IN the chapter entitled Fruitage in the Christian Science text book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," may be found a testimony of the healing in 1887 of a Fort Worth resident, while on a visit to Chicago. The return home with the story of this wonderful healing simply by reading the text book, marks the beginning of Christian Science in Fort Worth.
After a time, two or three others, who had also been healed, began to meet in a little millinery store on Houston street for the study of the Lesson Sermons. This was about the year 1892. Some healing work was done by this band of faithful students, and the meetings gradually increased both in numbers and interest. The little store soon proving too small, a hall, on Rusk, between 3d and 4th streets, was rented, and an organ procured. At this time about eighteen or twenty persons were attending the Sunday services. A more central location being desired, rooms were rented, in December, 1895, in the Board of Trade Building, corner of 7th and Houston streets. On March 7, 1897, the little body of adherents incorporated as First Church of Christ, Scientist, Fort Worth, Texas. By this time the Sunday school had been organized, with an attendance of from twelve to fourteen pupils.
In the year 1901, a lot on the "South Side" was donated, and a building was erected thereon in which services were held for some years. In the course of time, as the attendance upon the services gradually increased and the membership of the church was drawn from all parts of the city, a move to a more central location was found to be imperative. Accordingly, in the year 1905, a corner lot, 100 by 144 feet, located on Lamar and 4th streets, with a substantial residence thereon, was purchased for the sum of eighty five hundred dollars. Some of the partitions in the residence were removed in order to secure a room large enough for the services; and a reading room was also established in the building. At the end of three years the remaining partitions in the building were removed, which provided a seating capacity of about three hundred. For the past year this auditorium has been taxed to its fullest capacity.
