From. via Universelle du Canal Interoceanique, which purchased the Wyse concession from the earlier company, with the purpose of constructing and operating the canal. The amount paid for the Wyse concession was 10.000,000 francs (about $2,000,000), and after a set-back in a first attempt to finance the company, its 600,000 shares, par value 500 francs each, were sold in December, 1880. Examinations, surveys and other preliminary work delayed the beginning of operations upon a large scale until 1883. The company prosecuted its work until 1889, when bankruptcy terminated its existence, although the operations were continued by the liquidator, or receiver, for some time longer, being finally suspended on May 15, 1889. While the canal was in the hands of the liquidator the period allowed under the concession for the completion of the canal neared its expiration, and one of the things accomplished by him was the securing of an extension of ten years, granted by Colombia on December 26. 1890. It was conditioned upon the formation of a new company and the resumption of work not later than February 28, 1893. Failure in the latter item was followed by the obtaining of a second extension, which provided that the ten years granted might begin to run at any time not later than October 31, 1894. A final extension, the validity of which has been questioned, sets October 31, 1910, as the date by which the canal must be completed. The third in the series of Panama canal companies, and the one with which the United States Government has now to deal, was formed on October 20, 1894, and one of the matters it had to deal with, aside from that of canal construction, was to obtain control of the Panama Railroad Company, which holds a concession from the Colombian Government, giving it rights prior to those of the Wyse concession, the value of the latter depending upon the attitude of the railroad company. This was effected, the new Panama Canal Company, as it is commonly called, having resumed in the ineantime the active work upon the canal. The acquisition of the Panama Railroad is included, of course, in that which the United States Government has to accomplish in constructing the canal on the Panama route. Since the Government took up the matter of securing to the commercial world a ship canal between the two oceans the Nicaraguan route has been as persistently and ably urged as the one which now has, officially, the first choice. In preliminary investigation of the entire subject, including explorations and surveys, the Government has given impartial attention to both routes. One of the strong claims in favor of the Nicaragua route is that the existence of Lake Nicaragua itself, with its large navigable extent upon the line of the proposed canal, would almost indicate this as the most natural route. One of the reasons why many Americans profer it is that it should be chosen in order that the United States alone might engineer and construct it. This will be the case, however, in the engineering, construction and operation of any ship canal to be carried across the isthmus, as such is the intent of the bill which became law in 1902. DISTANCES FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC PORTS BY THE (In Nautical Miles.) (Prepared expressly for The American Almanac by Captain W. H. H. Sutherland, Hydrographer, U. S. Navy.) PRESENT ROUTES. New York. |14,019 13,244 10,423 9,702 9,221 New Orleans. Galveston. Liverpool. 8,4617,860 17,780 18,910 19,530 14,560 15,135 13,600 9,147 8.387 7,786 17,706 18,836 19,456 14,486 15,061 13,526 9,156 8,396 7,795 17,715 18,845 19,465 14,495 15,070 13,535 9,321 8,561 7,960 17,880 19,010 19,630 14,660 15,235 13,700 14.419 13,644 10,823 10,102 9,621 8.861 8,260 18,180|19,316 19,930 14,960 15,535 14,000 14,601 13,826 11,005 10,284 9,803 9,043 8,442 18,362 19,492 20,112 15,142 15,717 14,182 14,619 13.844 11,023 10,302 9,821 9,061 8,460 18,380 19,510 20,130 15,160 15,735 14,200 15,019 14,244 11,423 10,702 10,221 9,461 8.860 18,780 19,910 20.530 15.560 16,135 14,600 14,754 13.979 11,158 10,437 9,956) 9,196 8,595 18,515 19,645 20,265 15,295 15,870 14,335 14,474 13,691 10,868 10,157 9,676 8,916 8,315 18,235 19,365 19,985 15,015 15,590 14,055 13,518 12,743 9,922 9,211 8,720| 7,960 7,359|17,009|18,409|19,030|14,059 14,634 13,099 DISTANCES FROM ATLANTIC PORTS TO PACIFIC PORTS, VIA THE PANAMA CANAL, WHEN CON(From a special report by the United States Treasury Department.) Hamburg. STRUCTED. New York. Liverpool. ,074 5.299 5.872 5,097 2,864 3,359 4,021 4,630 4,838 9,835 10,885 11.585| 9,852|10,427| 8,892 [662] 3,157) 3,819) 4,428 4,636 9,634 10,684 11,384 9,650 9,858 8,690 5,673 4,898 463) 2.958 3.638 4.229 4,437 9,344 10,367 10,809 9,451 10,006 8,491 5,328 4.5531 098 2,593 3,255 3,864 4,072 9,069 10,119 10,819 9,086 9,661 8,126 5,477 4,698 2.263 2,758 3.420 4,029 4,237 9,234 10,284 10,984 9,251 9,826 8,291 5.574 4,799 2,364 2,858 3,520| 4,129 4,338 9,335 10,385 11,085| 9.352 9,927 8,392 8,813 8.038 5,603 6,098) 6,760 7,369 7,577 12,574 13,624 14,324 12,591 13,166 11,631 9,242 8,467 6,032 6,527 7,189 7,798 8,006 13,003 14.053 14,753 13,020 13.595 12,060 8.963 8.188 5,753 6,248| 6,910| 7.519 7,727 12,724 