Editorial June 3, 1905 Issue

The Lesson—Sermons

Archibald Mclellan

We are in receipt of an inquiry regarding the custom which prevails in some places, of preparing synopses of the Lesson—Sermons for the newspapers, and we are constrained to say in reply that while we believe the practice has grown up without any one intending to do harm, yet the giving out of these synopses is a menace to the integrity of the work of the Bible Lesson Committee, whose members have given much time and thought to the preparation of these Sermons.

The Lesson—Sermons are brief, yet comprehensive, statements of the doctrines of Christian Science as applied to given subjects, and it is impossible to elucidate these teachings except in the language of the Bible and Science and Health. It stands to reason that these synopses are very superficial, and we believe they may do more harm than good. They are at best nothing more than some one's personal opinion regarding the Lesson—Sermon; in other words, a sermon about a sermon. Should the practice of thus garbling the Lesson—Sermons become general, it would result in such diversity of thought as would seriously detract from the great benefit now derived from having an identical sermon in every Christian Science church throughout the world.

Every person who studies the Lesson—Sermons from the Bible and Science and Health must of necessity form some concept of their meaning and the lessons they teach, but this concept can be no higher than his own perception of the spiritual truth they contain, and whoever attempts to explain to others that which he may not have fully understood himself, undertakes a most difficult task. No one is authorized to give out his own limited views as a commentary upon the Lessons.

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