"Guided by the pillar and the cloud, this little church . . . shall abide steadfastly in the faith of Jesus' words: 'Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 149). This loving message, written by Mrs. Eddy to the Oconto (Wis.) church, which built the "first temple for Christian Science worship," has lost none of its significance because of the lapse of years, but is laden with glorious promise for the organization which in this community "affords proof of its utility . . . in the demonstration of divine Science" (Science and Health, p. 583). Few and faithful were the followers of Truth in the early history of this locality; but for their spirit of untiring faithfulness under adverse circumstances and their practical application of the truth in the healing of sickness and the destruction of sin, the history of Christian Science in the city of Spokane would be of little interest.
The inauguration of Christian Science services in Spokane began late in the eighties, and since that time there has been no diminution of interest. In the fall of 1889 a number of students began to meet regularly each Sunday in a dwelling at the corner of Division street and Main avenue. The pioneer work consisted of regular weekly gatherings in the homes of those interested, of the two or three assembled in Christ's name for mutual encouragement and enlightenment through the study of the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. At these services sermons were sometimes read which had previously been delivered by Christian Science pastors of other localities, it being a custom in those days to print these sermons and distribute them for use in the smaller gatherings. Because of the healing activities operative at this time, there were such additions to the number attending the weekly services that it became necessary to have an established place of meeting. During the succeeding ten years audience rooms were occupied in the Lindelle block (1890), the Granite block (1891), the Review building (1893), the Spokane hotel (1894), and the Auditorium building (1896-1899). The Jewish temple was used as a place of worship from September, 1899, to October, 1902. After a few months during the winter of 1902-1903 in the Unitarian church, a return was made to the Jewish temple, where services were continued until the edifice now occupied at the corner of Fourth and Post was ready for use.
Church organization was completed in November, 1896, twenty persons participating. Two years later the membership incorporated under the state laws as First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Spokane, Washington. A Sunday school was organized in the Granite block in 1891. The first Christian Science lecture delivered in Spokane was given in the Auditorium theater in 1897. Sunday evening services were inaugurated in February, 1899. Lots at the corner of Post street and Fourth avenue were purchased in October, 1902; a building committee was formed in April, 1904, and on the fifth day of May, 1904, active work on the church building was begun. The first day of September saw the stone foundation finished and the first brick of the superstructure laid. On the following Sunday a happy and grateful people assembled for worship in the basement of the new church home, while sun and breeze entered through innumerable openings in the temporary roof. In a historical sketch read at the time of dedication it is recorded that "early one morning in October (Oct. 1, 1904), when the sun cast its first rays above the horizon, in the presence of a few members the corner-stone was laid with a simple and impressive service, and on leaving the building the inscription on the stone: 'He sent his word and healed them,' shone in the sunlight, speaking wondrous things." The church edifice, which had cost something in excess of thirty-five thousand dollars, was completed and ready for occupancy in November, 1905, and was dedicated March 28, 1909. Later a pipe-organ, costing over five thousand dollars, was installed, and this obligation has also been canceled.
