THE first Christian Science meetings in Berkeley were held in August, 1897, when eleven, resident Scientists, two of whom were practitioners, and a loyal student of Mrs. Eddy's from a near-by city (Oakland), met at a private house on Durant avenue. It was then decided to hold weekly afternoon meetings until such time as it should seem wise to organize a church. These meetings were continued until February, 1905, when twenty-nine members from First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oakland, and two who had been attending in San Francisco, united in taking the necessary steps prescribed by The Mother Church Manual to form a branch church.
A reading-room, which was established in the First National Bank Building, flourished from the beginning, so that soon a second room had to be secured. (The present attendance and sales are so great that it is planned to enlarge these quarters soon.) The little church has had many demonstrations of supply, one being a generous gift from a sister church to help in furnishing the reading-room. It also responded to calls for contributions from The Mother Church and cooperated with other branch churches in their building funds, and later in the publication and distribution committees.
The earlier meetings were held in halls, and just prior to the earthquake in 1906, the church was holding services in Native Sons Hall. This being rather a noisy place, a committee was appointed to look up another location. After the earthquake it was found that Native Sons Hall could not be used, but as Wilkins Hall had already been arranged for there was no lack of a place to meet. The promise, "Before they call, I will answer," was verified.
