rds than from conversions from other churches, for most of those
who embrace the faith claim to have been rescued from death miraculously
under the injunction to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,
cast out demons." They hold with strict fidelity to what they conceive to
be the literal teachings of the Bible as expressed in its poetical and
highly figurative language.

Altogether the belief and service are well suited to satisfy a taste for
the mystical which, along many lines, has shown an uncommon development in
this country during the last decade, and which is largely Oriental in its
choice. Such a rapid departure from long respected views as is marked by
the dedication of this church, and others of kindred meaning, may
reasonably excite wonder as to how radical is to be this encroachment upon
prevailing faiths, and whether some of the pre-Christian ideas of the
Asiatics are eventually to supplant those in company with which our
civilization has developed.

* * * * *

[_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