13,774 14,474 12,741 13,316 11,781 8.713 7,938 5,503 5,998 6,660 7,269 7,477 12,474|13,524 14.224 12,491 13,066 11,471 8,447 7,672 5,237 5,7231 6,394 7,003 7,211 12,208 13,258 13,958 12,221 11,168 11,265 • Via Honolulu, add 252 miles. ↑ Omitting Tahiti reduces voyage from Brito by 52 miles. Voyage from Brito to Sydney by way of Wellington is 232 miles less than by way of Tabiti; from Panama it is 405 miles less. Voyage from Brito to Wellington direct is 185 miles shorter than via Tahiti, and from Panama it is 358 miles shorter. Chili. Capital: Twenty-three provinces and one territory compose the Republic of Chili, which has an area of about 266,652 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Bolivia, on the east by the Argentine Republic, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. Shut off by the Andes from easy communication with the countries lying to the east, this Republic depends upon the western coast for its imports and exports and receives much of its culture from that direction. Allegiance to the crown of Spain was thrown off September 18, 1810, by a declaration of independence, which became final in 1818. In 1833 a constitution was formed which is still in force, though amendments have since been added. By this constitution three powers were established in the State-the Legislative, Executive and Judicial. The Legislative power is vested in the National Congress, consisting of two assemblies, called the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the former being composed of members popularly elected by the provinces for the term of six years, in the proportion of one Senator for every three Deputies, while the members of the Chamber of Deputies are chosen directly by the departments for a period of three years. This body consists of one representative for every 30,000 of the population or a fraction not less than 15,000. Electors must be twenty-one years of age and able to read and write. The executive is exercised by the President of the Republic, elected for a term of five years, by an indirect vote, the people nominating by ballot, delegates who choose the President. A retiring President is not eligible to re-election. He has a modified veto power, but bill returned with the President's objections may be passed over his veto by a two-thirds vote of the members of both legislative bodies. The election day is June 25, and the inauguration takes place on September 18, of the same year. The present executive head of the Republic is Senor German Riesco, elected in 1901. Prior to 1450 the territory of Chili was inhabited entirely by the ancestors of the Indians now found there, who called themselves Alapuche. In 1450, Yupanqui, the reigning Iona of Peru, formed a project to gain this country for himself, and sent a lieutenant with 10,000 men to subdue the native owners of the land. Adopting a tactful policy, his lieutenant set about winning rather than conquering the rude and warlike tribes, and within six years nearly every tribe north of the Rapel River had declared allegiance to Peru. There the Peruvian received a check, and so fiercely was his advance contested that he wisely resolved to forbear offensive warfare and be content with what he had already obtained. Some eighty years later, when the Spanish had overthrown the Incas, the Chilians were found to be owing a sort of nominal allegiance to Peru. The Spanish thereupon set about to subjugate this country also, and Diego Almagro, after both glory and gold, led an army across the Andes, and when he reached Copiapo, a quarter of his Spanish troops and three-eighths of his Indian allies had perished from cold, fatigue and starvation. This expedition was compelled to retrace its steps. Another was sent out under Valdivia, who succeeded in penetrating further into the country than had either the Peruvians or his predecessors. He, too, was compelled to return to Peru without conquering the country. Spain never succeeded in getting a firm foothold in Chili, except near the coast. In 1810 began the revolution that ended in the independence of the country. In July of that year Governor Carrasco was deposed and a junta formed with the secret design of severing the connection with the mother country. The Spanish authorities attempted to overawe the patriots with a show of force, and the royal troops were drawn up in the square at Santiago. These were at once attacked by the rebels and defeated with considerable loss on both sides, and from this time until 1818 the Royalists and Republicans were in constant opposition. Since that time, though less revolutionary than most South American Republics, Chili has passed through several attempted forcible changes of government. The Republic at present is divided into 23 provinces, subdivided into 74 departments and 1 territory, and these are further subdivided into 865 sub-delegations and 3,068 districts. In 1884 the Province of Antofagasta was ceded to Chili by Bolivia, and those of Tarapaca and Tacna by Peru. The cession of Tacna was originally for 10 years, at the end of which period a plebiscite of the province would decide to which country it should belong. Owing to troubles with Peru the