The sermon prepared for the occasion by Mrs. Eddy, which was looked forward to as the chief feature of the dedication, was then read by Mrs. Bemis.  Mrs. Eddy remained at her home in Concord, N.H., during the day, because, as heretofore stated in The Herald, it is her custom to discourage among her followers that sort of personal worship which religious teachers so often receive.

Before presenting the sermon, Mrs. Bemis read the following letter from a former pastor of the church:—­

    “To Rev. Mary Baker Eddy.

“Dear Teacher, Leader, Guide:—­’Laus Deo, it is done!’ At last you begin to see the fruition of that you have worked, toiled, prayed for.  The ‘prayer in stone’ is accomplished.  Across two thousand miles of space, as mortal sense puts it, I send my hearty congratulations.  You are fully occupied, but I thought you would willingly pause for an instant to receive this brief message of congratulation.  Surely it marks an era in the blessed onward work of Christian Science.  It is a most auspicious hour in your eventful career.  While we all rejoice, yet the mother in Israel, alone of us all, comprehends its full significance.

    “Yours lovingly,

    “LANSON P. NORCROSS.”

* * * * *

[Boston Sunday Globe, January 6, 1895]

[Extract]

    STATELY HOME FOR BELIEVERS IN GOSPEL HEALING—­A WOMAN OF
    WEALTH WHO DEVOTES ALL TO HER CHURCH WORK

Christian Science has shown its power over its students, as they are called, by building a church by voluntary contributions, the first of its kind; a church which will be dedicated to-day with a quarter of a million dollars expended and free of debt.

The money has flowed in from all parts of the United States and Canada without any special appeal, and it kept coming until the custodian of funds cried “enough” and refused to accept any further checks by mail or otherwise.  Men, women, and children lent a helping hand, some giving a mite and some substantial sums.  Sacrifices were made in many an instance which will never be known in this world.

Christian Scientists not only say that they can effect cures of disease and erect churches, but add that they can get their buildings finished on time, even when the feat seems impossible to mortal senses.  Read the following, from a publication of the new denomination:—­

“One of the grandest and most helpful features of this glorious consummation is this:  that one month before the close of the year every evidence of material sense declared that the church’s completion within the year 1894 transcended human possibility.  The predictions of workman and onlooker alike were that it could not be completed before April or May of 1895.  Much was the ridicule heaped upon the hopeful, trustful ones, who declared and repeatedly asseverated to the contrary.  This is indeed, then, a scientific demonstration.  It has proved, in most striking manner, the oft-repeated declarations of our textbooks, that the evidence of the mortal senses is unreliable.”