On a June morning in the year 1906, at the early hour of five-thirty, there were gathered before The Mother Church in Boston vast numbers of people waiting for the doors to open for the first service of the day. The streets for many blocks around seemed to be flowing with streams of people, all bent in the direction of The Mother Church,—a picture reminding one of these words by Isaiah: "It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established... and all nations shall flow unto it." It was the occasion of the dedication of the extension of The Mother Church. As the doors opened, the crowds quickly but silently pressed forward, filling the great auditorium to its utmost capacity. A deep sense of peace and joy permeated the silence of the half hour before the service began. People from all over the world constituted the attendance at the six services of the day, and many healings were reported as having taken place.
Now, what had brought about this great achievement; and what had brought forth these vast numbers of people? Even a mighty impulsion of good,—the spirit of Love, which works to heal and save. Out of gratitude for what Christian Science had done for them, and because of their love for humanity, loyal, faithful students of Christian Science all over the world, under the inspired guidance of their revered Leader, had sacrificed and given of their best efforts to the building of this extension of The Mother Church. Mrs. Eddy said in her Message to The Mother Church at this dedication, "Methinks this church is the one edifice on earth which most prefigures selfabnegation, hope, faith; love catching a glimpse of glory" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 6). Thus, beautiful as was the structure, and wonderful as were the rejoicing throngs, they were only secondary to the great self-sacrifice and love that had poured from the hearts of the workers and contributors in its construction.
Such devotion proves that The Mother Church to-day stands on a rock, a beacon light to the stormtossed world, ready to answer its cry for more light, and to lead it on, so long as the membership of the church remains true to the ideals which first erected its outer structure, and continues to keep aflame the spirit of Love that gave it birth. Shall not we, then, to-day, with the same unselfed devotion, and in the desire to "carry on," do our part in unfolding the work so well begun? Though it is not ours to rear a material structure, it is ours to continue to maintain and perpetuate the holy purposes of The Mother Church and its activities.