decision was deferred, and a convention for the purpose of carrying out the plebiscite, signed at Santiago, April 16, 1898, was, two years later, rejected by the Chilian Congress. Boundary disputes which arose between Chili and the Argentine Republic were referred to the decision of the British Government, and a Tribunal of Arbitration was appointed to hear the question. On May 28, 1902, a general treaty of arbitration was entered into by these two countries. The contracting parties bound themselves to submit to arbitration all questions of whatever nature which might arise between them, in so far as they should not affect the provisions of the constitution of either country, provided always that they could not be settled by direct negotiations. The Government of Great Britain was selected to act as arbitrator, and in case either country should sever its friendly relations with the English Government, the Government of Switzerland should be selected. In the convention on naval armaments both countries renounced the acquisition of the war vessels they then had under construction, and agreed to treat until they should arrive at an agreement to effect a perfect equilibrium between the fleets. In his message to Congress, read June 1, 1902, President Riesco touched on the question of the compact with the Argentine Republic, and spoke of the advisability of reaching some similar agreement relating to disputed questions between Chili and Peru and Chili and Bolivia. He demanded reforms in the administration of justice in the petty courts, and referred briefly to criminality and prisons. The insecurity of the jails in general and the necessity of erecting new and modern penal institutions were insisted upon. present there are, in addition to a High Courrt of Justice in the capital, six Courts of Appeal, Courts of First Instance in the Departmental capitals, and subordinate courts in the districts. At Military service was made obligatory by a law of 1900. Every Chilian from twenty to forty-five years of age and capable of bearing arms, is liable to serve. In 1901 the total number enrolled as liable for service was 400,397, and the active army that year was limited to 17,385. The Chilian fleet consists of five armorclads, two second and two third class cruisers, eleven gun vessels and gunboats, four destroyers, fifteen first-class and four second-class torpedo boats. The Roman Catholic Church is maintained by the State, but, according to the constitution, all religious forms are respected and protected. Civil marriage is the only form acknowledged by law. Education is gratuitous and at the cost of the State, but is not compulsory. Professional and secondary instruction is provided in the universities, of which there are two, one belonging to the State and the other a private institution. There are besides several colleges maintained by the Government, and at the seats of bishops there are seminaries under ecclesiastics, where instruction is given similar to that in the Government colleges. The nitrate fields of Chili have long furnished fertilizer for the world, and are still being worked with much profit. The fields are estimated to cover 89,177 hectares and to contain 2,318 million of metric quintals of the nitrate of commerce. In 1900 there were, in Chili, 14,128 miles of public road, 7,980 miles of vicinal road and 970 miles of navigable rivers. Chili was the first South American country to construct railroads, and in 1900 the total length of lines open for traffic was 2,880 English miles, of which 1,355 belonged to the State. Of the trans-Andine railway, from Santa Rosa to Mendoza, 18 miles of the Chillan section and 88 of the Argentine section are open; 46 miles of line still being needed to unite the sections. In 1900 there were 14,592 miles of telegraph line; the Chili Telephone Company has 5,804 miles of line and the National Telephone Company 6.120 miles. At the beginning of 1901 there were about 110 miles of electric railway in the Republic and about 365 miles of horse railway. During 1900 42,067,242 passengers were carried on all the tram lines. A plan has been approved by the Chilian Government for an elevated railroad for passenger and freight service between Juncal, Chill, and Paramillo de las Cuevas, Argentine Republic. A part of this passage is always difficult and often impassable, on account of the heavy snowstorms, and it is expected that an elevated road would prove practicable in any weather. The road is to be formed of two steel cables, to serve as rails for the support of the trains, and of two steel traction cables, for motive power. The nominal capital of the company exploiting this road is $2,500,000. The Chilian Ministers of State are: Barros Luco, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior: Elidoro Yanes, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Colonization; Manuel El Ballesteros, Minister of Justice and Public Instruction: Manuel Magallanes, Minister of Finances; Robert Montt, Minister of War; Carlos Estevez, Minister of Marine; Daniel Riquelme, Minister of Industry. The present sovereign, reigning under the style of Kwangen, is the ninth Emperor of China, of the Manch