Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1917 — Unique Memorial Completed [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Unique Memorial Completed

The beautiful memorial to Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has been turned over to The Christian Science Board of Directors by Elbert S. Barlow of New York City who held the contract for its construction. The memorial, which is at Mt Auburn cemetery, Cambridge, Mass., has required over a year and a half to complete. The fund for its construction, amounting to over $150,000, was first announced by the directors in June, 1911, and was some time ago fully subscribed. These contributions have been made as expressions of sentiment by Christian Scientists throughout the world. The site on which the memorial Is located is not only one of great natural beauty, but on account of its grade has rendered possible a more picturesque and interesting treatment architecturally than would be possible on a perfect level lot. The plot, which Is approximately 80 feet square, slopes gradually from the level of the roadway to the lake with a drop of about ten feet. The memorial consists of a circular open colonnade of eight columns, resting upon a stylobate of three steps, surrounded On the front by a circular platform slightly above the natural grades from which platform a double flight of steps leads •j - -.- •. ■ : \ ;

to a lower platform at the lake’s edge. The scheme has no prototype and is merely a screen of columns open to the sky, inclosing a flower-grown circle. The material used for the memorial is Bethel white granite, the inscription in the frieze and upon the top of the pylons being of white bronze set deep into the stone work. The detail, which on account of the size of the reproduction is only indicated, is entirely floral in form and free in treatment, the wild rose and the morningglory being used as the main motives. It is interesting architecturally to note that while it is extremely 'free in treatment and not at all conventional, it is generally very classic in feeling. The extreme width of the memorial is about fifty feet, and the colonnade is eighteen feet in diameter. The columns themselves are fifteen feet in height and are similar in general character to those in the Clepsydra of Andronlcus of Cyrrhus. The large pylons were exhibited at the American Institute of Architecture in New York a short time ago and experts pronounced them the finest pieces of carved granite ever executed. The architect is Egerton Swartwovt of New York City who designed the new George Washington memorial, the new Missouri state capitol and the new Federal building in Denver.

Mary Baker Eddy Memorial, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass.