Standing in this pulpit, and speaking in this magnificent edifice, I cannot refrain from indulging in brief retrospect and reminiscence. The first service of this organization I ever attended was held in Chickering Hall. The congregation was then small, a mere handful as compared with the great congregations now assembling here. This was only a few years ago, early in 1893. Later the services were transferred to Copley Hall, and though the congregations were constantly increasing in size, the number was comparatively insignificant, as mere numbers go. Even although the numbers seemed only gradually to increase, it was found that the seating capacity of the original church edifice, at its completion, was wholly inadequate.
It was at once apparent that the one thousand seats provided should have been at least doubled. To meet the necessity two services were held each Sabbath, and on the occasion of our general Communion several services were held, each invariably filling to repletion the church auditorium. Time went on, and when at a great gathering in Mechanics Hall the assemblage pledged itself by a unanimous rising vote to contribute any part of two million dollars necessary for the erection of an extension to the first edifice, I must confess that I experienced a feeling of surprise, despite my inclination to place implicit confidence in everything pertaining to Christian Science. I could hardly conceive it possible that so large a sum could be raised within so short a time; and when in the December next preceding its completion I was told that it was the expectation to have the new building ready for occupancy for the Communion services in the following June, I must again confess that in order to believe this I had to walk by faith rather than by the sight of my material eyes.
But the evidence which my material sight would have had me accept was again proved to be untrue, and the great structure was completed within the prescribed time, notwithstanding the predictions of all outside our ranks that from five to seven years would be required to complete so large and massive a structure; and under ordinary circumstances I doubt not that this would have been true. More remarkable than this, however, was the fact that this edifice was completed and dedicated wholly free from debt, our faithful Treasurer having been put to the necessity this time, as he was at the completion of the original edifice, of sending out notice that no more money was needed. Yet during the time that all this was transpiring we frequently heard the hackneyed saying, "The days of miracles are past." Even yet we occasionally hear it said that they are no longer possible. We of course agree with our friends, that in the true sense the days of miracles are past, because under divine law, which acts uniformly, miracles do not occur.