dynasty of Tsing, which overthrew the native dynasty of Mingi in the year 1644. There exists no law of hereditary succession to the throne, but it is left to each Sovereign to appoint his successor from among the members of his family of a younger generation than his own. The late Emperor, dying suddenly in the eighteenth year of his age, did not designate a successor, and it was in consequence of arrangements directed by the Empress Dowager, Tszu-Hszi (born November 17, 1834), widow of the Emperor Hien-Feng, predecessor and father of Tung-Chi, in concert with Prince Chinu, that the infant son of the latter was made the nominal occupant of the throne. Frving become of age, the young Emperor nominally assumed government in March, 1887. In February, 188 he undertook the full control, but on September 22, 1898, an Imperial edict was issued announcing hat the Emperor had resigned power to the Empress Dowager, who has since retained the direction of affairs. On January 24, 1900, it was declared by decree that Kuk Wei (whose official name is Pu Tsing), son of the Prince of Tuan, was successor to Tung Chi. THE MINISTRY.-Civil Administration (Lipon), Soun-Chia-Wai; Finance (Houpon), Choung Li; Religion and Ceremonies (Lipon), Shih-hsu; War (Pingpon), Yu-te; Justice (Hsing-pon), Kouel-heng; Foreign Office (Li-fan-yuan), Koung-hang and A-Ko-tan; Censors (Ton-tcha-youen), Pon-Ziang; Imperial Academy (Han-lin-youan), Koun-kang; Railroads and Mines, Wang-wew-shao; Counsellors of the Empire Cheng-won-chou), Ching, Young-Zou, Koun-Kang, Wang-Wen-shao, Lou-Chouan-Zin, Chu-houng-chi, Chanchih-fung, Liou-koun-yi. THE NATION.-The laws of the Empire are laid down in the Ta-ts-ing-hever-tien, or "Collected Regulations of the Tsing dynasty," which prescribe the government of the State to be based upon the government of its family. The supreme direction of the Empire is vested in the Chun Chi Chu, the Privy Council or Grand Council. The administration is under the supreme direction of the Nei-Ko, or Cabinet, comprising four members, two of Manchu and two of Chinese origin, besides two assistants from the Han-Zon, or Great College, who have to see that nothing is done contrary to the civil and religious laws of the Empire contained in the Ta-ts-ing-hwei-tien and These members are denominated under their orders are the Chi-pu, each of which is presided over by Boards are: (1.) The Board of Civil zance of the conduct and adminis Board of Revenues, regulating all Rites and Ceremonies, which en observed by the people; (4.) The Public Works; (6.) The High Tri (7.) The Admiralty Board at Tien ent of the Government, and theoreti tion, is the Pu-cha-yuan, or Board from forty to fifty members, under and the other of Chinese birth. all the members of this board are strance to the sovereign. One Cen of each of the Government Boards. Office, created by a decree of Janu superseded by the formation of a wu-pu, with Prince Cheng as Presi precedence before all other boards. By in the sacred books of Confucius. Ta-hsio-shill, or Ministers of State, or Seven Boards of Government, a Manchu and a Chinese. These Appointments, which takes cognitration of all civil officers; (2.) The financial affairs; (3.) The Board of forces the laws and customs to be Military Board; (5.) The Board of bunal of Criminal Jurisdiction, and tsin, established in 1885. Independcally above the central administraof Public Censors. It consists of two presidents, the one of Manchu the ancient custom of the Empire. privileged to present any remonsor must be present at the meetings The Tsungli-Yamen, or Foreign ary 19, 1861, was in July, 1902, new Foreign Office, called the Waident and four secretaries, and with edged by the Chinese as indigenous Buddhism and Tauis-in. Large numSouthern China profess and practise people, however, are Buddhists. medans, chiefly in the northeast and long had a footing in China, and it adherents, with twenty-five bishopTibet, Mongolia and Corea. Other number of Protestant adherents being Education of a certain type is very general, but still there are vast masses of adult countrymen in China who can neither read nor write. There is a special literary class who alone know the literature of their country, to the study of which they devote their lives. In 1887, for the first time. mathematics were admitted with the Chinese classics among the subjects of examination, and schools for the propagation of Western science and literature are now on the increase. Ten Chinese newspapers are published in Shanghai, and the success they have achieved has led to the establishment of others at some of the other treaty ports. No general statement of the revenue and expenditure of China is made public, and such estimates as have been formed by Europeans are founded on financial reports of provincial governors published in the Pekin Gazette. An estimate taken from a report by Consul Jamieson, of Shanghai, and based on figures for the three years preceding the Japanese war, shows the sums accounted for by the provincial authorities to have amounted to 88,979,000 taels. The collection of the revenue on the Chinese foreign trade and the administration of lights on the coast are under