A few minutes of silent prayer came next, followed by the recitation of the Lord's prayer, with its spiritual interpretation as given in the Christian Science text-book.
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:
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 2,000 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 contribution, 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.