13. Independence Day (1909)

Founding members of Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Seattle, begin building a congregation on July 4, 1909, amidst a "Votes for Women" focus at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (AYP) Expo. Miss Mary Brookins lectures at the Moore Theater. Services are at Arcade Hall on Second Avenue, between Union and University Streets. Judge Thomas Burke rents space for a Christian Science Reading Room in the Empire Building. Mr. William K. Sheldon joins Fourth Church. Mr. Charles Warburton Ireland is elected First Reader, Mrs. Helen E. Cushing Second Reader. Mr. Oliver C. McGilvra speaks about Abraham Lincoln. Actress Ethel Barrymore visits Seattle. Image: Second Avenue and Empire Building. The book Dedication: Building the Seattle Branches of Mary Baker Eddy's Church, A Centennial Story by Cindy Peyser Safronoff is available on Amazon, through Powell's Books, or by special order through your favorite local book store. Please support this project: Rate and review the book and podcast! Help crowd-fund this continuing project. Tell your friends. "Like," share, post, forward, message. To learn more about this ground-breaking project, visit CindySafronoff.com or Facebook: @DedicationCentennialStory