following reports were then called for and read:—
The Clerk's Report.
Beloved Brethren:— A brief retrospection of the history of The Mother Church since its Annual Meeting in 1893 is of startling interest, and an inspiration for the continuance and the earnestness of steps taken in Christly paths. The strength of numbers, whose thoughts blend together in loving activity, is always a source of encouragement; but because our number is already large and constantly increasing, the members of this Church should not become dormant in their work, but should be actuated to labor more faithfully and to pray more devoutly for a deeper consecration and a higher demonstration of Christian Science.
The membership of The Mother Church at its first Annual Meeting in 1893 was 1,512; the membership to-day is 34,063, of which number 3,628 were admitted during the past year. Reports from 625 branch churches give them a membership of 38,216, which is a gain of 11.04 P cent during the past year.
As children that go from one stage to another of advancement, and each year reach higher problems to surmount, so we, as students and demonstrators of what we profess, have problems constantly disclosing themselves to tax our energy, demand our effort, test our sincerity, and prove our love for our work. The problems of Christian Science are so lofty and far-reaching in their scope for the betterment of mankind, that their full purpose may not be perceived by the student while he is endeavoring to prove partially the rule that solves them.
The achievements already attained by tin's Church have done inestimable good through lessening humanity's weight of woe. By dispelling gloom, dissipating fears, dissolving mental darkness, and breaking the bondage imposed by erroneous beliefs of sin, sickness, and death, they have given liberty, light, health, and happiness.
That Christian Science obeys the commands of the Master is obvious, when the testimony from nearly every part of the world, given by those who have been healed of disease and those who have been redeemd from sin, utters this great fact in the language of the Psalmist, "O come, let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. For he is our God: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."
In the year 1902 our Leader saw the need of a larger edifice for the home of The Mother Church, one that would accommodate the constantly increasing attendance at all the services, and the large gatherings at the Annual Meeting; and, at the Annual Meeting in June, 1902, a sum of money adequate to erect such a building was pledged. Christian Scientists have contributed already for this grand and noble purpose, but let us not be unconsciously blind to the further needs of the Building Fund, in order to complete this great work, nor wait to be urged, or to be shown the absolute necessity of giving.
Since 1866, almost forty years ago, —almost forty years in the wilderness, —our beloved Leader and Teacher, Mrs. Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, has labored for the regeneration of mankind, and time has put its seal of affirmation upon every purpose she has set in motion, and the justification of her labors is the fruit. In these years of work she has shown wisdom, faith, and spiritual discernment of the needs of the present, and of the future, that are nothing less than God-bestowed.
At the earnest request of our Leader, and with the money that she gave to make up the requisite fund therefor, the present church edifice was erected in 1894. Many pages of the history of this church are dramatic in their suggestions, but through all the enveloping hindrances there can plainly be discerned the directing hand of God. Guided by His hand, our Leader led the way, and encouraged her workers by word, deed, and prayer, and by her daily example of faith, hope, and courage.
The erection of The Mother Church was carried out under her direction. Hers was the vision that saw beyond the present moment, and her great purpose was borne to a conclusion so triumphant that a most memorable epoch was made in the history of Christian Science.
In the history of every nation there have been periods, both in the political and the religious life of the people, in which some great and lasting benefit has been promulgated, of the scope and magnitude of which the multitude had but little realization, for the very greatness of the good was too much, for their vision. Not until years had passed did this epoch-making event obtain its proper perspective, and not until then was it possible for the beneficiaries to feel and to appreciate what the genius of a fearless and prophetic person had done for them.
In years to come the moral and the physical effects produced by The Mother Church, and by the advanced position taken by our Pastor Emeritus and Leader, will appear in their proper perspective. Therefore is it not the duty of all who have touched the healing hem of Christian Science, to get immediately into the proper perspective of the meaning of the erection of the new edifice of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston?
It is not necessary for us to delay our contributions in order to find out how much our neighbor has given, or to compute by the total membership of The Mother Church what amount each shall send the Treasurer. The divine Love that prompted the desire, and supplied the means to consummate the erection of the present edifice in 1894, is still with us, and will bless us so long as we follow His commands.
For nineteen hundred years Christendom has sought for a revival of the revelation of the Word of God; sought for one who, following Christ's command, "The works that I do shall he do also," should deliver mortals from the torturing pangs of evil, disease, and death.
The manifestations of the faithful practice of Christian Science teachings prove, beyond mere assumption or contravention, that Christian Science is the Science of Christ's teachings, and that Mrs. Eddy is the Revelator.
As followers of Christ in word and deed, we are naturally grateful to the Revelator of Christian Science, who has shown us that the marvelous works of the Master violated no law, and were in absolute accordance with the law of God. Her revelation has brought to us health, happiness, holiness, and the meaning of the true brotherhood in Christ so that today we realize to a glorious degree the meaning of the words of the Apostle:—
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we. know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
THE TREASURER'S REPORT.
General Fund: Amount on hand June i, 1905, $92,187.52; expenditures June 1, 1904, to May 31, 1905, $118,865.25; included in the expenditures is the sum of $58,403.17 invested in real estate.
Building Fund: Amount on hand June 1. 1905, $303,189.41; expenditures June 1, 1904, to May 31, 1905, $388,663.15; total receipts June 19, 1902, to June 1, 1905, $891,460.49.
Amount necessary to complete the sum of $2,000,000 pledged at the Annual Meeting, 1902, $1,108,539.51.
A number of telegrams and letters were then read, bearing loving greetings and giving expression to loyal and very practical devotion to the work of completing the building for The Mother Church. On motion, a vote of hearty thanks and reciprocation of love and good-will to all, was unanimously passed.
A vote of appreciation of the faithful labors of the Christian Science Board of Directors was passed, and the meeting closed with a sense of gratitude and love abiding in all hearts.
