Pulpit and Press (6th Edition) · Chapter 9The "mother's Room."
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The "Mother's room" is approached by an entrance of Italian marble, and over the door in large golden letters on a marble tablet, is the word "Love." In this room the mosaic marble floor of white has a Romanesque border and is decorated with sprays of fig leaves bearing fruit. The room is toned in pale green with relief in old rose. The mantel is of onyx and gold. Before the great bay window hangs an Athenian lamp over two hundred years old, which will be kept always burning day and night. Leading off the "Mother's room" are toilet apartments, with full length French mirrors and every convenience.
The directors' room is very beautiful in marble approaches and rich carving, and off this is a vault for the safe preservation of papers.
The vestry seats 800 people, and opening from it are three large class rooms and the pastor's study.
The windows are a remarkable feature of this temple. There are no "memorial" windows: the entire church is a Testimonial, not a memorial—a point that the members strongly insist upon.
In the auditorium are two rose windows—one representing the heavenly city which "cometh down from God out of Heaven," with six small windows beneath, emblematic of the six water pots referred to in John xi:6. The other rose window represents the raising of the daughter of Jairus. Beneath are two small windows bearing palms of victory and others with lamps typical of Science and Health.
Another great window tells its pictorial story of the four Marys—the mother of Jesus, Mary anointing the head of Jesus, Mary washing the feet of Jesus, Mary at the resurrection; and the woman spoken of in the Apocalypse, chapter 12, God-crowned.
One more window in the auditorium represents the raising of Lazarus.
In the gallery are windows representing John on the Isle of Patmos and others of pictorial significance. In the "Mother's room" the windows are of still more unique interest. A large bay window composed of three separate panels is designed to be wholly typical of the work of Mrs. Eddy. The central panel represents her in solitude and meditation searching the scriptures by the light of a single candle, while the Star of Bethlehem shines down from above. Above this is a panel containing the Christian Science seal, and other panels are decorated with emblematic designs with the legends, "Heal the Sick," "Raise the Dead," "Cleanse the Lepers," and "Cast Out Demons."
The cross and the crown and the star are presented in appropriate decorative effect. The cost of this church is $221,000, exclusive of the land—a gift from Mrs. Eddy—which is valued at some $40,000.