the management of the Imperial Custom Department, the head of which is an Englishman, under whom is a large staff of European, American and Chinese subordinates. Debts contracted since the beginning of 1894 amount to $8,175,000, at 7 per cent interest: $35,000,000 at 6 per cent: $91,500,000 at 5 per cent, and $479,100,000 at 4 per cent. On May 29, 1901, China agreed to pay to the Powers an indemnity amounting to $320,000,000 for injuries inflicted by the Boxers. This indemnity is to constitute a gold debt, repayable in thirty-nine annual instalments, due on January 1 of each year up to 1941, interest at 4 per cent payable half yearly. The total land army of China, on a peace footing, is put at 300,000 men, and on a war footing at about 1,000,000, but the army as a whole has no unity or cohesion; there is no proper discipline; the drill is a mere physical exercise; the weapons are long since obsolete, and there is no transport commissariat or medical service. The Chinese Navy, during the war with Japan, disappointed those who regarded it as an effective fighting force. The bluejacket is as good as any in the world, and, properly officered, would give the nation a creditable and efficient service. China is essentially an agricultural country, and the land is all freehold, held by families on the payment of an annaul tax. The holdings are, in general, small; the farm animals are oxen and buffalos: the implements used are primitive; irrigation is common. Horticulture is a favorite pursuit, and fruit trees are grown in great variety. Tea is cultivated exclusively in the west and south, and the culture of silk is equally important with that of tea. An important feature in the development of Chinese industries is the erection of cotton mills. Two native mills were started in 1890, and recently four foreign companies have been successfully floated. All the eighteen provinces contain coal, and China may be regarded as one of the first coal countries of the world. Iron and copper ore are abundant in certain sections, and in others tin, lead and silver are found. The commercial intercourse of China is mainly with the United Kingdom and the British colonies. It has, besides, an extensive coasting trade. During the year 1900, 69,230 vessels of 40.807,242 tons, of which 57,576 were steamers, with a tonnage of 39,555,768, entered and cleared at Chinese ports. China is traversed in all directions by numerous roads, and though none are paved or metalled, and all are badly kept, a vast internal trade is carried on, partly over them, but chiefly by means of numerous canals and navigable rivers. In February, 1898, the Government agreed that all internal waterways should be open both to foreign and native steamers. In the north of China a considerable extent of railway has been constructed and is open for traffic. The Imperial Chinese Telegraphs are being rapidly extended all over the Empire. The postal work of the Empire is carried on under the Minister of War by means of post carts and runners. The well The effects of the anti-missionary or Boxer riots of 1900 and 1901 were felt somewhat in 1902. known antipathy of the Chinese to foreigners could not be easily quelled, and in spite of assurances of safety by their rulers, massacres continued to be reported from various points. In March several hundred people, some reports putting the number as high as a thousand, were killed in religious riots in Tamung-Fu, the southernmost principal town of the Province of Chi-Li. In April the charge that Catholic missionaries had gouged out a boy's eyes caused an outbreak at Ning-Po, and British and German warships were sent to the scene. The occupation of Manchuria by Russia has naturally created much interest, and her final intentions in regard to that territory seem still in doubt. On the one hand Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador, has said that it has been returned to China in accordance with Russia's original promises and programme, while on the other hand the Grand Duke Boris, cousin of the Czar, has said that Russia regards Manchuria now as a part of its own territory and government. He further said: "Great danger was threatened for a time if outside reports could have been taken as any criterion, but to us in Russia there was little real apprehension." In the Fall of 1902 there was a further outbreak of Boxers in the province of Sze Chuen, to which they had fled in 1900. The Viceroy took no steps to suppress them, and they also found a friend in the treasurer of the province. They attacked a Methodist Episcopal chapel, brutally murdering the native preacher and six others and burning the houses of those living in the neighborhood. It was only by mere chance that the foreign missionaries living in that vicinity escaped the same fate. In consequence of complaints by the American and British officials the Viceroy of the province was removed, but the Empress Dowager almost immediately appointed him Tartar General of the province, which "saved his face" and gave him added powers. The causes of popular revolt are said to be everywhere the same. The natives said they were being fleeced by their rulers. Their indignation was