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[Montreal Daily Herald, Saturday, February 2, 1895]

[Extract]

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

SKETCH OF ITS ORIGIN AND GROWTH—­THE MONTREAL BRANCH

“If you would found a new faith, go to Boston,” has been said by a great American writer.  This is no idle word, but a fact borne out by circumstances.  Boston can fairly claim to be the hub of the logical universe, and an accurate census of the religious faiths which are to be found there to-day would probably show a greater number of them than even Max O’Rell’s famous enumeration of John Bull’s creeds.

Christian Science, or the Principle of divine healing, is one of those movements which seek to give expression to a higher spirituality.  Founded twenty-five years ago, it was still practically unknown a decade since, but to-day it numbers over a quarter of a million of believers, the majority of whom are in the United States, and is rapidly growing.  In Canada, also, there is a large number of members.  Toronto and Montreal have strong churches, comparatively, while in many towns and villages single believers or little knots of them are to be found.

It was exactly one hundred years from the date of the Declaration of Independence, when on July 4, 1876, the first Christian Scientist Association was organized by seven persons, of whom the foremost was Mrs. Eddy.  The church was founded in April, 1879, with twenty-six members, and a charter was obtained two months later.  Mrs. Eddy assumed the pastorship of the church during its early years, and in 1881 was ordained, being now known as the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy.

The Massachusetts Metaphysical College was founded by Mrs. Eddy in 1881, and here she taught the principles of the faith for nine years.  Students came to it in hundreds from all parts of the world, and many are now pastors or in practice.  The college was closed in 1889, as Mrs. Eddy felt it necessary for the interests of her religious work to retire from active contact with the world.  She now lives in a beautiful country residence in her native State.

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[The American, Baltimore, Md., January 14, 1895]

[Extract]

MRS. EDDY’S DISCIPLES

It is not generally known that a Christian Science congregation was organized in this city about a year ago.  It now holds regular services in the parlor of the residence of the pastor, at 1414 Linden Avenue.  The dedication in Boston last Sunday of the Christian Science church, called The Mother Church, which cost over two hundred thousand dollars, adds interest to the Baltimore organization.  There are many other church edifices in the United States owned by Christian Scientists.  Christian Science was founded by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy.  The Baltimore congregation was organized at a meeting held at the present location on February 27, 1894.