ntity of spiritual demand. This movement,
under the guise of Christian Science, and ingenuously calling out a closer
inquiry into Oriental philosophy, prefigures itself to us as one of the
most potent factors in the social evolution of the last quarter of the
nineteenth century. History shows the curious fact that the closing years
of every century are years of more intense life, manifested in unrest or in
aspiration, and scholars of special research, like Prof. Max Muller, assert
that the end of a cycle, as is the latter part of the present century, is
marked by peculiar intimations of man's immortal life.

The completion of the first Christian Science church erected in Boston
strikes a keynote of definite attention. This church is in the fashionable
Back Bay, between Commonwealth and Huntington Avenues. It is one of the
most beautiful, and is certainly the most unique structure in any city. The
First Church of Christ, Scientist, as it is officially called, is termed by
its Founder, "Our prayer in stone." It is located at the intersection of
Norway and Falmouth Streets, on a triangular plot of ground, the design a
Romanesque tower with a circular front and an octagonal form, accented by
stone porticos and turreted corners. On the front is a marble tablet, with
the following inscription carved in bold relief:--

"The First Church of Christ, Scientist, erected Anno Domini 1894. A
testimonial to our beloved teacher, the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer
and Founder of Christian Science; author of "Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures;" president of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, and
the first pastor of this denomination."

THE CHURCH EDIFICE

The church is built of Concord granite in light gray, with trimmings of the
pink granite of New Hampshire, Mrs. Eddy's native State. The architecture
is Romanesque throughout. The tower is one hundred and twenty feet in
height and twenty-one and one half feet square. The entrances are of
marble, with doors of antique oak richly carved. The windows of stained
glass are very rich in pictorial effect. The lighting and cooling of the
church--for cooling is a recognized feature as well as heating--are done by
electricity, and the heat generated by two large boilers in the basement is
distributed by the four systems with motor electric power. The partitions
are of iron; the floors of marble in mosaic work, and the edifice is
therefore as literally fire-proof as is conc