Article January 24, 1920 Issue

Authorized Literature Is Sufficient

LOUISE SATTERTHWAITE

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 98) it is stated by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, that "beyond the frail premises of human beliefs, above the loosening grasp of creeds, the demonstration of Christian Mind-healing stands a revealed and practical Science." It is true that since its inception in 1866, as it has unfolded into further and wider usefulness, its organization, including its periodicals, has been proved sufficient, quite sufficient, for the purposes intended. This fact cannot be reiterated too often, whether to the one merely looking into Christian Science with a casual interest, to the beginner, or to the more davanced student. For the sound and right advancement in the study of Christian Science, its own authorized literature, its churches and Sunday schools, its lectures, its practitioners and teachers, constitute means which are quite sufficient whereby one may learn the Science correctly, advance in it, and amply and happily satisfy every earnest aspiration for light.

Certainly if one were learning aviation one would not take up the study of a submarine. He would wish at once to seek headquarters so far as the understanding of aviation is concerned, would demand qualified and authorized instructors and a textbook written by one who had mastered the work, and he would eschew other systems as vague, useless, untried, or empirical. He would neither care to waste time on such vagaries nor be willing to becloud or confuse his thoughts on the subject or mystify his apprehension with foolish or devious rules which might some day be his undoing.

Considering, then, the fact that foolishness is never wisdom nor the way of wisdom, it would seem strange that there are some who think it worth while to essay to prop up, as it were, the true and worthy revelation and practice of genuine Christian Science, as known through its regular channels. Various rambling philosophies with high-sounding names, false, useless, or actually erroneous sophistries, vapory speculations and casuistry about Christian Science or to some extent in line with it, will neither teach nor satisfy the one seeking divine Principle which heals. It is surprising to see on some occasions those who should know better, occupying themselves in reading and thinking about more or less mystical "times and seasons," dates past or present which claim to be vastly significant, or watching and speculating upon phenomena which are frankly material and therefore never anything else than erroneous; or perhaps going out of their way to twist Scriptural stories into weird signs and imagery which are far afield from that which is genuinely spiritual,—in other words, yielding their thoughts to a mesmerism which in many cases is not half so innocent as it pretends to be.

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