GROWTH of the Christian Science cause in Richmond dates from the month of May, 1887, when a student of Mrs. Eddy came to reside in this city that the gospel of this new-old truth might be made known here and the sick healed. People soon began to gather at the student's home, hoping to find in this teaching the answer to Pilate's question, "What is truth?" and the answer was made manifest in many cases of healing. The healing work developed a desire for class instruction, and several classes were taught.
For some time these earnest seekers met each Sunday at a private residence, striving to learn something of this spiritual teaching of the Bible through study of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." They first called themselves a Sunday school, and later a Bible class; but as time went on the little group began to feel the need of services of a more public character. Accordingly a room at 713½ Main Street was rented, and a dispensary also was opened at this same address. On Jan. 10, 1896, these faithful ones organized under the name of "Church of Christ, Scientist." Lovingly and gratefully they pressed on to give to others, through every avenue, the spiritual understanding which had healed and uplifted them. In the year 1898 the first lecture was given, with a goodly number in attendance.
It is recorded that the present official title was adopted on Dec. 20, 1900. The church then obtained two small rooms on the fourth floor of Masonic Temple, where it quickly became evident that interest was increasing, for they soon had to remove to more commodious quarters in the Pythian Temple to accommodate the growing attendance. The Sunday school correspondingly increased, and much loving effort was given in this line of the work. After a time another change was made, this time to the Commercial Club rooms on the second floor of Masonic Temple. Many trials and obstacles have presented themselves, but when an understanding of the Principle and rule of Christian Science was applied, these seeming difficulties were turned into blessings, and placed the church upon a higher plane of apprehension of divine Principle. A need was made apparent for incorporation under state laws, and at a meeting held Dec. 21, 1908, the members decided to dissolve and again organize. These articles of incorporation were obtained Jan. 19, 1909.