made anti-Christian because the officials announced in their proclamations that the extra taxes had been made necessary by her foreign indemnities. There had also been a drought in the province, and millions of people were hungry. Fortunately, the poor natives lacked fire arms and so were incapable of doing their work. Christian W. D. M'CRACKAN and WILLARD S. MATTOX. Christian Science is a system of religion, based upon the Bible. Its Discoverer and Founder is the Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, who is the author of its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Christian Science was discovered in 1866 and its textbook was published in 1875. Popularly defined, Christian Science may be said to be that religious denomination, or church organization which holds to and practises the teachings of Christianity. as interpreted by the Christian Science text-book. A broader and less conventional definition is given by Mrs. Eddy, who describes it as "the law of God, the law of Good, interpreting and demonstrating the Principle and rule of universal harmony" (Rudimental Divine Science). That feature which distinguishes Christian Science from other religious bodies, in the public mind, is the healing of sickness, without resort to drugs or medicines. This part of its teaching has been unwarrantably emphasized, for, in the estimation of Christian Scientists, the curative arts are secondary to the worship of God, and the healing of sin is more greatly to be desired than the healing of physical disorders. These two functions, however, according to Christian Science, are conjoined, because they are both operations of the One Mind, which is God. Mrs. Eddy summarizes the teachings of Christian Science as follows: "The fundamental propositions of Christian Science are summarized in the four following, to me, selfevident propositions. Even if reversed, these propositions will be found to agree in statement and proof, showing mathematically their exact relation to Truth. De Quincy says mathematics has not a foot to stand upon which is not purely metaphysical: "1. God is All in all. "2. God is good. Good is Mind. "3. God, Spirit, being all, nothing is matter. 4. Life, God, omnipotent Good, deny death, evil, sin, disease. omnipotent God, Life." (Science and Health, page 113.) Disease, sin, evil, death, deny Good, Christian Science is not a revelation, in any supernatural sense, but as a statement of pure Truth, in contradistinction to mere human opinion, it is distinctively a revelation; namely, of God's omnipotence over evil of every sort. This revelation sistent with clear reasoning, and the proper sense of the word. The investigated and observed many spiritual understanding of what In her autobiography "Retro Eddy relates the circumstances sur The discovery came to pass in to my discovery I had been trying mental cause; and in the latter certainty that all causation was phenomenon. "My immediate recovery from an accident, an injury that neither was the falling apple that led me myself, and how to make others "Even to the Homoeopathic rejoiced in my recovery, I could relief. I could only assure him the miracle-a miracle which later accord with the divine law." After the discovery that divine began her search for the modus on page 109 of "Science and For three years after my dis this problem of Mind-healing; else; kept aloof from society, and covering a positive rule. The ant with hope, not selfish nor de all harmonious Mind-action to be Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy. was reached by logical steps conis, therefore, strictly scientific in Discoverer of Christian Science methods before she reached the she denominated Christian Science. spection and Introspection," Mrs. rounding her discovery: this way. During 20 years prior to trace all physical effects to a part of 1866 I gained the Scientific Mind, and every effect a mental the effects of an injury caused by medicine nor surgery could reach, to the discovery how to be well 80. physician who attended me, and not then explain the modus of my that the divine Spirit had wrought I found to be in perfect Scientific Spirit had healed her, Mrs. Eddy operandi of this healing. She writes Health": covery I sought the solution of searched the Scriptures, read little devoted time and energies to dissearch was sweet, calm and buoypressing. I knew the Principle of God, and that cures were produced, in primitive Christian healing, by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know its Science, and I won my way to absolute conclusions, through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration." Finally, after the discovery of the healing Principle of Christian Science, came her application to existing conditions. On page 111 we read: "I submitted my metaphysical system of treating disease to the broadest practical tests. Since then this system has gradually gained ground and has proved itself, whenever scientifically employed, to be the most effective curative agent in medical practice.' Thus it will be seen that in the discovery of Christian Science both the inductive and deductive methods of reasoning were employed. First, facts