Article June 9, 1917 Issue

Giving a Lecture

WILLIAM R. RATHVON

Giving a lecture is a partnership affair. The two partners involved are the church and the lecturer, and when the work of both is well done the good results of the lecture are far reaching and lasting. The duties of both partners may be broadly defined as physical and metaphysical. The physical duties of the church are largely preparatory and preliminary to the lecture itself, and are set forth with painstaking detail in the official circular of the board of lectureship, which is revised and issued in June of each year.

This annual circular, while advisory and not mandatory, is of great value to the church, to the public, and to the lecturer, and should be preserved during the year and studied carefully by the officers of the church and by the lecture committees. Yet occasionally there are found instances where church officials and those in charge of a lecture have apparently never read the circular, although it is prepared expressly for their use and contains the fruits of many years of experience. It is not therefore to be wondered at that in such cases discord, limitation, and confusion are in evidence where harmony should prevail.

In Science timeliness is an element of right procedure, and the Christian Scientist who would do the right thing takes pains to do it at the right time. Thus he makes things easier and better not only for himself but also for those who are cooperating with him. This applies to every feature of our lecture work, but particularly to promptness in making engagements for the year's lectures. Experience has shown that the best time to do this is when the annual circular of the board of lectureship is received from Boston.

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