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405 N. MAIN ST./ 207 MADISON HISTORICAL CONTEXT This property is located on the Southwest corner of W. Marion Street and N. Main Street in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as being Lots 199, 200, 201 of the Original Plat in South Bend, Indiana. The First Church of Christ, Scientist in 1916, constructed this Classical Revival style church now known as the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. The Christian Science Religion was first incorporated in the South Bend area in 1898. However, its influence in the area dates back to 1888 when the Woman's Literary Club added to its library the book, "Science and Health with key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Religion. Various members, led by Julie Sherman, held the first Christian Science service in this area in January of 1898. Shortly after their first meeting, a couple from Montana, Mrs. And Mrs. Bradford Dickson, moved to South Bend. Both were trained leaders of the religion, which increased the public's interest in the group causing them to quickly out grow their meeting accommodations. By 1905 the group had more than 100 members allowing them to make a formal application to the Christian Science church organization. The group exceeded the requirements and thus was recognized by the Boston headquarters as the First Church of Christ, Science, and South Bend. The church soon realized it needed its own facilities, however, rules for the church dictate that no building can be dedicated as a Christian Science church on which a debt is still owed. Eventually the group purchased a lot on the corner of Main Street and Madison where they constructed and dedicated their new church in July of 1906, only one year after the formation of the group as an organized religion. Readers at the dedication were Frederick Eberhart and Mary Studebaker Riley. The organization quickly out grew this structure and purchased a lot adjacent to the existing church, which was demolished to make way for the new church. The final structure was dedicated in 1918 after J.M. Studebaker Jr paid the remaining debt in full. The building housed the First Church of Christ, Science until 1977 when it was sold to the current owners, The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, as a Masonic Temple. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION This is a three story Classical Revival Style Church with irregular plan, concrete foundation and one brick chimney. The building is of steel - trussed construction, faced with Indiana Bedford limestone and brick and sports a 25' dome. The roof has classic architrave cornice and parapet with pediments concealing a generally flat roof and accenting a large dome, which is pierced by a multitude of fixed, arched windows. 3