were ascertained and a conclusion reached by the inductive process. With this conclusion as a basis a practical system of mental, moral and physical regeneration was established by deductive reasoning. In a word, the same general process was followed as in the case of all great discoveries which mankind has made. God being taken as the Divine Premise, Cause and Origin of the universe, including man, all effects are deduced from Him. Thus the logic which leads to a perfect universe and perfect man derived from a perfect God is irresistible. It is the understanding of this perfection in God and His manifestation which heals the sick, by abolishing a false concept or mental state, wherein God's supposed opposites, such as evil, sin, sickness and death are erroneously believed to be actualities. That the logic of Christian Science is faultless, and that perfect God as Premise, and perfect man as conclusion, are unassailable, is demonstrated by the actual cures which have been performed, reaching into the hundreds of thousands, and covering the whole range of diseases known to men. Mrs. Eddy herself at no time has laid claim to miraculous powers, and her early life was not unusual, except for the remarkable eagerness with which she strove to know spiritual things. Mrs. Eddy was born at Bow, N. H., and there her childhood was spent. "My ancestors, according to the flesh, were from Scotland and England, my great-grandfather, on my father's side being John McNeil, of Edinburgh. His wife, my great-grandmother, was Marion Moor, and her family is said to have been in some way related to Hannah More, the pious and popular English anthoress of a century ago. A relative of my Grandfather Baker was General Henry Knox, of Revolutionary fame. In the line of my Grandmother Baker's family was the late Sir John Macneill, a Scotch knight, who was prominent in British politics, and at one time held the position of ambassador to Persia. "My grandparents were likewise connected with Captain John Lovewell, of Dunstable, New Hampshire, whose gallant leadership and death in the Indian troubles of 1722-1725 caused that prolonged contest to be known historically as Lovewell's War. "A cousin of my grandmother was John Macneill, the New Hampshire general, who fought at Lundy's Lane, and won distinction in 1814, at the neighboring battle of Chippewa, toward the close of the War of 1812. "My childhood's home I remember as one with the open hand. The needy were ever welcome, and to the clergy were accorded special household privileges." From her brother, the Hon. Albert Baker, once Congressman-elect from New Hampshire, she acquired her knowledge of Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The simplicity of her early life, the religious training of a pure home, and her own sweetness and gentleness, were fitting preparations for the work she afterward was called upon to perform. She is the only woman in history who has founded a great religious organization. The total number of Christian Science churches and societies, here and abroad, at this writing (November, 1902) is about 700, showing a remarkable increase during the last year. In June, 1902, the total number of members of the Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass., was 24,278, showing a gain of 6,419 in two years. Connected with these churches and societies are free reading rooms, nine in Greater New York alone, and one large one in Chicago, maintained by all the churches in that city. These reading rooms are a distinguishing feature of the denomination. In many of the cities abroad where Christian Science has spread these reading rooms are also to be found. The First Church of Christ. Scientist, in Boston, Mass., was finished in 1894, and was dedicated in 1895. The cost was over $250,000. It is known as the Mother Church, all the other churches being branches of this one. This was the first Christian Science church to be organized and all the others have, therefore, been built within eight years, a very remarkable growth. Membership in this church is not confined to Christian Scientists residing in Boston. Mrs. Eddy is Pastor Emeritus of this church. Her active literary career has produced, besides the text-book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." the following lesser works on Christian Science: "People's Idea of God" (1886), "Christian Healing" (1886), "Retrospection and Introspection" (1891), "Unity of Good" (1891), "Rudimental Divine Science" (1891), "No and Yes" (1891), "Manual" (1895), "Miscellaneous Writings" (1896), "Christ and Christmas" (1897), "Christian Selence vs. Pantheism" (1898), "Pulpit and Press" (1898), and "Messages to the Mother Church" (1900, 1901, 1902). Besides these works she has written some poetry, including several hymns. There is a Christian Science Publishing Society which issues a monthly publication, the Christian Science Journal, and a weekly paper called the Christian Science Sentinel, and a Quarterly, containing the lesson sermons. At the Sunday services of all Christian Science churches there is no personal preaching, but correlated selections are read from the Bible and from Science and Health, by two readers. |