Article October 2, 1920 Issue

On Subscribing

ANITA REED

The Christian Science literature is one of the biggest blessings the world has to-day. Do we realize this, and do we appreciate it, or do we just take it all for granted? First and foremost, there is the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, which, together with the Bible, is the very foundation of Christian Science. Indeed, has not Mrs. Eddy said (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 313), "Humbly, and, as I believe, divinely directed, I hereby ordain the Bible, and 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' to be hereafter the only pastor of The Church of Christ, Scientist, throughout our land and in other lands"? In Article XIV, Section 1, of the Manual we also find a record of this ordination. Then there are all Mrs. Eddy's other writings,—what happy hours we may spend with these and the help of the concordances!

Then daily, weekly, and monthly come the periodicals, bringing with them joyous encouragement. How often we have found an article in one of these that has just met our need of the moment! These organs are channels through which we can all share the joys of experience and demonstrations. The broadness of Christian Science is manifested in the Monitor, turning one's attention to the good in every part of the globe, uplifting man's sense of art, literature, the stage, and so on. Instead of the Christian Science literature being narrow or sectarian and solely religious, it enlarges thought, enabling one to think beyond one's immediate surroundings, about all good. Not only may we find comfort, help, healing, and teaching in these periodicals, but it is also our privilege to contribute to them with articles and testimonies.

It was with much forethought that our inspired Leader, Mrs. Eddy, wrote on page 352 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "My desire is that every Christian Scientist, and as many others as possible, subscribe for and read our daily newspaper." Are we sometimes tempted to stop reading or taking one or perhaps even all of the periodicals, because error would have us believe that we cannot afford them or because we have not time to read them all; but could we disobey those imperative words of our Leader and feel that we are honest? Well do we know that every word Mrs. Eddy has written in the Manual or elsewhere demands our implicit obedience, and should be obeyed joyfully. There is nothing that error would like better than to stop the operation of Truth—to enthrone itself, and in its subtle way it would have us stop reading or subscribing for the literature. And so, if we are not awake and alert, we would be imperceptibly swept away from the rock—Truth; but if we are awake to this suggestion, we shall recognize it as nothing more or less than suggestion, and prove the utter unreality of it, thereby destroying it.

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