Editorial December 6, 1913 Issue

Christian Science Literature

Archibald McLellan

If the letters received at this office from time to time are to be taken as indicative of the thought of the field at large, there is considerable perplexity among Christian Scientists as to what their attitude should be toward what is termed Christian Science literature, but not "authorized," as are our Leader's writings and the periodicals issued under the auspices of The Christian Science Publishing Society. Fortunately, through the publication of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," we are able to refer our readers directly to what Mrs. Eddy herself has to say on this point. On page 224 of the new volume she writes:—

"My books state Christian Science correctly. They may not be as taking to those ignorant of this Science as books less correct and therefore less profound. But it is not safe to accept the latter as standards. We would not deny their authors a hearing, since the Scripture declares, 'He that is not against us is on our part.' And we should also speak in loving terms of their efforts, but we cannot afford to recommend any literature as wholly Christian Science which is not absolutely genuine."

Again, in Section 11, Article VIII, of the Church Manual, it is plainly stated that "a member of this church shall neither buy, sell, nor circulate Christian Science literature which is not correct in its statement of the divine Principle and rules and the demonstration of Christian Science." Under this touchstone there should not be any difficulty in settling the status of any book put on the market as purporting to teach Christian Science. It is the office of Mrs. Eddy's writings, the authorized text of Christian Science, to teach the "new tongue," and no book by any other author is entitled to rank in this category. The same is true of that large class of books which, in the belief of those who circulate them, are better adapted to the beginner in Christian Science than are Mrs. Eddy's writings. If these books were offered as are other novels, on the basis of being "a good story," and were allowed to stand or fall on their literary merit, there could not be the same objection to them. The incorrectness, the departure from the straight line between authorized and pseudo Christian Science literature, comes when these books are advocated as "teaching Christian Science in a more attractive way." There is only one standard to which we may safely ally ourselves in gaining a correct understanding of Christian Science, and that is the teaching of its Discoverer and Founder, Mary Baker Eddy.

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