Article July 15, 1916 Issue

Authorized Literature

SAMUEL E. HOSTETTER

Every voluntary association of persons that desires permanency must be so organized and governed as to possess the character and qualities of order, system, and cohesion. This is no less true of organized Christian Scientists than of others. There must be a properly constituted authority, and we should be faithful not only to the fundamental teachings of Christian Science, but also earnest in our efforts to sustain the hands of those who have been selected to guide and direct the affairs of the organization and its activities, so long as they are acting within their designated powers.

Mention is sometimes made of the restrictions and limitations placed upon those who desire to express their views in our periodicals, upon the conduct of the activities of the church and upon questions relating to Christian healing. It would be manifestly absurd to say that every one who considers himself competent to put forth an exegesis on the Science of being should have his views accepted as a correct expression of the laws of divine healing and demonstration. This would soon result in the loss of Christian Science by dilution and adulteration. When our form of expression is criticized, or when articles contributed to the periodicals are not accepted, it would seem to be wise to acquiesce lovingly in the decision of those to whom the determination of this matter was committed by Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of this Science. Likewise the question as to whether literature is authorized or unauthorized is governed by the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. XXV, Sect. 8), and as it is obvious that the determination of this question, and the power to decide what shall be published as authorized literature and what shall not, must be lodged somewhere, we should be grateful for the wise ruling which vests this determination and power in The Christian Science Publishing Society.

The writer has had not a little experience with people who claimed to have been Christian Scientists for many years, and yet they were so filled with human opinions, so-called psychology, and the like, that is seemed a very difficult task to extricate them from errors into which they had fallen. Much of this erroneous thought is propagated by inexact statements denominated "aids" or "helps to Christian Science." A recent experience along this line with one who said he had been studying Christian Science and so-called auxiliaries for a long time, brought into my consciousness anew the value and necessity of reading and giving out in this connection only the literature issued by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, and to my mind this is the only course which Christian Scientists can safely pursue.

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