Page:Valid Objections to So-called Christian Science (1902).pdf/46

 stacle that civilization or the law may present.

Within the past few years it has increased more rapidly than any other organization which pretends to teach religion or advocate any particular method of healing. And unlike Spiritualism or. Theosophy, which for a time had a certain vogue, yet established themselves in no particular local habitations, it has been rapidly acquiring property, and erecting temples of brick and stone—the permanent symbols of its determination to stay. On account of this particular manifestation, it will be more difficult to check or destroy; since its votaries have succeeded in establishing its corporate life as something definite and tangible, and the value of its pecuniary holdings gives it the potent influence of wealth.

In the year 1898, it had 221 churches; in 1899, 415; in 1900, 497; in the year 1901, 600, besides many societies where no church had been built or occupied, with 12,000 ministers and healers, and 100,000 adherents. The latter figures are from the World's Almanac, and probably understate the case. There has been an increase of 81 churches and societies during the past year; and, according to one reliable authority, a gain