CHRISTIANSO 498 CHRISTINA Bible and "Science and Health, with a Key to the Scriptures," written by Mrs, Eddy, is read by two readers, called the first and second readers. This Church is emphatically a healing Church and many cases of restoration to health have been testified to, brought about by at- tendance at these meetings. Christian Science, its adherents claim, is demonstrable Christianity. Through the spiritual understanding of the teach- ings of Christ Jesus, its followers are enabled to obey His command to "heal the sick," and do the works that He and His disciples did. The omnipotence, omni- presence, and omniscience of God are proved to be true. Christian Science is not mind-cure, as that is popularly understood, because it recognizes but one mind, God. It is not faith-cure, because it does not perform its wonder- ful works through blind faith in a per- sonal God, but through the under- standing of man's relation to God. It is not mesmerism or hypnotism, because it denies absolutely the power of the human mind and human will, and claims no will but God's. Through recognizing the one mind, and man as the reflection of that mind, it forever establishes the brotherhood of man. It is the perfect salvation from the sin, disease, and death, Christ Jesus came to bring. In "Rudimental Divine Science," Mrs. Eddy defined Christian Science as "the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the principle and rule of eternal harmony." In 1919 the number of churches and societies in this and for- eign countries was given as 1,741. CHRISTIANSO (-ou'e), a group of three small islands in the Baltic, belong- ing to Denmark, named from the chief island, which has a harbor of refuge and a lighthouse. CHRISTIANS OF ST. THOMAS, the name of a sect of Chri.stians on the coast of Malabar, in India, to which region the apostle St. Thomas is said to have carried the gospel. They belong to those Christians who, in the year 499, united to form a Syrian and Chaldaic Church in central and eastern Asia, and are, like them, Nestorians. CHRISTIANSTAD, a city of Sweden, the capital of the province of the same name. It is on the Helge river. Its chief industries are the manufacture of wool- en goods, tobacco, iron, and gloves. It has a considerable trade by river. The city has an arsenal, a church, a museum, and other notable public buildings. Pop. about 15,000. CHRISTIANSUND, a Norwegian coast-town, built on three wooded is- 32— Vol. lands, Kirkelandso, Inlandso, and Nord- landso. It has a considerable trade in salt-fish. The chief public buildings are the grammar school and custom house. Pop. about 15,000, CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCHES, an American denominational union, organ- ized in 1865, composed of members of all varieties of orthodox belief. Their creed is simple, covering the headship of Christ, sufficiency of the Bible, and right of local church government. CHRISTINA, Queen of Sweden; bom in 1626. She was the daughter of the great Gustavus Adolphus, and on her father's death, in 1632, was crowned queen, being then only six years of age, with the five principal ministers of state appointed by Parliament her guardians. Christina was educated under the eye of the celebrated Swedish chancellor Oxen- stiern, and early showed great avidity for learning, as well as a considerable share of moral eccentricity. She was fond of wearing men's apparel, and of following masculine habits and pursuits; hence she acquired quite an Amazonian reputation. On the termination of her minority, in 1644, she entered upon administrative business with a zeal and an ability which astonished her people. She put an end to the war with Denmark, begun that year; and in 1645, by the treaty of Bromsebro, obtained some new provinces. She next turned her attention to the pro- motion of the interests of commerce, education, and learning. She was herself, perhaps, the most accomplished woman of that age, understanding no fewer than six languages, and maintaining an auto- graph correspondence with the most learned men of foreign nations. She studied chemistry, astronomy, and even alchemy and astrology, with the most celebrated professors. Having, in 1649, settled the regal succession in favor of her cousin, Prince Carl Gustav of Pfalz- Zweibriicken. she for some time con- ducted her government in a manner that promised the surmounting of the tem- porary difficulties of the realm ; but, hav- ing resolved to abandon Protestantism, she, in 1654, in an assembly of the states at Upsala, abdicated her crown, reserv- ing to herself an annual income of $200,- 000. In 1656 she went to France, where she lived principally at Fontainebleau, Compiegne, and Paris. During the year following, she excited universal horror and disgust by the assassination of her master of the horse, the Marquis Monal- deschi. In 1660 her successor on the Swedish throne died, and she thereupon renaired to Sweden to claim it for her- self: but her conversion to the Roman TT— Cyc
